
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.

Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986

Fail Safe
1964

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995

Charade
1963

JFK
1991

A Face in the Crowd
1957

Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman
1996

The Odd Couple
1968

Chaplin
1992

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
1974

Lonely are the Brave
1962

Charley Varrick
1973

The Front Page
1974

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
1992

A New Leaf
1971

The Fortune Cookie
1966

Bigger Than Life
1956

Cactus Flower
1969

Hopscotch
1980

Mirage
1965