Walter Matthau
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 1, 1920
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- July 1, 2000
Biography
Walter Matthau (born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director.
He is best known for his film roles in A Face in the Crowd (1957), King Creole (1958) and as a coach of a hapless little league team in the baseball comedy The Bad News Bears (1976). He also starred in 10 films alongside Jack Lemmon, including The Odd Couple (1968), The Front Page (1974) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). Matthau won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Billy Wilder film The Fortune Cookie (1966). Matthau is also known for his performances in Stanley Donen's romance Charade (1963), Gene Kelly's musical Hello, Dolly! (1969), Elaine May's screwball comedy A New Leaf (1971) and Herbert Ross' ensemble comedy California Suite (1978). He also starred in Plaza Suite, Kotch (both 1971), Charley Varrick (1973), The Sunshine Boys (1975), and Hopscotch (1980).
On Broadway, Matthau originated the role of Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple by playwright Neil Simon, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1965, his second after A Shot in the Dark in 1962. Matthau also received two British Academy Film Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 1963, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance in The DuPont Show of the Week. In 1982, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Movies with Walter Matthau
- JFK 1991 · ★ 7.6
- Dennis the Menace 1993 · ★ 5.9
- Charade 1963 · ★ 7.7
- Grumpy Old Men 1993 · ★ 6.7
- The Odd Couple 1968 · ★ 7.4
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974 · ★ 7.5
- I.Q. 1994 · ★ 6.0
- Fail Safe 1964 · ★ 7.8
- Grumpier Old Men 1995 · ★ 6.5
- The Little Devil 1988 · ★ 6.7
- Hello, Dolly! 1969 · ★ 7.0
- The Front Page 1974 · ★ 7.3
- Earthquake 1974 · ★ 6.1
- The Fortune Cookie 1966 · ★ 7.2
- The Bad News Bears 1976 · ★ 6.9
- Pirates 1986 · ★ 6.3
- Charley Varrick 1973 · ★ 7.4
- A Face in the Crowd 1957 · ★ 7.6
- Cactus Flower 1969 · ★ 7.2
- A New Leaf 1971 · ★ 7.3
- Hanging Up 2000 · ★ 5.3
- Hopscotch 1980 · ★ 7.0
- Bigger Than Life 1956 · ★ 7.2
- Lonely are the Brave 1962 · ★ 7.4
- The Odd Couple II 1998 · ★ 6.3
- California Suite 1978 · ★ 5.9
- Out to Sea 1997 · ★ 5.9
- Mirage 1965 · ★ 7.1
- The Couch Trip 1988 · ★ 5.5
- Buddy Buddy 1981 · ★ 6.1
- The Survivors 1983 · ★ 5.7
- King Creole 1958 · ★ 6.4
- The Sunshine Boys 1975 · ★ 6.9
- The Indian Fighter 1955 · ★ 6.3
- Candy 1968 · ★ 5.1
- The Laughing Policeman 1973 · ★ 6.2
- The Kentuckian 1955 · ★ 5.8
- Plaza Suite 1971 · ★ 6.2
- Little Miss Marker 1980 · ★ 6.6
- A Guide for the Married Man 1967 · ★ 6.0
Movies directed by Walter Matthau
- Gangster Story 1959 · ★ 4.9