WM
Walter Matthau
Actor, Producer, Director
Born October 1, 1920Died July 1, 2000 (79 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Walter Matthau Filmography
| 2019 | Dolemite Is My Name · as Walter Burns |
| 2015 | Everything Is Copy · as Lou |
| 2000 | Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years · as Horace Vandergelder |
| 2000 | Hanging Up · as Lou Mozell |
| 1998 | The Marriage Fool · as Frank Walsh |
| 1998 | The Odd Couple II · as Oscar Madison |
| 1997 | Out to Sea · as Charlie Gordon |
| 1996 | I'm Not Rappaport · as Nat Moyer |
| 1995 | Grumpier Old Men · as Max Goldman |
| 1995 | The Grass Harp · as Judge Charlie Cool |
| 1994 | I.Q. · as Albert Einstein |
| 1994 | Incident in a Small Town · as Harmon Cobb |
| 1993 | Grumpy Old Men · as Max Goldman |
| 1993 | Dennis the Menace · as George Wilson |
| 1992 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas! · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1992 | Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore · as Harmon Cobb |
| 1991 | JFK · as Senator Long |
| 1991 | Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love · as Clifford Pepperman |
| 1990 | The Incident · as Harmon Cobb |
| 1988 | The Little Devil · as Padre Maurizio |
| 1988 | The Couch Trip · as Donald Becker |
| 1986 | Pirates · as Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red |
| 1985 | Movers & Shakers · as Joe Mulholland |
| 1984 | |
| 1983 | The Survivors · as Sonny Paluso |
| 1982 | I Ought to Be in Pictures · as Herbert Tucker |
| 1981 | Buddy Buddy · as Trabucco |
| 1981 | First Monday in October · as Dan Snow |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | Little Miss Marker · as Sorrowful Jones |
| 1978 | The Stingiest Man in Town · as Ebenezer Scrooge (voice) |
| 1978 | California Suite · as Marvin Michaels |
| 1978 | House Calls · as Dr. Charley Nichols |
| 1978 | Casey's Shadow · as Lloyd Bourdelle |
| 1976 | The Bad News Bears · as Coach Morris Buttermaker |
| 1975 | The Sunshine Boys · as Willy Clark |
| 1974 | The Front Page · as Walter Burns |
| 1974 | Earthquake · as Drunk |
| 1974 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three · as Lt. Garber |
| 1973 | The Laughing Policeman · as Sgt. Jake Martin Sfpd |
| 1973 | Charley Varrick · as Charley Varrick |
| 1972 | Pete 'n' Tillie · as Pete Seltzer |
| 1972 | Awake and Sing · as Moe Axelrod |
| 1971 | Kotch · as Joseph P. Kotcher |
| 1971 | A New Leaf · as Henry Graham |
| 1971 | Plaza Suite · as Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley |
| 1969 | Hello, Dolly! · as Horace Vandergelder |
| 1969 | Cactus Flower · as Dr. Julian Winston |
| 1968 | |
| 1968 | The Secret Life of an American Wife · as The Movie Star |
| 1968 | The Odd Couple · as Oscar Madison |
| 1967 | A Guide for the Married Man · as Paul Manning |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie · as Willie Gingrich |
| 1965 | Mirage · as Ted Caselle |
| 1964 | Goodbye Charlie · as Leo Sartori |
| 1964 | Profiles in Courage (TV Series) · as Andrew Johnson |
| 1964 | Fail Safe · as Prof. Groeteschele |
| 1964 | The Rogues (TV Series) · as Aram Rodesko |
| 1964 | Ensign Pulver · as Doc |
| 1963 | |
| 1963 | Island of Love · as Tony Dallas |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) |
| 1962 | Who's Got the Action? · as Tony Gagouts |
| 1962 | The Eleventh Hour (TV Series) · as Charles Thatcher |
| 1962 | Lonely Are the Brave · as Sheriff Morey Johnson |
| 1961 | Target: The Corruptors (TV Series) |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Franklin Gaer |
| 1961 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1961 | Great Ghost Tales (TV Series) · as Defago |
| 1961 | Tallahassee 7000 (TV Series) · as Lex Rogers |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | Insight (TV Series) · as Adam |
| 1960 | Strangers When We Meet · as Felix Anders |
| 1959 | Gangster Story · as Jack Martin |
| 1959 | The Play of the Week (TV Series) · as Ben Alexander |
| 1958 | Voice in the Mirror · as Dr. Karnes |
| 1958 | Ride a Crooked Trail · as Judge Kyle |
| 1958 | Onionhead · as 'red' Wildoe |
| 1958 | Naked City (TV Series) · as Peter Kanopolis |
| 1958 | King Creole · as Maxie Fields |
| 1957 | Slaughter on 10th Avenue · as Al Dahlke |
| 1957 | A Face in the Crowd · as Mel Miller |
| 1956 | Bigger Than Life · as Wally Gibbs |
| 1955 | The Indian Fighter · as Wes Todd |
| 1955 | Alcoa Hour (TV Series) · as Bill Egan |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Off. Pete Chandler |
| 1955 | The Kentuckian · as Stan Bodine |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Charlie Mapes |
| 1953 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) · as Gordon Wagner |
| 1953 | Ponds Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Tom Dutton |
| 1952 | Omnibus (TV Series) · as (segment "one Nation Indivisible") |
| 1952 | Mister Peepers (TV Series) · as Coach Burr |
| 1951 | Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Julian |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Coastguardsman |
| 1950 | Danger (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Corliss Price |
| 1950 | Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre (TV Series) · as The Bartender |
| 1949 | The Big Story (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1949 | Suspense (TV Series) · as Lawrence Stevens |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Jacobs |
| 1948 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Iago |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Harry |
| 2025 | Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost · as Self - Actor, The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three |
| 2023 | Les Fonda, une dynastie de cinéma · as Self |
| 2022 | |
| 2019 | Alan Pakula: Going for Truth · as Self |
| 2019 | Hitchcock Confidential · as Self |
| 2017 | Lauren Bacall, ombre et lumière · as Self |
| 2016 | Becoming Mike Nichols · as Self |
| 2014 | Famous Nathan · as Self |
| 2014 | |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes to... · as Self |
| 2006 | Phantom of the Opera: Behind the Mask · as Self - Attends Premiere |
| 2006 | Billy Wilder Speaks · as Self |
| 2005 | The Last Mogul · as Self |
| 2005 | The Great Man: W.C. Fields · as Self |
| 2004 | 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments · as Self |
| 2003 | Sex at 24 Frames Per Second · as Self |
| 2002 | The Kid Stays in the Picture · as Self |
| 2002 | |
| 2001 | The 73rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Memorial Tribute |
| 2001 | The Orange British Academy Film Awards · as Self |
| 1999 | Making Life Beautiful · as Self |
| 1999 | Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2 · as Self |
| 1998 | The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg · as Self - Interviewee |
| 1998 | The 70th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1997 | Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough · as Self |
| 1996 | Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman · as Self |
| 1996 | Jack Lemmon · as Self |
| 1996 | The 22nd Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self - Accepting Award For Favorite Comedy Motion Picture |
| 1996 | Private Screenings (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1995 | |
| 1994 | Barbra: The Concert · as Self - Concert Conductor |
| 1994 | The Best of the Don Lane Show · as Self |
| 1992 | Chaplin · as Self - Oscar Sequence |
| 1992 | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1992 | Laurel & Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys · as Self |
| 1992 | |
| 1991 | The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards 1991 · as Self - Presenter |
| 1990 | |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1990 | The 62nd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1990 | The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1990 | 7th Annual American Cinema Awards · as Self |
| 1989 | The 61st Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1988 | James Stewart's Wonderful Life · as Self |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | The 41st Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1986 | One Voice · as Self - Audience Member |
| 1986 | |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | Larry King Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1983 | The 55th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1982 | Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter · as Self |
| 1982 | Wogan (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1982 | The 54th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1982 | I Love Liberty · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1981 | The 38th Annual Golden Globe Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1980 | |
| 1980 | The 52nd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1978 | The 50th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1978 | The 15th Annual Publicists Guild Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1976 | The 48th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1976 | Live from Lincoln Center (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | The Gentleman Tramp · as Self / Narrator |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1973 | AFI Life Achievement Award (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1972 | The 44th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1971 | Film (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Parkinson (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1971 | The 43rd Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1970 | The 24th Annual Tony Awards · as Self - Host |
| 1969 | King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis · as Self - Co-Host |
| 1969 | The 41st Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1968 | The 40th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1967 | The 39th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Winner |
| 1964 | Cinema (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1963 | General Bradley · as Self |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1956 | Tony Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Host |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Nominee / Presenter |
| 1980 | Little Miss Marker · as Executive Producer |
| 1959 |