Walter Matthau
Acting
Born October 1, 1920 · New York City, New York, USA
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.
Directed (1)
Acting (97)
Elvis: A Life in Music
2026
'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War
2020
Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
2015
Revisiting 'Fail-Safe'
2000
Hanging Up
2000
The Marriage Fool
1998
Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau
1998
The Odd Couple II
1998
Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy
1998
Out to Sea
1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
1997
I'm Not Rappaport
1996
Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman
1996
The Grass Harp
1996
Grumpier Old Men
1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
I.Q.
1994
Incident in a Small Town
1994
Grumpy Old Men
1993
Dennis the Menace
1993
Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
1993
Chaplin
1992
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
1992
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
1992
Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore
1992
JFK
1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991
The Incident
1990
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
1989
The Little Devil
1988
The Couch Trip
1988
A Beverly Hills Christmas
1987
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
Pirates
1986
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986
Movers & Shakers
1985
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
The Survivors
1983
Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder
1982
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter
1982
I Ought to Be in Pictures
1982
I Love Liberty
1982
First Monday in October
1981
Buddy Buddy
1981
Hopscotch
1980
Little Miss Marker
1980
The Stingiest Man in Town
1978
Funny Business
1978
California Suite
1978
House Calls
1978
Actor
1978
Casey's Shadow
1978
The Gentleman Tramp
1976
The Bad News Bears
1976
The Sunshine Boys
1975
The Lion Roars Again
1975
Earthquake
1974
The Front Page
1974
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
1974
The Laughing Policeman
1973
Charley Varrick
1973
Pete 'n' Tillie
1972
Awake and Sing!
1972
Kotch
1971
Plaza Suite
1971
A New Leaf
1971
Cactus Flower
1969
Hello, Dolly!
1969
Candy
1968
Jack Benny's Bag
1968
The Secret Life of an American Wife
1968
The Odd Couple
1968
Carol Channing and 101 Men
1968
A Guide for the Married Man
1967
The Fortune Cookie
1966
Mirage
1965
Goodbye Charlie
1964
Fail Safe
1964
Ensign Pulver
1964
Charade
1963
Island of Love
1963
Who's Got the Action?
1962
Big Deal in Laredo
1962
Lonely are the Brave
1962
Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'
1960
Strangers When We Meet
1960
Gangster Story
1959
Ride a Crooked Trail
1958
Onionhead
1958
Voice in the Mirror
1958
King Creole
1958
Slaughter on 10th Avenue
1957
A Face in the Crowd
1957
Bigger Than Life
1956
The Indian Fighter
1955
The Kentuckian
1955
Atomic Attack
1954