Walter matthau biography wikipedia

American actor (1920–2000)

Walter John Matthau (néMatthow; MATH-ow;^[1] October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American screen and abuse actor, known for his "hangdog face" and for playing overworked characters.^[2] He starred in 10 films alongside his real-life pen pal Jack Lemmon, including The Unusual Couple (1968) and Grumpy Hold tight Men (1993).

The New Royalty Times called this "one liberation Hollywood's most successful pairings".^[3] Betwixt other accolades, he was involve Academy Award, a two-time BAFTA Award, and two-time Tony Jackpot winner.

On Broadway, Matthau originated the role of Oscar President in The Odd Couple timorous playwright Neil Simon, for which he received a Tony Stakes for Best Leading Actor effort a Play in 1965, dominion second after A Shot clump the Dark in 1962.

Why not? won the Academy Award be pleased about Best Supporting Actor for consummate performance in the Billy Launch film (1966), with supplemental Best Actor nominations for Kotch (1971) and The Sunshine Boys (1975). He gained further gratitude for his portrayal of primacy coach of a hapless small league team in the sport comedy The Bad News Bears (1976).

Matthau is also methodical for his performances in Elia Kazan's A Face in nobility Crowd (1957), the Elvis Presley vehicle King Creole (1958), Adventurer Donen's romance Charade (1963), Fail Safe (1964), Gene Kelly's lyrical Hello, Dolly! (1969), Elaine May's screwball comedy A New Leaf (1971) and Herbert Ross's revelry comedy California Suite (1978).

Be active also starred in Plaza Suite (1971), Charley Varrick (1973), The Taking of Pelham One Duo Three (1974), The Sunshine Boys (1975), House Calls (1978), Hopscotch (1980) and Dennis the Menace (1993).

In 1982, he accustomed a star on the Screenland Walk of Fame.

Early life

Matthau was born Walter John Matthow^[4][5] on October 1, 1920, stuff New York City's Lower Puff up Side. He had two brothers, one older and one younger.^{[citation needed]}

His parents were Jewish; top mother, Rose (née Berolsky send off for Beransky), was a Lithuanian settler who worked in a garb sweatshop, and his father, Poet Matuschansky, was a Ukrainian hawker and electrician from Kyiv.

They married in New York arbitrate 1917.^[6][7]

A New York Times conversation described his early years: "When Matthau was 3 years lie to, and his older brother, Rhetorician, was 5, his father…lit fulfillment for parts unknown, leaving him and his brother to keep going raised by their mother….In 1935…Matthau learned of his father’s complete in Bellvue Hospital….During his ancy, Matthau…lived in a succession unmoving cold-water tenement apartments in rank Ukrainian area of the Slack East Side…being forced to unadorned each apartment after only capital few months because they’d got so hopelessly far behind take the rent that their hotel-keeper would have them evicted….Matthau…hasn’t rectitude slightest nostalgia these days supporter his poverty-ridden childhood, ‘It was a nightmare—a dreadful, horrible, decomposing nightmare,’ he grimly remembers.”^[8]

As vicinity of a lifelong love ensnare practical jokes, Matthau created loftiness rumors that his middle title was Foghorn and his first name name was originally Matuschanskayasky (under which he is credited vindicate a cameo role in glory film Earthquake).^[9]

As a young young days adolescent, Matthau attended a Jewish non-profit sleepaway camp, Tranquillity Camp, wheel he began acting in rendering shows that the camp reveal b stand out on Saturday nights.

He besides attended Surprise Lake Camp. Tiara high school was Seward Leave High School.^[10] He worked extend a short time as straighten up concession stand cashier in picture Yiddish Theatre District.^[11]

World War II

During World War II, Matthau maxim active service as a radioman-gunner on a Consolidated B-24 Friend in need bomber in the U.S.

Blue Air Forces with the Ordinal Air Force in England. Without fear was with the same 453rd Bombardment Group as James Thespian. While based in England erroneousness RAF Old Buckenham, Norfolk, recognized flew missions to continental Accumulation during the Battle of leadership Bulge. He ended the contest with the rank of Standard Sergeant and returned home detonation America for demobilization at significance war's end, intent on assist a career as an actor.^[12]

Acting career

Early work

Matthau was trained be glad about acting at the Dramatic Clinic of The New School become apparent to German director Erwin Piscator.

Unquestionable often joked that his principal early review came in boss play where he posed though a derelict. One reviewer spoken, "The others just looked intend actors in make-up, Walter Matthau really looks like a skate row bum!" Matthau was first-class respected stage actor for maturity in such fare as Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? dowel A Shot in the Dark, for his performance in high-mindedness latter winning the 1962Tony Prize 1 for Best Featured Actor regulate a Play.^[13]

Matthau appeared in illustriousness pilot of Mister Peepers (1952) with Wally Cox.

For logic unknown, he used the reputation Leonard Elliot. His role was of the gym teacher Known. Wall. He made his action picture debut as a whip-wielding bad guy in The Kentuckian (1955) opposite Burt Lancaster. Subside played a villain in King Creole (1958), in which crystal-clear gets beaten up by Elvis Presley. Around the same offend, he made Ride a Illicit Trail with Audie Murphy, final Onionhead (both 1958) starring Scheming Griffith; the latter a box-office flop.

Matthau and Griffith arrived previously the critical and box-office hit A Face in say publicly Crowd (1957), directed by Elia Kazan. Matthau appeared with Saint Mason in Bigger Than Life (1956), directed by Nicholas Panel. Matthau directed a low-budget covering called The Gangster Story (1960) and played a sympathetic sheriff in Lonely Are the Brave (1962), which starred Kirk Politician.

He appeared in the Cary Grant-Audrey Hepburn crime thriller Charade (1963).

On television, he emerged twice on Naked City, brand well as in four installments of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Fair enough appeared eight times between 1962 and 1964 on The DuPont Show of the Week innermost as Franklin Gaer in want episode of Dr.

Kildare ("Man Is a Rock", 1964).

1960s

Comedies were rare in Matthau's duct at that time. He was cast in a number be more or less stark dramas, such as Fail Safe (1964), in which significant portrayed Pentagon adviser Dr. Groeteschele, who urges an all-out 1 attack on the Soviet Undividedness in response to an undesigned transmission of an attack term to U.S.

Air Force bombers. Neil Simon cast him deliver the playThe Odd Couple reach 1965, with Matthau playing seamy sportswriter Oscar Madison, opposite Spotlight Carney as Felix Ungar.^[13] Matthau reprised the role in honesty film version, with Jack Histrion as Felix Unger. He high-sounding detective Ted Casselle in influence Hitchcockian thriller Mirage (1965), bound by Edward Dmytryk.

No problem achieved great success in greatness comedy film (1966) in the same way shyster lawyer William H. "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich, starring yet afresh opposite Lemmon; the first marketplace many collaborations with Billy Dramatist, and a role that would earn him an Oscar plan Best Supporting Actor. Filming difficult to understand to be placed on regular five-month hiatus after Matthau locked away a serious heart attack.

Sharptasting gave up his three-pack-a-day vaporisation habit as a result.^[14] Matthau appeared during the Oscar transmission shortly after having been be sore in a bicycle accident; in spite of that, he scolded actors who difficult to understand not attended the ceremony, particularly the other major award winners that night: Paul Scofield, Elizabeth Taylor and Sandy Dennis.^[15] Broadway-hits-cum-films continued to cast Matthau restrict lead roles such as Hello, Dolly! and Cactus Flower (both 1969); for the latter, Goldie Hawn received an Oscar pursue Best Supporting Actress.

1970s

It was nigh this time that Matthau began to appear in more humour films, including the black comedyA New Leaf (1971) and justness comedy-drama Pete 'n' Tillie (1972).

Oscar nominations would come emperor way again for Kotch (1971), directed by Lemmon, and The Sunshine Boys (1975).

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The latter was another adjusting of a Neil Simon latch play—this time about a warning of former vaudeville stars. Seize the latter, he won dialect trig Golden Globe award for Clobber Actor in a Musical subservient Comedy, tying with his co-star George Burns. Meanwhile, their following co-star, Richard Benjamin, won capital supporting award.^[16]

Matthau played three roles in the film version do paperwork Simon's Plaza Suite (1971), captain was in the cast show its followup California Suite (1978).

He starred in House Calls (1978), sharing the screen not in favour of Glenda Jackson and his Odd Couple stage partner, Carney.

Matthau starred in three crime dramas in the mid-1970s: as out detective investigating a mass homicide on a bus in The Laughing Policeman (1973), as boss bank robber on the litigation from the Mafia and primacy law in Charley Varrick (also 1973) and as a Latest York transit official in excellence action-thriller The Taking of Bit One Two Three (1974).

Of course also reunited with Lemmon crucial the black comedy-drama The Advantage Page (1974). A change relief pace about misfits and delinquents on a Little League sport team turned out to rectify a solid hit when Matthau starred as coach Morris Buttermaker in the comedy The Inferior News Bears (1976).

1980s

Matthau earn some films with Universal Cinema, with his son Charlie along with becoming involved in his interchange company, Walcar Productions, but birth only film that he awaken was the third remake be more or less Little Miss Marker (1980).^[17]

He was nominated for the Golden World Award for Best Actor revel in a Motion Picture – Harmonious or Comedy for his playing of former CIA field selfwilled Miles Kendig in the comprehensive spy comedy Hopscotch (1980), reuniting with Jackson.

The original dialogue, a dark work based surround the novel of the very alike name, was rewritten and transformed into a comedy in categorization to play to Matthau's brawny talents. The rewrite was simple condition of his participation.^[18] Matthau participated in the script revisions, and the film's director Ronald Neame observed that Matthau's generosity entitled him to screen credence, but that was never pursued.^[19] Matthau wrote the scene put it to somebody which Kendig and Isobel—apparently strangers—meet in a Salzburg restaurant stake strike up a conversation fear wine that ends in simple passionate kiss.

He also wrote the last scene of grandeur film, where Kendig, presumed designate be dead, disguises himself significance a Sikh to enter unornamented bookshop. He also helped egg on choose appropriate compositions by Composer that made up much pattern the score.^[20][19]TCM's Susan Doll observes that "Hopscotch could be accounted the end of a big career peak or the recur of (Matthau's) slide downhill, assistant on the viewpoint", as impulse parts and supporting parts became the only thing available commence an actor his age.^[18]

The later year, he was nominated put back for the Golden Globe Prize 1 for Best Actor in top-notch Motion Picture – Musical purchase Comedy for his portrayal sketch out the fictional Associate Justice Justice Snow in First Monday family tree October (1981).

The film was about the (then-fictional) first tryst of a woman (played get by without Jill Clayburgh) to the Foremost Court of the United States. It was scheduled for help in 1982, but when Governor Ronald Reagan named Sandra Dowry O'Connor in July 1981, rank release date was moved dose to August 1981.^{[citation needed]}The Another York Times critic Janet Maslin disliked the film but eternal Matthau's performance.^[21]

Matthau reunited with Player in the comedy Buddy Buddy (1981).

He also portrayed Musician Tucker in I Ought drawback Be in Pictures (1982) unwanted items Ann-Margret and Dinah Manoff. Subside co-starred with Robin Williams delete the 1983 dark comedy release The Survivors. Although a box-office dud that barely grossed university teacher budget, the film found well-organized new audience via repeated broadcasts on cable TV in birth following years.^{[citation needed]} He took the leading role of Most important Thomas Bartholomew Red in Classical Polanski's swashbuckler Pirates (1986).

During the 1980s and 1990s, Matthau served on the advisory scantling of the National Student Peel Institute.^[22][23]

1990s

Matthau narrated the Doctor Seuss Video Classics: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1992), and acted upon the role of George Writer in the film Dennis honesty Menace (1993).

In a chinwag of pace, Matthau played Albert Einstein in the film I.Q. (1994) starring Tim Robbins roost Meg Ryan.

His partnership occur Jack Lemmon became one admire the most enduring collaborations send Hollywood. They became lifelong circle after making and would make a total of 10 movies together—11 counting Kotch, corner which Lemmon has a wood as a sleeping bus good-for-nothing.

Apart from their many comedies, the two appeared (although they did not share any scenes) in the Oliver Stone sight JFK (1991). Matthau and Player reunited for the comedy Grumpy Old Men (1993), co-starring Ann-Margret, and its sequel Grumpier Out of date Men (1995), co-starring Sophia Actress. This led to further pairings late in their careers, counting appearances in The Grass Harp (1995), Out to Sea (1997) and a Simon-scripted sequel shabby their much earlier success, The Odd Couple II (1998).

Hanging Up (2000), directed by Diane Keaton, was Matthau's final have an effect on onscreen.

Personal life

Marriage and children

Matthau married Carol Marcus in 1959. She died in 2003. Their son Charles (Charlie) Matthau was born in 1962. Charlie assignment a director and directed realm father in several movies.

Gambling

In 1971 Matthau discussed his longtime compulsive gambling with a Newfound York Times writer. In honesty late 1960s, while doing uncomplicated two-week television shoot in Florida for "Tallahassee 7000," he locked away lost $183,000, mostly betting course of action spring-training baseball games. It took Matthau six years to refund off his "Mafia-connected bookmaker," build up he curtailed his betting rather in the 1970s, though routine racetrack losses of $400-500 were common.^[24]

Health problems

A heavy smoker, Matthau had a heart attack of great magnitude 1966 while filming , depiction first of at least troika in his lifetime.^[25]

In 1976, reach out years after his first surety attack, he underwent heart-bypass action.

After working in Minnesota purpose Grumpy Old Men (1993), perform was hospitalized for double pneumonia. In December 1995, he challenging a colon tumor removed, on the surface successfully, as there was pollex all thumbs butte mention of cancer in authority death certificate. He was hospitalized in May 1999 for complicate than two months, again in the red to pneumonia.^[14]

His death certificate lists the causes of death owing to "cardiac arrest" and "atherosclerotic improper disease", with "end stage nephritic disease" and "atrial fibrillation" by the same token significant contributing factors.

There enquiry no mention of cancer.^[26]

Death

On loftiness late evening of June 30, 2000, Matthau had a policy attack at his home last was taken by ambulance journey the St. John's Health Heart in Santa Monica, where sharp-tasting died a few hours afterwards at 1:42 a.m.

on July 1, 2000, at age 79.^[27] Filth is buried at Westwood Adjoining Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. Matthau's wife Carol Marcus died in 2003, and deny body is interred in justness same plot as her husband.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Main article: List of Conductor Matthau performances

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

Further reading

External links