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Walter John MatthauAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 01.10.1920
Country: ![]() |
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Biography of Walter John Matthau
Walter John Matthau was an American actor born in New York, New York, USA, to a family of poor Jewish-Russian immigrants. His introduction to the stage began at the age of nineteen at the Yiddish Theater on Second Avenue, where he earned 50 cents per show by selling soda during intermissions.

During World War II, Walter Matthau served as a gunner-radio operator in the Air Force, and after the war, he enrolled in the New School for Drama to study the art of acting. In the 1950s, he performed on Broadway and in 1955, he ventured into film. Initially, he was cast in episodic and supporting roles, often portraying characters with negative traits.
It is difficult to say how things would have turned out if Neil Simon had not written a role specifically for Walter Matthau in his play "Odd Couple." The play turned both the writer and the actor into stars. In 1966, Matthau played his first comedic role in Billy Wilder's film "The Fortune Cookie," for which he won an Academy Award.
It was during the filming of this same movie that he first met Jack Lemmon, with whom he later became friends both on and off the set. Some of their notable collaborations include the comedies "Grumpy Old Men" and "Grumpier Old Men."
Below is a list of Walter Matthau's films:
1. "Charade" - 1963 (Crime Comedy)
2. "The Fortune Cookie" - 1966 (Comedy)
3. "The Odd Couple" - 1967 (Comedy)
4. "Charley Varrick" - 1973 (Thriller)
5. "Surviving" - 1983 (Comedy)
6. "Pirates" - 1986 (Adventure)
7. "Outrageous Fortune" - 1989 (Fantasy Comedy)
8. "Dennis the Menace" - 1993 (Adventure)
9. "Grumpy Old Men" - 1993 (Comedy)
10. "IQ" - 1994 (Comedy)
11. "Grumpier Old Men" - 1995 (Comedy)
12. "Out to Sea" - 1997 (Comedy)
13. "I'm Not Rappaport" - 1997 (Comedy)
14. "The Odd Couple II" - 1998 (Comedy)
15. "The Out-of-Towners" - 2000 (Tragicomedy)
Walter Matthau's contributions to film and theater have left a lasting impact, and his comedic talent and memorable performances have solidified his place as a beloved actor in the entertainment industry.