Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born October 1, 1920
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.
MovieElvis: A Life in Music
2026
as Self (archive footage)
Movie'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLast of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of 'Charley Varrick'
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHanging Up
2000
as Lou Mozell
MovieThe Marriage Fool
1998
as Frank Walsh
Private Screenings: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau
1998
as Self
MovieThe Odd Couple II
1998
as Oscar Madison
MovieBilly Wilder: The Human Comedy
1998
as Narrator
MovieOut to Sea
1997
as Charlie Gordon
MovieWalter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough
1997
as Self
MovieI'm Not Rappaport
1996
as Nat Moyer
MovieJack Lemmon: America's Everyman
1996
as Self
MovieThe Grass Harp
1996
as Judge Charlie Cool
MovieGrumpier Old Men
1995
as Max Goldman
MovieThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
as Self
MovieI.Q.
1994
as Albert Einstein
MovieIncident in a Small Town
1994
as Harmon Cobb
MovieGrumpy Old Men
1993
as Max Goldman
MovieDennis the Menace
1993
as Mr. Wilson
MovieBeyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
1993
as Self
MovieChaplin
1992
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!
1992
as Narrator (voice)
MovieLaurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
1992
as Self
MovieAgainst Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore
1992
as Harmon Cobb
MovieJFK
1991
as Senator Long
MovieMrs. Lambert Remembers Love
1991
as Clifford Pepperman
MovieThe Incident
1990
as Harmon Cobb
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
1989
as Self (voice)
MovieThe Little Devil
1988
as Padre Maurizio
MovieThe Couch Trip
1988
as Donald Becker
MovieA Beverly Hills Christmas
1987
as Self
MovieJames Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self
MoviePirates
1986
as Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red
MovieKraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986
as Self
MovieMovers & Shakers
1985
as Joe Mulholland
MovieThe Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
as Self - Performer
MovieThe Survivors
1983
as Sonny Paluso
MoviePortrait of a '60% Perfect Man': Billy Wilder
1982
as Self
MovieHollywood: The Gift of Laughter
1982
as Self
MovieI Ought to Be in Pictures
1982
as Herbert Tucker
MovieI Love Liberty
1982
as Self
MovieFirst Monday in October
1981
as Dan Snow
MovieBuddy Buddy
1981
as Trabucco
MovieHopscotch
1980
as Miles Kendig
MovieLittle Miss Marker
1980
as Sorrowful Jones
MovieThe Stingiest Man in Town
1978
as Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)
Funny Business
1978
as Self - Host
MovieCalifornia Suite
1978
as Marvin Michaels
MovieHouse Calls
1978
as Dr. Charley Nichols
MovieActor
1978
as Boris Thomashevsky
MovieCasey's Shadow
1978
as Lloyd Bourdelle
MovieThe Gentleman Tramp
1976
as Self / Narrator
MovieThe Bad News Bears
1976
as Coach Morris Buttermaker
MovieThe Sunshine Boys
1975
as Willy Clark
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
The Lion Roars Again
1975
as Self
MovieEarthquake
1974
as Drunk
MovieThe Front Page
1974
as Walter Burns
MovieThe Taking of Pelham One Two Three
1974
as Lt. Garber
MovieThe Laughing Policeman
1973
as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD
MovieCharley Varrick
1973
as Charley Varrick
TVThe American Film Institute Salute to ...
1973
as Self
MoviePete 'n' Tillie
1972
as Pete Seltzer
MovieAwake and Sing!
1972
as Moe Axelrod
Film '72
1971
as Self
MovieKotch
1971
as Joseph P. Kotcher
MoviePlaza Suite
1971
as Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley
MovieA New Leaf
1971
as Henry Graham
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Self
MovieCactus Flower
1969
as Dr. Julian Winston
MovieHello, Dolly!
1969
as Horace Vandergelder
MovieCandy
1968
as Gen. R.A. Smight
Jack Benny's Bag
1968
as Self
MovieThe Secret Life of an American Wife
1968
as The Movie Star
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Odd Couple
1968
as Oscar Madison
MovieCarol Channing and 101 Men
1968
as Self
MovieA Guide for the Married Man
1967
as Paul Manning
MovieThe Fortune Cookie
1966
as Willie Gingrich
MovieMirage
1965
as Ted Caselle
MovieGoodbye Charlie
1964
as Leo Sartori
Profiles in Courage
1964
as Gov. John Slaton
MovieFail Safe
1964
as Prof. Groeteschele
MovieEnsign Pulver
1964
as Doc
MovieCharade
1963
as Hamilton Bartholemew
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
as Tom Gregory
MovieIsland of Love
1963
as Tony Dallas
MovieWho's Got the Action?
1962
as Tony Gagouts
Big Deal in Laredo
1962
as Meredith
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
MovieLonely are the Brave
1962
as Sheriff Morey Johnson
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVTarget: The Corruptors!
1961
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Franklin Gaer
TVTallahassee 7000
1961
as Lex Rogers
MovieTwo by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands'
1960
as Ben Alexander / Philip Judah
TVRoute 66
1960
MovieStrangers When We Meet
1960
as Felix Anders
MovieGangster Story
1959
as Jack Martin
MovieRide a Crooked Trail
1958
as Judge Kyle
MovieOnionhead
1958
as 'Red' Wildoe
TVNaked City
1958
as Peter Kanopolis
MovieVoice in the Mirror
1958
as Dr. Karnes
MovieKing Creole
1958
as Maxie Fields
MovieSlaughter on 10th Avenue
1957
as Al Dahlke
MovieA Face in the Crowd
1957
as Mel Miller
MovieBigger Than Life
1956
as Wally Gibbs
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Host
MovieThe Indian Fighter
1955
as Wes Todd
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Off. Pete Chandler
MovieThe Kentuckian
1955
as Stan Bodine
TVClimax!
1954
as Charlie Mapes
MovieAtomic Attack
1954
as Dr. Spinelli
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Coastguardsman
TVRobert Montgomery Presents
1950
TVSuspense
1949
as Lawrence Stevens
TVStudio One
1948
as Jacobs
TVThe Philco Television Playhouse
1948
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee / Presenter
