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Walter Matthau

Milestones

  • Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
  • Birthday: October 1, 1920
  • 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

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

  • 1998

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

  • 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

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

  • 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

  • 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

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

  • 1980

    Reteamed with Jackson on "Hopscotch"

  • 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

    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

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

  • 1974

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

  • 1972

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

  • 1972

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

  • 1971

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

  • 1971

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

  • 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

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

  • 1965

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

  • 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

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

  • 1957

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

  • 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)

  • 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 to 1945

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

  • 1931

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

  • Appeared in 18 plays on Broadway

  • Played bit parts in local Yiddish theater productions as child

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