Walter Matthau
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting122
movieElvis: A Life in Music
2026
Self (archive footage)
movie'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War
2020
Self (archive footage)
movieLast of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
2015
Self (archive footage)
movieHanging Up
2000
Lou Mozell
movieThe Marriage Fool
1998
Frank Walsh
movieThe Odd Couple II
1998
Oscar Madison
movieOut to Sea
1997
Charlie Gordon
movieI'm Not Rappaport
1996
Nat Moyer
movieThe Grass Harp
1996
Judge Charlie Cool
movieGrumpier Old Men
1995
Max Goldman
movieI.Q.
1994
Albert Einstein
movieIncident in a Small Town
1994
Harmon Cobb
movieGrumpy Old Men
1993
Max Goldman
movieDennis the Menace
1993
Mr. Wilson
movieChaplin
1992
Self (archive footage)
movieHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!
1992
Narrator (voice)
movieJFK
1991
Senator Long
movieMrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991
Clifford Pepperman
movieThe Incident
1990
Harmon Cobb
movieThe Little Devil
1988
Padre Maurizio
movieThe Couch Trip
1988
Donald Becker
moviePirates
1986
Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red
movieMovers & Shakers
1985
Joe Mulholland
movieThe Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
Self - Performer
movieThe Survivors
1983
Sonny Paluso
movieI Ought to Be in Pictures
1982
Herbert Tucker
movieFirst Monday in October
1981
Dan Snow
movieBuddy Buddy
1981
Trabucco
movieHopscotch
1980
Miles Kendig
movieLittle Miss Marker
1980
Sorrowful Jones
movieThe Stingiest Man in Town
1978
Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
Funny Business
1978
Self - Host
movieCalifornia Suite
1978
Marvin Michaels
movieHouse Calls
1978
Dr. Charley Nichols
movieActor
1978
Boris Thomashevsky
movieCasey's Shadow
1978
Lloyd Bourdelle
movieThe Gentleman Tramp
1976
Self / Narrator
movieThe Bad News Bears
1976
Coach Morris Buttermaker
movieThe Sunshine Boys
1975
Willy Clark
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self - Host
movieEarthquake
1974
Drunk
movieThe Front Page
1974
Walter Burns
movieThe Laughing Policeman
1973
Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD
movieCharley Varrick
1973
Charley Varrick
moviePete 'n' Tillie
1972
Pete Seltzer
movieAwake and Sing!
1972
Moe Axelrod
movieKotch
1971
Joseph P. Kotcher
moviePlaza Suite
1971
Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley
movieA New Leaf
1971
Henry Graham
movieCactus Flower
1969
Dr. Julian Winston
movieHello, Dolly!
1969
Horace Vandergelder
movieCandy
1968
Gen. R.A. Smight
movieThe Secret Life of an American Wife
1968
The Movie Star
tvThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
Self - Guest
movieThe Odd Couple
1968
Oscar Madison
movieA Guide for the Married Man
1967
Paul Manning
movieThe Fortune Cookie
1966
Willie Gingrich
movieMirage
1965
Ted Caselle
movieGoodbye Charlie
1964
Leo Sartori
Profiles in Courage
1964
Gov. John Slaton / Andrew Johnson
movieFail Safe
1964
Prof. Groeteschele
movieCharade
1963
Hamilton Bartholemew
movieIsland of Love
1963
Tony Dallas
movieWho's Got the Action?
1962
Tony Gagouts
movieLonely are the Brave
1962
Sheriff Morey Johnson
tvDr. Kildare
1961
Franklin Gaer
tvTallahassee 7000
1961
Lex Rogers
movieTwo by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'
1960
Ben Alexander / Philip Judah
movieStrangers When We Meet
1960
Felix Anders
movieGangster Story
1959
Jack Martin
movieRide a Crooked Trail
1958
Judge Kyle
movieOnionhead
1958
'Red' Wildoe
tvNaked City
1958
Peter Kanopolis / Dr. Max Lewine
movieVoice in the Mirror
1958
Dr. Karnes
movieKing Creole
1958
Maxie Fields
movieSlaughter on 10th Avenue
1957
Al Dahlke
movieA Face in the Crowd
1957
Mel Miller
movieBigger Than Life
1956
Wally Gibbs
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Host
movieThe Indian Fighter
1955
Wes Todd
tvAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Off. Pete Chandler / Moran / Harry Wade / Phil
movieThe Kentuckian
1955
Stan Bodine
tvClimax!
1954
Charlie Mapes
movieAtomic Attack
1954
Dr. Spinelli
tvThe Oscars
1953
Self
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Tom Dutton
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Coastguardsman / Inspector / Craig
tvRobert Montgomery Presents
1950
The Bartender
tvSuspense
1949
Lawrence Stevens
tvStudio One
1948
Jacobs / Olsen
tvThe Philco Television Playhouse
1948
Iago / Stuart Benson
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Nominee / Presenter
Directing1
movieGangster Story
1959
Director
Production1
movieLittle Miss Marker
1980
Executive Producer