Walter Matthau
Acting Born Oct 1, 1920 Died Jul 1, 2000 New York City, New York, USA 136 credits
Biography
Walter Matthau was an American actor and comedian. Born on October 1, 1920, in New York City, New York, USA, he is known for his film roles in A Face in the Crowd, King Creole, and The Bad News Bears. He also starred in 10 films alongside Jack Lemmon, including The Odd Couple and Grumpy Old Men. Matthau won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Fortune Cookie. He appeared in other notable films such as Charade and Hello, Dolly!. With a career spanning multiple genres, Matthau is recognized for his versatility as an actor. He passed away on July 1, 2000, at the age of 79.
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Career overview
Walter Matthau was an American actor, comedian, and film director. He began his acting career with notable roles in films such as A Face in the Crowd and King Creole. Matthau is also known for his performances in various films, including a baseball comedy where he played a coach of a little league team.
Matthau frequently collaborated with other actors, particularly Jack Lemmon, with whom he starred in ten films. These collaborations included The Odd Couple, The Front Page, and Grumpy Old Men. He also appeared in other notable films such as Charade, a romance directed by Stanley Donen, and Hello, Dolly!, a musical directed by Gene Kelly.
Matthau's performance in The Fortune Cookie earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Throughout his career, he demonstrated his versatility as an actor, taking on a wide range of roles in various genres. His body of work showcases his talent and contributions to the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Elvis: A Life in Music
'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War
Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
Hanging Up
The Odd Couple IIThe Marriage FoolBilly Wilder: The Human ComedyPrivate Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau
Out to SeaWalter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
I'm Not RappaportThe Grass HarpJack Lemmon: America's Everyman
Grumpier Old MenThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
I.Q.Incident in a Small Town
Dennis the MenaceGrumpy Old MenBeyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
ChaplinAgainst Her Will: An Incident in BaltimoreLaurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the BoysHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!
JFKMrs. Lambert Remembers Love
The Incident
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
The Little DevilThe Couch Trip
James Stewart: A Wonderful LifeA Beverly Hills Christmas
PiratesKraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Movers & Shakers
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
The Survivors
I Love LibertyI Ought to Be in PicturesPortrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy WilderHollywood: The Gift of Laughter
First Monday in OctoberBuddy Buddy
Little Miss MarkerLittle Miss Marker · Executive ProducerHopscotch
California SuiteActorCasey's ShadowFunny BusinessThe Stingiest Man in Town
The Bad News BearsThe Gentleman Tramp
Saturday Night LiveThe Sunshine BoysThe Lion Roars Again
EarthquakeThe Taking of Pelham One Two ThreeThe Front Page
The American Film Institute Salute to ...Charley VarrickThe Laughing Policeman
Awake and Sing!Pete 'n' Tillie
Great PerformancesFilm '72A New LeafKotchPlaza Suite
Full filmography
- Elvis: A Life in Music (2026) as Self (archive footage)
- 'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick' (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- Hanging Up (2000) as Lou Mozell
- The Odd Couple II (1998) as Oscar Madison
- The Marriage Fool (1998) as Frank Walsh
- Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy (1998) as Narrator
- Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau (1998) as Self
- Out to Sea (1997) as Charlie Gordon
- Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough (1997) as Self
- I'm Not Rappaport (1996) as Nat Moyer
- The Grass Harp (1996) as Judge Charlie Cool
- Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman (1996) as Self
- Grumpier Old Men (1995) as Max Goldman
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self
- I.Q. (1994) as Albert Einstein
- Incident in a Small Town (1994) as Harmon Cobb
- Dennis the Menace (1993) as Mr. Wilson
- Grumpy Old Men (1993) as Max Goldman
- Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy (1993) as Self
- Chaplin (1992) as Self (archive footage)
- Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore (1992) as Harmon Cobb
- Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys (1992) as Self
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- JFK (1991) as Senator Long
- Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (1991) as Clifford Pepperman
- The Incident (1990) as Harmon Cobb
- Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre (1989) as Self (voice)
- The Little Devil (1988) as Padre Maurizio
- The Couch Trip (1988) as Donald Becker
- James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987) as Self
- A Beverly Hills Christmas (1987) as Self
- Pirates (1986) as Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red
- Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special (1986) as Self
- Movers & Shakers (1985) as Joe Mulholland
- The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team (1984) as Self - Performer
- The Survivors (1983) as Sonny Paluso
- I Love Liberty (1982) as Self
- I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) as Herbert Tucker
- Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder (1982) as Self
- Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982) as Self
- First Monday in October (1981) as Dan Snow
- Buddy Buddy (1981) as Trabucco
- Little Miss Marker (1980) as Sorrowful Jones
- Little Miss Marker (1980) Executive Producer
- Hopscotch (1980) as Miles Kendig
- California Suite (1978) as Marvin Michaels
- Actor (1978) as Boris Thomashevsky
- Casey's Shadow (1978) as Lloyd Bourdelle
- Funny Business (1978) as Self - Host
- The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) as Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
- House Calls (1978) as Dr. Charley Nichols
- The Bad News Bears (1976) as Coach Morris Buttermaker
- The Gentleman Tramp (1976) as Self / Narrator
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Sunshine Boys (1975) as Willy Clark
- The Lion Roars Again (1975) as Self
- Earthquake (1974) as Drunk
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) as Lt. Garber
- The Front Page (1974) as Walter Burns
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Charley Varrick (1973) as Charley Varrick
- The Laughing Policeman (1973) as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD
- Awake and Sing! (1972) as Moe Axelrod
- Pete 'n' Tillie (1972) as Pete Seltzer
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- A New Leaf (1971) as Henry Graham
- Kotch (1971) as Joseph P. Kotcher
- Plaza Suite (1971) as Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley
- Hello, Dolly! (1969) as Horace Vandergelder
- Cactus Flower (1969) as Dr. Julian Winston
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Candy (1968) as Gen. R.A. Smight
- The Odd Couple (1968) as Oscar Madison
- Carol Channing and 101 Men (1968) as Self
- Jack Benny's Bag (1968) as Self
- The Secret Life of an American Wife (1968) as The Movie Star
- A Guide for the Married Man (1967) as Paul Manning
- The Fortune Cookie (1966) as Willie Gingrich
- Mirage (1965) as Ted Caselle
- Profiles in Courage (1964) as Gov. John Slaton
- Profiles in Courage (1964) as Andrew Johnson
- Fail Safe (1964) as Prof. Groeteschele
- Goodbye Charlie (1964) as Leo Sartori
- Ensign Pulver (1964) as Doc
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Tom Gregory
- Charade (1963) as Hamilton Bartholemew
- Island of Love (1963) as Tony Dallas
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Who's Got the Action? (1962) as Tony Gagouts
- Lonely are the Brave (1962) as Sheriff Morey Johnson
- Big Deal in Laredo (1962) as Meredith
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Franklin Gaer
- Target: The Corruptors! (1961)
- Tallahassee 7000 (1961) as Lex Rogers
- Route 66 (1960)
- Strangers When We Meet (1960) as Felix Anders
- Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands' (1960) as Ben Alexander / Philip Judah
- Gangster Story (1959) as Jack Martin
- Gangster Story (1959) Director
- Naked City (1958) as Peter Kanopolis
- Naked City (1958) as Dr. Max Lewine
- Onionhead (1958) as 'Red' Wildoe
- King Creole (1958) as Maxie Fields
- Voice in the Mirror (1958) as Dr. Karnes
- Ride a Crooked Trail (1958) as Judge Kyle
- Slaughter on 10th Avenue (1957) as Al Dahlke
- A Face in the Crowd (1957) as Mel Miller
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Bigger Than Life (1956) as Wally Gibbs
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Off. Pete Chandler
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Moran
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Harry Wade
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Phil
- The Indian Fighter (1955) as Wes Todd
- The Kentuckian (1955) as Stan Bodine
- Climax! (1954) as Charlie Mapes
- Atomic Attack (1954) as Dr. Spinelli
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- General Electric Theater (1953)
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Tom Dutton
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as The Bartender
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Coastguardsman
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Inspector
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Craig
- Suspense (1949) as Lawrence Stevens
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Iago
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Stuart Benson
- Studio One (1948) as Jacobs
- Studio One (1948) as Olsen
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter