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 Walter Matthau was best known for starring in many films which included Charade (1963), The Odd Couple (1968), Grumpy Old Men (1993), and Dennis the Menace (1993). He often worked with Jack Lemmon and the two were Hollywood's craziest stars.He was born Walter Jake Matthow in New York City, New York on October 1, 1920. His mother was an immigrant from Lithuania and his father was a Russian Jewish peddler and electrician from Kiev, Ukraine. As a young boy, Matthau attended a Jewish non-profit sleep-away camp. He also attended Surprise Lake Camp. His high school was Seward Park High School.During World War II, Matthau served in the U.S. Army Air Forces with the Eighth Air Force in Britain as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator radioman-gunner, in the same 453rd Bombardment Group as James Stewart. He was based at RAF Old Buckenham, Norfolk during this time. He reached the rank of staff sergeant and became interested in acting.Matthau appeared in the pilot of Mister Peepers (1952) alongside Wally Cox. He later appeared in the Elia Kazan classic, A Face in the Crowd (1957), opposite Patricia Neal and Andy Griffith, and then appeared in Lonely Are the Brave (1962), with Kirk Douglas, a film Douglas has often described as his personal favorite. Matthau then appeared in Charade (1963) with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. In 1968, Matthau made his big screen appearance as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple (1968) alongside Jack Lemmon. The two were also in the sequel (The Odd Couple II (1998)) as well as Grumpy Old Men (1993) and Grumpier Old Men (1995). Matthau was in Dennis the Menace (1993), alongside Mason Gamble. On July 1, 2000, Matthau died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California. He was 79 years old.Walter's father was a poor Jewish peddler in Kiev, Russia, who went to America in 1911 He saw little of his father who spent little time at home. His mother Rose was a seamstress who worked on ladies underwear. The family were frequently evicted for non payment of rent.. One day when he was in junior high school he fought with a boy called Rocco Barbella, broke his nose and beat him. Rocco years later would become known as World Heavy Weight boxing champion Rocky Graziano. Walter was just over 6 foot by the age of 15 The first money he earned was by selling soda pop and ice cream in Jewish theatres.. Soon he got walk on jobs for 50 cents a night , After graduating from Seward Park High School he got various jobs chopping down trees in Montana, dipping picture frames in gold plating solution then enlisting in WWII in the Air Corps as a radio cryptographer in a European heavy bomber division in Europe. After the war he studied under the G. I. Bill of Rights at the Dramatic School for Social Research in New York and made his Broadway debut in 1948 in ''Anne of the Thousand Days' This was followed by a long string of flops before a hit in 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?' He Won two Tony Awards for his stage work, for 'A shot in the Dark in 1962 and 'The Odd Couple' in 1965.He made his film debut in 1953 in ;The Kentuckian' which he said was terrible .but went onto success receiving an Oscar nomination in 1959 for'Once More With Feeling' and wining an Oscar for 'The Fortune Cookie' in 1966 He married Carol Marcus and they have a Son David, and a daughter Jenny. They each have a son and daughter by previous marriages. He has an older brother, Henry, who lives in New York.
Bio:
Walter Matthau was best known for starring in many films which included Charade (1963), The Odd Couple (1968), Grumpy Old Men (1993), and Dennis the Menace (1993). He often worked with Jack Lemmon and the two were Hollywood's craziest stars.He was born Walter Jake Matthow in New York City, New York on October 1, 1920. His mother was an immigrant from Lithuania and his father was a Russian Jewish peddler and electrician from Kiev, Ukraine. As a young boy, Matthau attended a Jewish non-profit sleep-away camp. He also attended Surprise Lake Camp. His high school was Seward Park High School.During World War II, Matthau served in the U.S. Army Air Forces with the Eighth Air Force in Britain as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator radioman-gunner, in the same 453rd Bombardment Group as James Stewart. He was based at RAF Old Buckenham, Norfolk during this time. He reached the rank of staff sergeant and became interested in acting.Matthau appeared in the pilot of Mister Peepers (1952) alongside Wally Cox. He later appeared in the Elia Kazan classic, A Face in the Crowd (1957), opposite Patricia Neal and Andy Griffith, and then appeared in Lonely Are the Brave (1962), with Kirk Douglas, a film Douglas has often described as his personal favorite. Matthau then appeared in Charade (1963) with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. In 1968, Matthau made his big screen appearance as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple (1968) alongside Jack Lemmon. The two were also in the sequel (The Odd Couple II (1998)) as well as Grumpy Old Men (1993) and Grumpier Old Men (1995). Matthau was in Dennis the Menace (1993), alongside Mason Gamble. On July 1, 2000, Matthau died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California. He was 79 years old.
Walter's father was a poor Jewish peddler in Kiev, Russia, who went to America in 1911 He saw little of his father who spent little time at home. His mother Rose was a seamstress who worked on ladies underwear. The family were frequently evicted for non payment of rent.. One day when he was in junior high school he fought with a boy called Rocco Barbella, broke his nose and beat him. Rocco years later would become known as World Heavy Weight boxing champion Rocky Graziano. Walter was just over 6 foot by the age of 15 The first money he earned was by selling soda pop and ice cream in Jewish theatres.. Soon he got walk on jobs for 50 cents a night , After graduating from Seward Park High School he got various jobs chopping down trees in Montana, dipping picture frames in gold plating solution then enlisting in WWII in the Air Corps as a radio cryptographer in a European heavy bomber division in Europe. After the war he studied under the G. I. Bill of Rights at the Dramatic School for Social Research in New York and made his Broadway debut in 1948 in ''Anne of the Thousand Days' This was followed by a long string of flops before a hit in 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?' He Won two Tony Awards for his stage work, for 'A shot in the Dark in 1962 and 'The Odd Couple' in 1965.He made his film debut in 1953 in ;The Kentuckian' which he said was terrible .but went onto success receiving an Oscar nomination in 1959 for'Once More With Feeling' and wining an Oscar for 'The Fortune Cookie' in 1966 He married Carol Marcus and they have a Son David, and a daughter Jenny. They each have a son and daughter by previous marriages. He has an older brother, Henry, who lives in New York.
Tivia:
He and Jack Lemmon acted together in nine movies: Buddy Buddy (1981), The Fortune Cookie (1966), The Front Page (1974), The Grass Harp (1995), Grumpier Old Men (1995), Grumpy Old Men (1993), The Odd Couple II (1998), The Odd Couple (1968) and Out to Sea (1997). Lemmon also directed Matthau in Kotch (1971). Lemmon and Matthau also both appeared in JFK (1991), but had no scenes together.He once estimated his lifetime gambling losses at $5 million.After filming Grumpy Old Men (1993) in 1993 in freezing weather in Minnesota, he was hospitalized for double pneumonia.Served in the US Army Air Force, 8th Air Force, 453rd Bombardment Group in England with James Stewart.Dan Castellaneta has said that his original voice for Homer Simpson was simply an impression of Matthau.People were never sure if he was joking or saying things seriously, either on-screen or off-screen.Dealt with a gambling addiction his entire adult life.When he inscribed himself formally to the U.S. Social Security in 1937, he included "Foghorn" as his middle name. He never changed it.During the filming of Hello, Dolly! (1969), he clashed with Barbra Streisand and disliked her so intensely that he refused to be around her except when required to do so by the script. He is famously quoted as telling Streisand that she "had no more talent than a butterfly's fart." Interestingly, he is clearly seen in the audience at the One Voice (1986) concert at her Malibu ranch, where invitation-only guests had the privilege of paying $5,000 per couple to help establish the Streisand Foundation, which supports numerous charitable organizations. Apparently, he did not hold grudges.According to son Charles Matthau, Walter's real name was Walter Matthow, but he changed it to Walter Matuschanskayasky to sound more exotic.He hated to be identified as a comedic actor.Was passionate about classical music and often sang pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the set.Once claimed that his wife's name was Carol Wellington-Smythe Marcus, just to give it a more "aristocratic" sound.Very tall as young man (6' 3"), Matthau had a very slouchy posture by the time he was an actor. This was in part due to back injuries sustained in combat during World War II. But, he probably exaggerated it because the slouch fitted his miserly characters.Buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Natalie Wood, Donna Reed, among other stars are buried at this cemetery.Brought to the St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California by ambulance from his home on the late evening of June 30, 2000 after suffering a heart attack and was pronounced dead shortly afterward at 1:42 a.m. on July 1.Won two Tony Awards: in 1962, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "A Shot in the Dark," and in 1965 as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "The Odd Couple," recreating his part as Oscar Madison in the film version of the same name, The Odd Couple (1968). Previously, he also had a Tony nomination in 1959 as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "Once More, with Feeling."Reports are that he made up "Matuschanskayasky" as a joke and that his real "real" name is Matthow. The existence of Michelle Matthow would seem to confirm this...Appeared in Ensign Pulver (1964), the sequel to Mister Roberts (1955), for which his friend Jack Lemmon won an Oscar.Screen-tested for the part of Richard Sherman in The Seven Year Itch (1955). After seeing his test, director Billy Wilder believed he had found his leading man. Unfortunately, executives at 20th Century-Fox were unwilling to take a risk on an unknown newcomer. Because of this, the role went to Tom Ewell, who had originated the role on Broadway.Studied in the dramatic workshop at New York's New School with Gene Saks, Rod Steiger, Harry Guardino and Tony Curtis.Big break came when understudying the actor who played the Archbishop in "Anne Of The Thousand Days," starring Rex Harrison.Told the editors of AFI's "Private Screenings" that John Ford's The Informer (1935) is his favorite film.While making a TV series in Florida before his movie stardom, he lost $183,000 betting on spring-training baseball games.He once claimed that his father was an Orthodox priest in Czarist Russia, who was removed after he claimed that the Pope was infallible.When he accepted his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for The Fortune Cookie (1966), he showed up on stage with a cast in one of his arms, to which presenter Shelley Winters said: "You had a tough time getting in here". During his speech, Matthau mentioned that he fell from his bicycle a few days earlier.He was a lifelong Democrat.Drove a Mercedes with the personalized plate WALTZ.Father, with Grace Geraldine Johnson, of son David Matthau and daughter Jenny Matthau. Father, with Carol Grace, of son Charles Matthau.Had one sibling, an older brother named Henry Matthow (born July 14, 1918; died May 21, 1995, in Long Beach, NY. His mother, Rose Matthow, was born December 15, 1894, and died in Pacific Palisades, CA, in January 1979.He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: A Face in the Crowd (1957), Charade (1963) and A New Leaf (1971).Played Albert Einstein in the film I.Q. (1994) even though he was a half-foot taller than the famous scientist.On August 9, 2018, he was honored with a day of his film work during the TCM Summer Under The Stars.The original family name was Matushansky. Father, Meilach Matushansky, a native of Belaya Tserkov, Kiev Governate, Russia changed his name to Milton Matthow.Lived on Toyopa Drive in Pacific Palisades next door to Mel Blanc and around the corner from William Schallert, who lived on Ramos Place.Between 1962 and 1974, Walter Matthau and George Kennedy appeared in four films together: Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Charade (1963), Mirage (1965), and Earthquake (1974).Stepfather of Lucy Saroyan and Aram Saroyan.Uncle of Juliette Gruber.Turned down the sequel to Dennis (1993). |
| Name: |
Walter Matthau |
Type: |
Actor,Director,Producer (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Actor,Director,Producer |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Director,Producer |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 05:02:02 |
| Height: |
6' 2?' (1.89 m) |
| Biography: |
Walter Matthau was best known for starring in many films which included Charade (1963), The Odd Couple (1968), Grumpy Old Men (1993), and Dennis the Menace (1993). He often worked with Jack Lemmon and the two were Hollywood\'s craziest stars.He was b |
| Trivia: |
He and Jack Lemmon acted together in nine movies: Buddy Buddy (1981), The Fortune Cookie (1966), The Front Page (1974), The Grass Harp (1995), Grumpier Old Men (1995), Grumpy Old Men (1993), The Odd Couple II (1998), The Odd Couple (1968) and Out to Sea (1997). Lemmon also directed Matthau in Kotch (1971). Lemmon and Matthau also both appeared in JFK (1991), but had no scenes together.He once estimated his lifetime gambling losses at $5 million.After filming Grumpy Old Men (1993) in 1993 in freezing weather in Minnesota, he was hospitalized for double pneumonia.Served in the US Army Air Force, 8th Air Force, 453rd Bombardment Group in England with James Stewart.Dan Castellaneta has said that his original voice for Homer Simpson was simply an impression of Matthau.People were never sure if he was joking or saying things seriously, either on-screen or off-screen.Dealt with a gambling addiction his entire adult life.When he inscribed himself formally to the U.S. Social Security in 1937, he included "Foghorn" as his middle name. He never changed it.During the filming of Hello, Dolly! (1969), he clashed with Barbra Streisand and disliked her so intensely that he refused to be around her except when required to do so by the script. He is famously quoted as telling Streisand that she "had no more talent than a butterfly's fart." Interestingly, he is clearly seen in the audience at the One Voice (1986) concert at her Malibu ranch, where invitation-only guests had the privilege of paying $5,000 per couple to help establish the Streisand Foundation, which supports numerous charitable organizations. Apparently, he did not hold grudges.According to son Charles Matthau, Walter's real name was Walter Matthow, but he changed it to Walter Matuschanskayasky to sound more exotic.He hated to be identified as a comedic actor.Was passionate about classical music and often sang pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the set.Once claimed that his wife's name was Carol Wellington-Smythe Marcus, just to give it a more "aristocratic" sound.Very tall as young man (6' 3"), Matthau had a very slouchy posture by the time he was an actor. This was in part due to back injuries sustained in combat during World War II. But, he probably exaggerated it because the slouch fitted his miserly characters.Buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Natalie Wood, Donna Reed, among other stars are buried at this cemetery.Brought to the St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California by ambulance from his home on the late evening of June 30, 2000 after suffering a heart attack and was pronounced dead shortly afterward at 1:42 a.m. on July 1.Won two Tony Awards: in 1962, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "A Shot in the Dark," and in 1965 as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "The Odd Couple," recreating his part as Oscar Madison in the film version of the same name, The Odd Couple (1968). Previously, he also had a Tony nomination in 1959 as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "Once More, with Feeling."Reports are that he made up "Matuschanskayasky" as a joke and that his real "real" name is Matthow. The existence of Michelle Matthow would seem to confirm this...Appeared in Ensign Pulver (1964), the sequel to Mister Roberts (1955), for which his friend Jack Lemmon won an Oscar.Screen-tested for the part of Richard Sherman in The Seven Year Itch (1955). After seeing his test, director Billy Wilder believed he had found his leading man. Unfortunately, executives at 20th Century-Fox were unwilling to take a risk on an unknown newcomer. Because of this, the role went to Tom Ewell, who had originated the role on Broadway.Studied in the dramatic workshop at New York's New School with Gene Saks, Rod Steiger, Harry Guardino and Tony Curtis.Big break came when understudying the actor who played the Archbishop in "Anne Of The Thousand Days," starring Rex Harrison.Told the editors of AFI's "Private Screenings" that John Ford's The Informer (1935) is his favorite film.While making a TV series in Florida before his movie stardom, he lost $183,000 betting on spring-training baseball games.He once claimed that his father was an Orthodox priest in Czarist Russia, who was removed after he claimed that the Pope was infallible.When he accepted his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for The Fortune Cookie (1966), he showed up on stage with a cast in one of his arms, to which presenter Shelley Winters said: "You had a tough time getting in here". During his speech, Matthau mentioned that he fell from his bicycle a few days earlier.He was a lifelong Democrat.Drove a Mercedes with the personalized plate WALTZ.Father, with Grace Geraldine Johnson, of son David Matthau and daughter Jenny Matthau. Father, with Carol Grace, of son Charles Matthau.Had one sibling, an older brother named Henry Matthow (born July 14, 1918; died May 21, 1995, in Long Beach, NY. His mother, Rose Matthow, was born December 15, 1894, and died in Pacific Palisades, CA, in January 1979.He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: A Face in the Crowd (1957), Charade (1963) and A New Leaf (1971).Played Albert Einstein in the film I.Q. (1994) even though he was a half-foot taller than the famous scientist.On August 9, 2018, he was honored with a day of his film work during the TCM Summer Under The Stars.The original family name was Matushansky. Father, Meilach Matushansky, a native of Belaya Tserkov, Kiev Governate, Russia changed his name to Milton Matthow.Lived on Toyopa Drive in Pacific Palisades next door to Mel Blanc and around the corner from William Schallert, who lived on Ramos Place.Between 1962 and 1974, Walter Matthau and George Kennedy appeared in four films together: Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Charade (1963), Mirage (1965), and Earthquake (1974).Stepfather of Lucy Saroyan and Aram Saroyan.Uncle of Juliette Gruber.Turned down the sequel to Dennis (1993). |
| Trademarks: |
Often worked with Billy Wilder
Frequently worked with Jack Lemmon
Deadpan voice
Slouching posture
Craggy, hangdog face |
| Quotes: |
I think doing comedy is more difficult ... than doing noncomedic or tragic or whatever you want to call it. "Because it's difficult to make all kinds of different audiences understand what you're doing, and moving you to laughter.
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I never mind my wife having the last word. In fact, I'm delighted when she gets to it.
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Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality. The Odd Couple (1968) was mine. That was the plutonium I needed. It all started happening after that.
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<hr>
I always had one ear offstage, listening for the call from the bookie.
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The first girl you go to bed with is always pretty. |
| Salaries: |
The Bad News Bears (1976) - $800,000
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<hr>
Hello, Dolly! (1969) - $500,000 .
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<hr>
Candy (1968) - $50,000 plus points
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The Odd Couple (1968) - $300,000
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<hr>
Gangster Story (1959 |
| Job title: |
Actor,Director,Producer |
| Others works: |
(1948 - 1967) Active on Broadway in the following productions:
(1948) Stage Play: Anne of the Thousand Days. Historical drama. Written by Maxwell Anderson. Lighting and Scenic Design by Jo Mielziner. Incidental music by Lehman Engel. Directed by H.C. Pot |
| Spouse: |
Carol Grace (August 21, 1959 - July 1, 2000) (his death, 1 child)Grace Geraldine Johnson (1948 - 1958) (divorced, 2 children) |
| Children: |
Jenny MatthauDavid MatthauCharles Matthau |
| Parents: |
Rose Matthow
Milton Matthow |
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