Walter Matthau
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.
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Full filmography
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as The Bartender
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Iago
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Stuart Benson
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Tom Gregory
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Climax! (1954) as Charlie Mapes
- Naked City (1958) as Peter Kanopolis
- Naked City (1958) as Dr. Max Lewine
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Franklin Gaer
- Suspense (1949) as Lawrence Stevens
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Studio One (1948) as Jacobs
- Studio One (1948) as Olsen
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- Route 66 (1960)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self