Walter Matthau

Photo of Walter Matthau

Biography

Matthau started on the stage and enjoyed lasting success on Broadway, before making the transition to villainous supporting roles in films like "King Creole" (1958) and "Charade" (1963). Following more supporting roles in the comedy sequel "Ensign Pulver" (1964) and the tense political thriller "Fail-Safe" (1964), Matthau partnered for the first time with Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder's caustic comedy, "The Fortune Cookie" (1966). The pair would …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Other

Born

October 1, 1920

Career Milestones

2000

Cast as the ailing father in Diane Keaton's "Hanging Up", scripted by Delia and Nora Ephron; when a case of pneumonia forced him to leave the production early, son Charles stepped in and played his father's character in a few flashback scenes

1998

Starred opposite Burnett in "The Marriage Fool" (CBS), directed by son Charles

1998

Reprised role of Oscar to Lemmon's Felix in the ill-advised "The Odd Couple II", scripted by Simon

1997

Twelfth acting collaboration with Lemmon, "Out to Sea"

1996

Played angry, aging Jewish radical in Herb Gardner's film version of his play "I'm Not Rappaport"; co-starred Ossie Davis

1995

Reteamed with son, acting in Charles' sophomore feature as director, "The Grass Harp", based on the novel by Truman Capote; in addition to Lemmon, Roddy McDowell, Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie and Joe Don Baker acted in film

1995

Reprised role opposite Lemmon in sequel, "Grumpier Old Men", which again featured Ann-Margret; also co-starred Sophia Loren

1994

Essayed Albert Einstein for Fred Schepisi's "I.Q.", which reteamed him with Gene Saks playing one of his cronies

1993

Co-starred with Jack Lemmon in "Grumpy Old Men", which reteamed him with Ann-Margret

1993

Portrayed the original grumpy old man, Mr. Wilson, in feature version of "Dennis the Menace"

1991

Acted in "Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love" (CBS), directed by son Charles Matthau

1990

Returned to the small screen as star of "The Incident" (CBS), directed by Joseph Sargent; appeared in two sequels, "Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore" (1992) and "Incident in a Small Town" (1994), both helmed by Delbert Mann

1988

Again collaborated with Ritchie on "The Couch Trip"; also played a priest who exorcises the devil out of a woman in Roberto Begnini's "The Little Devil" (never released in USA)

1986

Played peg-leg Captain Red in Roman Polanski's "Pirates"

1983

Reteamed with Ritchie on "The Survivors", co-starring Robin Williams

1981

Reunited with Ross and Simon for "I Ought to be in Pictures"; first film with Ann-Margret

1981

Third and last collaboration with Wilder, "Buddy Buddy", co-starring Lemmon

1980

Reteamed with Jackson on "Hopscotch"

1980

Executive produced and starred in Walter Bernstein's remake of "Little Miss Marker"

1978

"House Calls", his first film with Glenda Jackson, teamed him again with Carney who offered an hysterical turn as the addle-brained head of surgery at Matthau's hospital; also acted in Ritt's "Casey's Shadow"

1978

Reteamed with Ross, Simon and Elaine May on "California Suite"

1976

Made a fine, irascible coach of "The Bad News Bears", directed by Michael Ritchie

1975

First of three films directed by Herbert Ross and scripted by Simon from his plays, "The Sunshine Boys", co-starring George Burns; earned another Oscar nod as Best Actor

1974

First stage appearance in almost a decade (and to date last stage role), "Juno and the Paycock" in Los Angeles

1974

Billed as Walter Matuschanskavasky for his cameo in "Earthquake", adding fuel to a flame he had fanned by jokingly telling a writer a few years before that it was his "real" name

1974

Reunited with Wilder, Lemmon and Burnett for the uneven remake of "The Front Page"

1972

Made rare TV appearance in "Awake and Sing" (PBS)

1972

Acted opposite Carol Burnett in Martin Ritt's "Pete 'n' Tillie"

1971

Second film version of a Neil Simon play, "Plaza Suite"

1971

Portrayed "gold digger" with murder on his mind in Elaine May's "A New Leaf"

1971

Starred as "Kotch", directed by Lemmon; earned first Oscar nomination as Best Actor

1969

Played romantic lead in Kelly's film version of the musical "Hello, Dolly!"; Barbra Streisand played Dolly Levi

1969

Reteamed with Saks for "Cactus Flower", acting opposite Ingrid Bergman and Goldie Hawn (who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in her first significant film role)

1968

Reprised "Odd Couple" role opposite Lemmon's Felix in film version directed by Gene Saks

1967

Reteamed with Carney in Gene Kelly's "A Guide for the Married Man"

1966

First film with Jack Lemmon and first collaboration with writer-director Billy Wilder, "The Fortune Cookie"; won Best Supporting Actor Oscar

1965

Slowed down by a serious heart attack; would have a quadruple by-pass operation in 1977

1965

Originated role of Oscar Madison on Broadway in Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple" opposite Art Carney as Felix Unger

1963

Turned in another fine, villainous turn in Stanley Donen's "Charade", starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn

1959

Sole film as director, "The Gangster Story"; also co-starred

1958

Portrayed evil crime boss in Michael Curtiz's "King Creole", starring Elvis Presley

1957

Starred in short-lived syndicated TV series, "Tallahassee 7000"

1957

Played a cynical newsman investigating Andy Griffith's character in "A Face in the Crowd"

1956

Played James Mason's family friend in the underrated "Bigger Than Life", a forceful, realistic tale exposing both the good and bad of the wonder drug cortisone; produced by Mason

1955

Appeared in first hit show, as co-star of Broadway production of "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?"

1955

Film acting debut as an evil saloon keeper in "The Kentuckian", directed by and co-starring Burt Lancaster

1953

Played Iago in "Philco Television Playhouse" (NBC) presentation of "Othello"

1950

TV debut in "Last Cruise", an episode of "Studio One" (CBS)

Appeared in 18 plays on Broadway

1948

Hired as an understudy for the Broadway production of "Anne of the Thousand Days"; eventually made Broadway debut as the 85-year-old Bishop Fisher

1947

Was stock player with Orange County Playhouse (New York)

1946

Appeared in summer stock with Erie County Playhouse (Pennsylvania) in "Ten Nights in a Bar Room"

1945

Upon Army discharge went to Reno, Nevada, to work for Railway Express; eventually moved back to NYC

1942

Served in US Army Air Force as radio operator and cryptographer; stationed in England, France and Germany

Played bit parts in local Yiddish theater productions as child

1931

Professional stage debut at age 11 in "The Dishwasher", a musical comedy (date approximate)

Awards

1981

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in First Monday in October

1980

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Hopscotch

1975

Academy Award for Actor in The Sunshine Boys

1975

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Sunshine Boys

1974

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Front Page

1973

BAFTA Award for Actor in Charley Varrick

1972

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Pete 'n' Tillie

1971

Academy Award for Actor in Kotch

1971

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Kotch

1969

BAFTA Award for Actor in The Secret Life of an American Wife

1968

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Odd Couple

1966

Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in The Fortune Cookie

1966

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Fortune Cookie

1965

Tony Award for Actor (Dramatic)

1963

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance By an Actor In a Leading Role in The DuPont Show of the Week

1962

Tony Award for Actor, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic)