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Walter Matthau
New York City, New York, USA
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…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2026
Elvis: A Life in Music
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
2020
'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2015
Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2000
Hanging Up
Movie Lou Mozell
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1998
The Marriage Fool
Movie Frank Walsh
-
1998
The Odd Couple II
Movie Oscar Madison
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1998
Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy
Movie Narrator
-
1997
Out to Sea
Movie Charlie
-
1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
Movie Self
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1996
I'm Not Rappaport
Movie Nat Moyer
-
1996
Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman
Movie Self
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1996
The Grass Harp
Movie Judge Charlie Cool
-
1995
Grumpier Old Men
Movie Max Goldman
- 1995
-
1994
I.Q.
Movie Albert Einstein
-
1994
Incident in a Small Town
Movie Harmon Cobb
More credits
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1993
Grumpy Old Men
Movie Max Goldman
-
1993
Dennis the Menace
Movie Mr. Wilson
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1993
Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
Movie Self
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1992
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Movie Narrator (voice)
-
1992
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
Movie Self
-
1992
Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore
Movie Harmon Cobb
-
1991
JFK
Movie Senator Long
-
1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love
Movie Clifford Pepperman
-
1990
The Incident
Movie Harmon Cobb
-
1989
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
Movie Self (voice)
-
1988
The Little Devil
Movie Padre Maurizio
-
1988
The Couch Trip
Movie Donald Becker
-
1987
A Beverly Hills Christmas
Movie Self
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1987
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Movie Self
-
1986
Pirates
Movie Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red
- 1986
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1985
Movers & Shakers
Movie Joe Mulholland
-
1984
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Movie Self - Performer
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1983
The Survivors
Movie Sonny Paluso
- 1982
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1982
Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter
Movie Self
-
1982
I Ought to Be in Pictures
Movie Herbert Tucker
-
1982
I Love Liberty
Movie Self
-
1981
First Monday in October
Movie Dan Snow
