Walter Matthau
01 October, 1920
| 1.91 m
Actor
Director
Producer
Biography
Walter Matthau was best known for starring in many films which included Szarada (1963), Dziwna para (1968), Dwaj zgryźliwi tetrycy (1993), and Dennis rozrabiaka (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, Twarz w tłumie (1957), opposite Patricia Neal and Andy Griffith, and then appeared in Ostatni kowboj (1962), with Kirk Douglas, a film Douglas has often described as his personal favorite. Matthau then appeared in Szarada (1963) with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. In 1968, Matthau made his big screen appearance as Oscar Madison in Dziwna para (1968) alongside Jack Lemmon. The two were also in the sequel (Dziwna para 2 (1998)) as well as Dwaj zgryźliwi tetrycy (1993) and Jeszcze bardziej zgryźliwi tetrycy (1995). Matthau was in Dennis rozrabiaka (1993), alongside Mason Gamble. On July 1, 2000, Matthau died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California. He was 79 years old.
Movies
Henry Graham lives the life of a playboy. When his lawyer tells him that his lifestyle has consumed all his funds, Henry must avoid climbing down the social ladder. He plans to marry wealthy scientist Henrietta Lowell - and kill her.
A vaudeville duo agree to reunite for a television special, but it turns out that they can't stand each other.
A troubled youth's singing sets New Orleans rockin'. With a sweet girl to love him and nightclubbers cheering, it seems he will shake off his past and head for the top. But will a mobster and his man-trap moll snare him in a life of crime?
An accountant suddenly suffers from amnesia. This appears related to the suicide of his boss. Now some violent thugs are out to get him. They work for a shadowy figure known simply as The Major.
Having both lost their jobs, two strangers become unlikely friends after a run in with a would be robber, who is actually a hitman with a grudge against the two.
A burnt-out shrink needs a temp. A charming escaped convict takes over his practice and radio show.