1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Walter Matthau Biography (1920-2000)

Original name, Walter Matuschanskavasky; born October 1, 1920, in New York, NY; son of Milton (an electrician) and Rose (Berolsky) Matuschanskavasky; uncle of Juliette Gruber (an actress); married Grace Geraldine Johnson, 1948 (divorced, 1958); married Carol Grace Marcus Saroyan (a writer), August 21, 1959;children: (first marriage) David, Jenny; (second marriage) Charles (a director, producer, and personal manager). Avocational interests: Gambling.Career: Actor, director, and producer. Also worked as a radio operator, file clerk, boxing instructor, basketball coach, and vendor. Affiliated with the Matthau Company. Military service: U.S. Army Air Forces, servedin Europe during World War II, 1942-45; became staff sergeant; received six battle stars. Member: Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild,American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Awards, Honors: New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 1951, for Twilight Walk; New YorkDrama Critics Circle Award, and Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best supporting or featured actor in a play, both 1959, for Once More with Feeling; Antoinette Perry Award, best supporting or featured actor in a play, 1962, for A Shot in the Dark; Film Daily Award, 1962, for LonelyAre the Brave; Antoinette Perry Award, best actor in a play, and New York Drama Critics Circle Award, both 1965, for The Odd Couple; Academy Award, best supporting actor, 1966, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, 1967, both for The Fortune Cookie;Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, 1969, for The Odd Couple; British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award nomination, best actor, 1970, for Hello, Dolly! and The SecretLife of an American Wife; Academy Award nomination, best actor, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, both 1972, for Kotch; Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, 1973, for Pete 'n' Tillie; British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, 1973, for Pete 'n' Tillie and Charley Varrick; Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, 1975, for The Front Page; Golden Globe Award, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, and Academy Award nomination, best actor, both 1976, for The Sunshine Boys; British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award nomination, best actor, 1977, for The Sunshine Boys and The Bad News Bears; Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--musical/comedy, 1981, for Hopscotch; Golden Globe Award nomination, best motion picture actor--comedy/musical, 1982, for First Monday in October; ShoWest Convention Award, lifetime achievement, 1993; American Comedy Award, lifetime achievement, 1997; Platinum Circle Award (with Carol Matthau and Charles Matthau), American Film Institute, 1997, for family contributions to show business. Addresses: Office: The Matthau Company, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, CA 90067-6022.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor, Director, Producer

Birth Details

October 1, 1920

New York, New York, United States

Death Details

July 1, 2000

Santa Monica, California

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• Wes Todd, The Indian Fighter, United Artists, 1955
• Bodine, The Kentuckian, United Artists, 1955
• Wally, Bigger Than Life, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956
• Al Dahlke, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Universal, 1957
• Mel Miller, A Face in the Crowd, Warner Bros., 1957
• Judge Kyle, Ride a Crooked Trail, Universal, 1958
• Red Wildoe, Onionhead, Warner Bros., 1958
• Maxie Fields, King Creole, Warner Bros., 1958
• Doctor Leon Karnes, Voice in the Mirror, Universal, 1958
• Jack Martin, Gangster Story, Releasing Corporation of IndependentProducers, 1959
• Felix Anders, Strangers When We Meet, Columbia, 1960
• Sheriff Johnson, Lonely Are the Brave (also known as Last Hero), Universal, 1962
• Tony Gagoots, Who's Got the Action? (also known Where's the Action?), Paramount, 1962
• Hamilton Bartholomew and Carson Dyle, Charade, Universal, 1963
• Tony Dallas, Island of Love (also known as Not on Your Life), Warner Bros., 1963
• Doc, Ensign Pulver, Warner Bros., 1964
• Groeteschele, Fail Safe (also known as Fail-Safe), Columbia, 1964
• Sir Leopold Sartori, Goodbye Charlie, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964
• Ted Caselle, Mirage, Universal, 1965
• Willie Gingrich, The Fortune Cookie (also known as Meet Whiplash Willie), United Artists, 1966
• Paul Manning, A Guide for the Married Man, Twentieth Century-Fox,1967
• Charlie (the movie star), The Secret Life of an American Wife, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1968
• General Smight, Candy (also known as Candy e il suo pazzo mondo), Cinerama, 1968
• Oscar Madison, The Odd Couple, Paramount, 1968
• Horace Vandergelder, Hello, Dolly!, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1969
• Dr. Julian Winston, Cactus Flower, Columbia, 1969
• Joseph P. Kotcher, Kotch, Cinerama, 1971
• Henry Graham, A New Leaf, Paramount, 1971
• Sam Nash, Jesse Kiplinger, and Roy Hubley, Plaza Suite, Paramount,1971
• Pete Seltzer, Pete 'n' Tillie, Universal, 1972
• Jake Martin, The Laughing Policeman (also known as An Investigation of Murder), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973
• Title role, Charley Varrick, Universal, 1973
• Lieutenant Garber, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (also knownas The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3), United Artists, 1974
• Walter Burns, The Front Page, Universal, 1974
• (As Walter Matuschanskavasky) Drunk man, Earthquake, Universal, 1974
• Willie Clark, The Sunshine Boys, United Artists, 1975
• Narrator, The Gentleman Tramp (documentary), Audjeff, 1976
• Coach Morris Buttermaker, The Bad News Bears, Paramount, 1976
• Lloyd Bourdelle, Casey's Shadow, Columbia, 1978
• Marvin Michaels, California Suite (also known as Neil Simon's California Suite), Columbia, 1978
• Dr. Charley Nichols, House Calls, Universal, 1978
• Sorrowful Jones, Little Miss Marker, Universal, 1980
• Miles Kendig, Hopscotch, Avco-Embassy, 1980
• Portrait of a Sixty-Percent-Perfect Man, 1980
• Dan Snow, First Monday in October, Paramount, 1981
• Trabucco, Buddy Buddy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1981
• Herbert Tucker, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Twentieth Century-Fox,1982
• Sonny Paluso, The Survivors, Columbia, 1983
• Joe Mulholland, Movers and Shakers, United Artists, 1985
• Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red, Pirates, Cannon, 1986
• Maurice, Il Piccolo Diavolo (also known as The Little Devil), Cecchi Gori, 1988
• Donald Becker, The Couch Trip, Orion, 1988
• Senator Russell Long, JFK, Warner Bros., 1991
• Max Goldman, Grumpy Old Men, Warner Bros., 1993
• Mr. Wilson, Dennis the Menace (also known as Dennis), Family Entertainment, 1993
• Albert Einstein, I.Q., Paramount, 1994
• Judge Charlie Cool, The Grass Harp, Fine Line Features, 1995
• Max Goldman, Grumpier Old Men (also known as Grumpy Old Men 2), Warner Bros., 1995
• Nat Moyer, I'm Not Rappaport, Gramercy Pictures, 1996
• Charlie Gordon, Out to Sea, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1997
• Oscar Madison, The Odd Couple II (also known as Neil Simon's The Odd Couple II), Paramount, 1998
• Lou Mozell (the father), Hanging Up, Columbia, 1999
• Appeared in Middle of the Street and No Power on Earth.
• Film Work
• Director, Gangster Story, Releasing Corporation of Independent Producers, 1959
• Executive producer, Little Miss Marker, Universal, 1980
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Lex Rogers and narrator, Tallahassee 7000, syndicated, 1961
• The Shakespeare Hour, PBS, 1986
• Movies
• Clifford, Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (also known as Running Out), CBS, 1991
• Harmon Cobb, Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore (also known as Cobb's Law: Incident in Baltimore), CBS, 1992
• Harmon Cobb, Incident in a Small Town (also known as Family Secret: The Incident in a Small Town), CBS, 1994
• Frank Walsh, The Marriage Fool, CBS, 1998
• Specials
• Carol Channing and 101 Men, ABC, 1967
• Super Comedy Bowl 2, CBS, 1972
• A Show Business Salute to Milton Berle, NBC, 1973
• The George Burns Special, CBS, 1976
• Voice, The Stingiest Man in Town, NBC, 1978
• I Love Liberty, ABC, 1982
• Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter, 1982
• George Burns' 90th Birthday Special, 1986
• The American Film Institute Salute to Billy Wilder, 1986
• A Beverly Hills Christmas, 1987
• The American Film Institute Salute to Barbara Stanwyck, 1987
• James Stewart: A Wonderful Life, 1987
• We the People 200: The Constitutional Gala, CBS, 1987
• The American Film Institute Salute to Jack Lemmon, 1988
• "Neil Simon: Not Just for Laughs" (also known as "Simply Simon: A Neil Simon Retrospective" and "Neil Simon: Simply Simon"), American Masters,PBS, 1989
• Harmon Cobb, "The Incident" (also known as "Incident at Lincoln Bluff" and "Incident at Bremen"), AT&T Presents, CBS, 1990
• Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys, The Disney Channel, 1992
• A Menace Called Dennis, CBS, 1993
• The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1993
• Elvis: His Life and Times, syndicated, 1993
• "What Is This Thing Called Love?," The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1993
• Jack Lemmon, PBS, 1996
• The G.I. Bill: The Law that Changed America, PBS, 1997
• Narrator, Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy, PBS, 1998
• Private Screenings: Lemmon and Matthau, Turner Classic Movies, 1998
• Awards Presentations
• Master of ceremonies, The 48th Annual Academy Awards Presentation,1976
• The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1986
• The First Annual American Comedy Awards, 1987
• The Second Annual American Comedy Awards, 1988
• The 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1989
• The Third Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1989
• The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1990
• The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1990
• The 62nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1990
• The Movie Awards, CBS, 1991
• The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1991
• The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame, 1993
• Presenter, The 20th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1994
• Presenter, The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards, 1995
• Presenter, The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998
• Episodic
• "Last Cruise," Studio One, CBS, 1950
• "The Basket Weaver," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1952
• "Should Doctors Ever Marry?," Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, CBS, 1952
• "The Death of Kid Slawson," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1952
• "The Straight Forward Narrow," Armstrong Circle Theater (also known as Circle Theater), NBC, 1952
• "A Buck Is a Buck," Danger, CBS, 1952
• "Tour of Duty," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1952
• "Three Sundays," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1952
• "Wonder in Your Eyes," The Campbell Television Soundstage, NBC, 1953
• "Nightmare Number Three," Plymouth Playhouse, ABC, 1953
• "F.O.B. Vienna," Suspense, CBS, 1953
• "Hand Me Down," Danger, CBS, 1953
• "Nothing to Sneeze At," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1953
• "The New Process," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1953
• Iago, "Othello," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1953
• "Dry Run," Studio One, CBS, 1953
• "The Glorification of Al Toolum," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1953
• "The Cipher," Goodyear Television Playhouse, NBC, 1953
• "Night of Reckoning," Danger, CBS, 1954
• "Adapt or Die," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1954
• "Flight Report," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1954
• "Late Date," The U.S. Steel Hour, ABC, 1954
• "Atomic Attack," The Motorola Television Hour, ABC, 1954
• "The Human Touch," Center Stage, NBC, 1954
• "Dr. Ed," Robert Montgomery Presents (also known as Lucky Strike Theater), NBC, 1954
• "Walk into the Night," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1955
• "The Lost Weekend," Robert Montgomery Presents (also known as Lucky Strike Theater), NBC, 1955
• "A Westerner's Race Prejudice," Robert Montgomery Presents (also known as Lucky Strike Theater), NBC, 1955
• "Booby Trap," Justice, NBC, 1955
• "The Big Vote," The Alcoa Hour, NBC, 1956
• "A Will to Live," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1957
• "The Legacy," Goodyear Playhouse, NBC, 1957
• "The Trouble with Women," The Alcoa Hour, NBC, 1957
• "To Walk the Night," Climax, CBS, 1957
• "Code of the Corner," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1958
• Officer Chandler, "The Crooked Road," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CBS, 1958
• Moran, "Dry Run," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CBS, 1959
• "Juno and the Paycock," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1960
• "The Rope Dancers," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1960
• Harry Wade, "Very Moral Theft," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, NBC, 1960
• "My Heart's in the Highlands," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1960
• "Born a Giant," Our American Heritage, NBC, 1960
• Sam, "The Man Who Bit the Diamond in Half," Naked City, ABC, 1960
• "Eleven, the Hard Way," Route 66, CBS, 1961
• "The Million Dollar Dump," Target: The Corrupters, ABC, 1961
• Phil, "Cop for a Day," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, NBC, 1961
• "One for the Road," Target: The Corrupters, ABC, 1962
• "Footnote to Fame," Westinghouse Playhouse, CBS, 1962
• "Acres and Pains," General Electric Theater (also known as G. E. Theater), CBS, 1962
• "Big Deal in Laredo," Du Pont Show of the Month, NBC, 1962
• "Don't Knock It 'till You've Tried It," Naked City, ABC, 1962
• "A Tumble from a High White Horse," Eleventh Hour, NBC, 1963
• "A Dozen Deadly Roses," Du Pont Show of the Month, NBC, 1963
• "The Takers," Du Pont Show of the Month, NBC, 1963
• "White Snow, Red Ice," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater, NBC, 1964
• "Jeremy Rabbitt, the Secret Avenger," Du Pont Show of the Month, NBC, 1964
• "The Personal Touch," The Rogues, NBC, 1964
• "Man Is Rock," Dr. Kildare, NBC, 1964
• "Governor John M. Slaton," Profiles in Courage, NBC, 1964
• "Andrew Johnson," Profiles in Courage, NBC, 1965
• "Awake and Sing," Hollywood Television Theatre, PBS, 1972
• "This Side of Eden," Insight, syndicated, 1977
• "Actor," Hollywood Television Theatre, PBS, 1978
• Reflections on the Silver Screen with Professor Richard Brown, syndicated, 1990
• "Jack Lemmon: America's Everyman," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1996
• "Neil Simon: The People's Playwright," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
• Appeared in "Diamond in the Rough," Biography, Arts and Entertainment; and in Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's Saturday Night, Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC.
• Pilots
• Tom Dutton, Acres and Pains, CBS, 1965
• Stage Appearances
• Ten Nights in a Bar Room, Erie County Playhouse, Erie, PA, 1946
• Sadovsky, The Aristocrats, President Theatre, New York City, 1946
• First soldier, The Flies, President Theatre, 1947
• Bishop Fisher, Anne of a Thousand Days, Shubert Theatre, New YorkCity, 1948
• Venetian guard, The Liar, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1950
• John Colgate, Season in the Sun, Cort Theatre, New York City, 1951
• Sam Dundee, Twilight Walk, Fulton Theatre, New York City, 1951
• Sinclair Heybore, Fancy Meeting You Again, Royale Theatre, New York City, 1952
• George Lawrence, One Bright Day, Royale Theatre, 1952
• Charlie Hill, In Any Language, Cort Theatre, 1952
• John Hart, The Grey-Eyed People, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1952
• Paul Osgood, The Ladies of the Corridor, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1953
• Tony Lack, The Burning Glass, Longacre Theatre, 1954
• Yancy Loper, The Wisteria Trees, City Center Theatre, New York City, 1955
• Nathan Detroit, Guys and Dolls, City Center Theatre, 1955
• Michael Freeman, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, Belasco Theatre,New York City, 1955
• Odysseus, Maiden Voyage, Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1957
• Maxwell Archer, Once More with Feeling, National Theatre, New YorkCity, 1958
• Potemkin, Once There Was a Russian, Music Box Theatre, New York City, 1961
• Benjamin Beaurevers, A Shot in the Dark, Booth Theatre, New York City, 1961
• Herman Halpern, My Mother, My Father, and Me, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1963
• Oscar Madison, The Odd Couple, Plymouth Theatre, 1965
• Captain Jack Boyle, Juno and the Paycock, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA, 1974
• Appeared in productions of the Second Avenue Yiddish Theatre, New York City.
• Major Tours
• The Glass Menagerie, U.S. cities, 1952
• Andrew Lamb, A Certain Joy, U.S. cities, 1953
• RECORDINGS
• Taped Readings
• "Chava," Jewish Stories from Eastern Europe and Beyond, National Yiddish Book Center (South Hadley, MA), 1995

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

• Interview, January 1996, pp. 26-27.
• People Weekly, September 23, 1996, p. 20; June 30, 1997, p. 41.*