Walter Matthau Picture
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Walter Matthau (1920–2000)


Born Walter Matthow on October 1, 1920, to a pair of Russian-Jewish immigrants in New York City, Matthau grew up in poverty on the Lower East Side and started out selling soft drinks and playing bit parts at a Yiddish theater troupe at age 11. He was paid 50 cents for each of his occasional on-stage appearances... See full bio »

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Won Oscar. Another 10 wins & 14 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActor (104 titles)
1998 The Marriage Fool (TV movie)
Frank Walsh
 
1997 Out to Sea
Charlie Gordon
 
1996 I'm Not Rappaport
Nat Moyer
 
1992 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (video)
Narrator (voice)
 
1991 JFK
Senator Long
 
1991 Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (TV movie)
Clifford Pepperman
 
1990 The Incident (TV movie)
Harmon Cobb
 
1988 Il piccolo diavolo
Maurice
 
1988 The Couch Trip
Donald Becker
 
1986 Pirates
Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red
 
1985 Movers & Shakers
Joe Mulholland
 
1983 The Survivors
Sonny Paluso
 
1982 I Ought to Be in Pictures
Herbert Tucker
 
1981 First Monday in October
Dan Snow
 
1980 Hopscotch
Miles Kendig/James Butler/Mr. Hannaway/Leonard Ross
 
1978 The Stingiest Man in Town (TV movie)
Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
 
1978 Casey's Shadow
Lloyd Bourdelle
 
1978 House Calls
Dr. Charley Nichols
 
1978 Actor (TV movie)
Boris Thomashevsky
 
1977 Insight (TV series)
Adam
The Side of Eden (1977) … Adam
 
1974 Earthquake
Drunk (as Walter Matuschanskayasky)
 
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Police Lt. Zachary Garber
 
1972 Pete 'n' Tillie
Pete
 
1972 Awake and Sing (TV movie)
Moe Axelrod
 
1971 Plaza Suite
Roy Hubley/Jesse Kiplinger/Sam Nash
 
1971 A New Leaf
Henry Graham
 
1968 Candy
Gen. R.A. Smight
 
1968 The Secret Life of an American Wife
The Movie Star
 
1967 A Guide for the Married Man
Paul Manning
 
1964-1965 Profiles in Courage (TV series)
Andrew Johnson / Gov. John Slaton
Governor John M. Slaton (1964) … Gov. John Slaton
 
1964 Goodbye Charlie
Sir Leopold Sartori
 
1964 Dr. Kildare (TV series)
Franklin Gaer
Man Is a Rock (1964) … Franklin Gaer
 
1964 The Rogues (TV series)
Aram Rodesko
The Personal Touch (1964) … Aram Rodesko
 
1964 Ensign Pulver
Doc
 
1962-1964 The DuPont Show of the Week (TV series)
Narrator / Harley Downing / Martin Pitt / …
Jeremy Rabbitt - The Secret Avenger (1964) … Tony Maruzella
The Takers (1963) … Harley Downing
A Dozen Deadly Roses (1963) … Martin Pitt
San Francisco Detective (1963) … Narrator
Prisoner at Large (1963) … Narrator
 
1964 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV series)
Tom Gregory
White Snow, Red Ice (1964) … Tom Gregory
 
1963 Island of Love
Tony Dallas
 
1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV series)
Charles Thatcher
A Tumble from a High White House (1963) … Charles Thatcher
 
1960-1962 Naked City (TV series)
Dr. Max Lewine / Peter Kanopolis
Don't Knock It Till You've Tried It (1962) … Dr. Max Lewine
The Man Who Bit a Diamond in Half (1960) … Peter Kanopolis
 
1962 Who's Got the Action?
Tony Gagouts
 
1962 Lonely Are the Brave
Sheriff Morey Johnson
 
1956-1962 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Tom Dutton
Acres and Pains (1962) … Tom Dutton
Reflected Glory (1956)
 
1961-1962 Target: The Corruptors (TV series)
Martin 'Books' Kramer / Michael Callahan
One for the Road (1962) … Michael Callahan
The Million Dollar Dump (1961) … Martin 'Books' Kramer
 
1958-1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Harry Wade / Moran / Officer Chandler / …
Cop for a Day (1961) … Phil
A Very Moral Theft (1960) … Harry Wade
Dry Run (1959) … Moran
The Crooked Road (1958) … Officer Chandler
 
1961 Tallahassee 7000 (TV series)
Lex Rogers
Hostage (1961) … Lex Rogers
Scared Witness (1961) … Lex Rogers
Lady Killer (1961) … Lex Rogers
Trial and Error (1961) … Lex Rogers
 
1961 Route 66 (TV series)
Sam Keep
Eleven, the Hard Way (1961) … Sam Keep
 
1960 Play of the Week (TV series)
James Hyland
The Rope Dancers (1960) … James Hyland
 
1960 Strangers When We Meet
Felix Anders
 
1960 Juno and the Paycock (TV movie)
 
1959 Gangster Story
Jack Martin
 
1958 Onionhead
'Red' Wildoe
 
1958 Ride a Crooked Trail
Judge Kyle
 
1958 Voice in the Mirror
Dr. Leon Karnes
 
1958 King Creole
Maxie Fields
 
1952-1958 Kraft Theatre (TV series)
Harry
Code of the Corner (1958) … Harry
 
1957 Climax! (TV series)
Charlie Mapes
To Walk the Night (1957) … Charlie Mapes
 
1957 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
Al Dahlke
 
1956-1957 The Alcoa Hour (TV series)
Bill Egan / George Barry
The Trouble with Women (1957) … George Barry
The Big Vote (1956) … Bill Egan
 
1954-1957 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
Gordon Wagner
Victim (1957)
Late Date (1954) … Gordon Wagner
 
1952-1957 Goodyear Playhouse (TV series)
Major Hunter
The Legacy (1957)
A Will to Live (1957)
Flight Report (1954)
A. Fadeout (1953)
The Cipher (1953)
 
1957 A Face in the Crowd
Mel Miller
 
1956 Bigger Than Life
Wally Gibbs
 
1955 The Indian Fighter
Wes Todd
 
1955 Justice (TV series)
Booby Trap (1955)
 
1955 The Kentuckian
Stan Bodine
 
1954-1955 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV series)
The Bartender
A Stone for His Son (1955)
The Lost Weekend (1955) … The Bartender
Dr. Ed (1954)
 
1952-1955 The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV series)
Iago / Stuart Benson
Walk into the Night (1955)
Adapt or Die (1954) … Stuart Benson
Othello (1953) … Iago
Three Sundays (1952)
 
1952-1954 Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV series)
Corliss Price
Hit a Blue Note (1954)
The Straight and Narrow (1953) … Corliss Price
The Darkroom (1952)
 
1954 Ponds Theater (TV series)
Nothing Personal (1954)
 
1954 Center Stage (TV series)
The Human Touch (1954)
 
1954 The Motorola Television Hour (TV series)
Dr. Spinelli
Atomic Attack (1954) … Dr. Spinelli
 
1952-1954 Danger (TV series)
Night of Reckoning (1954)
A Buck Is a Buck (1952)
 
1950-1953 Studio One in Hollywood (TV series)
Jacobs
Dry Run (1953)
The Last Cruise (1950) … Jacobs
 
1953 Campbell Summer Soundstage (TV series)
Wonder in Your Eyes (1953)
 
1953 Suspense (TV series)
Lawrence Stevens
F.O.B. Vienna (1953) … Lawrence Stevens
 
1952 Mister Peepers (TV series)
Coach Burr
Unaired Pilot … Coach Burr (uncredited)
 
1950-1952 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Extra / 1st Coastguardsman / Cop Number One / …
Man at Bay (1952) … Intermission Guest
For Goodness Sake (1952) … Extra (uncredited)
Cafe Ami (1951) … Craig
The Speech (1951) … Extra (uncredited)
Manhattan Pastorale (1951) … Inspector
 
1951 Shadow of the Cloak (TV series)
The Missing Years (1951)
 
1950 The Big Story (TV series)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (4 titles)
1983 The 55th Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (performer: "It All Comes Down to This")
 
1978 The Stingiest Man in Town (TV movie) (performer: "Humbug!", "One Little Boy", "The Christmas Spirit reprise", "Mankind Should Be My Business")
 
1969 Hello, Dolly! (performer: "It Takes a Woman" 1964 - uncredited, "So Long, Dearie" 1964 / 1964 - uncredited, "Finale" Medley / 1964 - uncredited / "Hello, Dolly!" 1964 - uncredited)
 
1968 The Odd Couple (performer: "Rule Britannia" 1740 - uncredited)
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1980 Little Miss Marker (executive producer)
 
Show ShowDirector (1 title)
1959 Gangster Story
 
Show ShowThanks (4 titles)
1999 Making Life Beautiful (TV documentary short) (thanks)
 
1998 The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (documentary) (in loving memory of)
 
1992 Chaplin (thanks)
 
1988 Doin' Time on Planet Earth (special thanks - as Mr. Walter Matthau)
 
Show ShowSelf (93 titles)
2000 Larry King Live (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 10 February 2000 (2000) … Himself
 
1999 Making Life Beautiful (TV documentary short)
Himself
 
1998 The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (documentary)
Himself - interviewee
 
1996-1998 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 7 April 1998 (1998) … Himself
Episode dated 27 December 1996 (1996) … Himself
Episode dated 4 November 1996 (1996) … Himself
 
1998 The 70th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Original Screenplay
 
1998 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Himself / Narrator
Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy (1998) … Himself/Narrator
 
1998 Intimate Portrait (TV series documentary)
Himself
Lea Thompson (1998) … Himself
 
1998 Private Screenings (TV series)
Himself
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau (1998) … Himself
 
1997 Elvis: His Life and Times (TV special)
 
1997 The 11th Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Winner: Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy
 
1996 Jack Lemmon (TV movie)
Himself
 
1996 The 22nd Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Accepting Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture
 
1995 The Annual 1995 ShoWest Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter
 
1995 Barbra: The Concert (TV special documentary)
Himself - Concert Conductor (uncredited)
 
1995 The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter: Favorite Motion Picture
 
1994 The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter: Favorite Comedy Motion Picture
 
1993 The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 The 52th Annual Golden Apple Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 Reflections on the Silver Screen (TV series)
Himself
Walter Matthau (1992) … Himself
 
1992 A Tribute to the Boys: Laurel and Hardy (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Sidney Poitier (TV special)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1992 Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy (documentary)
Himself (also archive footage)
 
1991 The Movie Awards (TV documentary)
Himself - Presenter
 
1991 The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Cecil B. DeMille Award
 
1991 The Secrets of Dick Smith (TV documentary short)
Himself - Discussing The Sunshine Boys
 
1990 The 62nd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
 
1990 7th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1990 The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter: Favourite Dramatic Motion Picture
 
1989 The 3rd Annual American Comedy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1988 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1988 The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter
 
1987 A Beverly Hills Christmas (TV movie)
Himself
 
1987 We the People 200: The Constitutional Gala (TV movie)
Himself - Performer
 
1987 The 41st Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter
 
1987 The 1st Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1987 Parkinson One to One (TV series)
Episode #1.8 (1987)
Episode #1.1 (1987)
 
1987 Great Performances (TV series)
Himself
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987) … Himself
 
1987 The Annual Tel Aviv Gala Presents a Salute to Goldie Hawn (TV movie)
Himself - Speaker
 
1987 The 4th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1987 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbara Stanwyck (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1987 Change of Heart (TV documentary short)
Himself
 
1986 One Voice (TV special documentary)
Himself - Audience Member (uncredited)
 
1986 The Annual Variety Club's Big Heart Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1986 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Billy Wilder (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1984 The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team (TV movie)
Himself - Performer
 
1983 The 55th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Host
 
1983 The 9th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter: Favourite Young Performer in a Motion Picture
 
1982 Portrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder (documentary)
Himself
 
1982 Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (TV documentary)
Himself - Co-Host
 
1982 The 54th Annual Academy Awards (TV special documentary)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Director
 
1982 I Love Liberty (TV special)
 
1971-1981 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 10 December 1981 (1981) … Himself
Episode dated 17 December 1974 (1974) … Himself
Episode dated 22 December 1972 (1972) … Himself
Episode dated 10 May 1971 (1971) … Himself
Episode dated 15 February 1971 (1971) … Himself
 
1981 The 38th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special)
Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Motion Picture [Musical or Comedy]
 
1980 Clapper Board (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 28 July 1980 (1980) … Himself
 
1980 The 52nd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Supporting Actor
 
1980 Today (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 19 March 1980 (1980) … Himself
 
1979 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Alfred Hitchcock (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1978 Saturday Night Live (TV series)
Himself - Host / Various
Walter Matthau (1978) … Himself - Host/Various
 
1978 Funny Business (TV documentary)
Himself/Narrator
 
1978 The Barbara Walters Summer Special (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.2 (1978) … Himself
 
1978 The 50th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role
 
1978 The 15th Annual Publicists Guild Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter
 
1978 The Making of 'Casey's Shadow' (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1977 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 21 October 1977 (1977) … Himself
 
1976 The George Burns Special (TV special)
Himself
 
1976 The Gentleman Tramp (documentary)
Narrator
 
1976 The 48th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role
 
1976 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to William Wyler (TV special documentary)
Himself (uncredit)
 
1975 The 29th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter
 
1975/II The Sunshine Boys (documentary short)
Himself
 
1975 The Lion Roars Again (documentary short)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1972 The 44th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role & Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role
 
1970-1971 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #3.165 (1971) … Himself
Episode #2.191 (1970) … Himself
 
1971 The 43rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role
 
1970 The 24th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Himself - Host
 
1970 King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (documentary)
Himself
 
1969 The 41st Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Film Editing & Honorary Award to John Chambers
 
1968 The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.156 (1968) … Himself
 
1968 The 40th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
 
1968 Carol Channing and 101 Men (TV movie)
Himself
 
1967 The 39th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Winner: Best Actor in Supporting Role
 
1967 Cinema (TV series documentary)
Himself
Walter Matthau (1967) … Himself
 
1965 The 19th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1965 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.2 (1965) … Himself
 
1963 The 17th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Presenter
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (22 titles)
2009 À l'abordage - L'aventure de pirates (video documentary)
Himself
 
2008 60/90 (TV series)
 
2007 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
2006 Billy Wilder Speaks (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2006 ¿De qué te ríes? (TV movie)
Oscar Madison
 
2005 Battleground (TV series documentary)
 
2005 The Last Mogul (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
2005 The Great Man: W.C. Fields (video documentary)
Himself
 
2004 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments (TV movie)
Himself
 
2003 Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (video documentary)
Himself
 
2002 Elvis at the Movies (video documentary)
Himself
 
2002 The Kid Stays in the Picture (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
2001 Hollywood Remembers Walter Matthau (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2001 The 73rd Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself (Memorial Tribute)
 
2001 Here's Hal: Hal Riddle (documentary short)
'Red' Wildoe
 
2001 The Orange British Academy Film Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
2000 Backstory (TV series documentary)
 
2000 Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (TV documentary)
Horace Vandergelder
 
1999 Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2 (TV special documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1994 The Best of the Don Lane Show (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 Chaplin
Himself - Oscar Sequence (uncredited)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1948- 1967). Active on Broadway in the following productions: See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | 1 Interview  | 11 Articles  | See more »


Alternate Names:

Mr. Walter Matthau | Walter Matuschanskayasky

Height:

6' 3" (1.91 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[on Glenda Jackson] She's an absolute dreamboat, the epitome of professionalism, a splendid actress, and she has all the make-up of a fully rounded person. See more »

Trivia:

Appeared in Ensign Pulver, the sequel to Mister Roberts, for which his friend Jack Lemmon won an Oscar. See more »

Trademark:

Slouching posture See more »

Nickname:

Jake See more »

Star Sign:

Libra