Walter Matthau

Walter John Matthow
1920 - 2000 (heart attack)
American born New York City

Height 6' 3" (1.91 m) . Born Walter Matthow on October 1, 1920, to a pair of Russian-Jewish immigrants in New York City, Matthau grew up poor on the Lower East Side and started out selling soft drinks and playing bit parts at a Yiddish theater at age 11. He was paid 50 cents for each of his occasional onstage appearances. His father, a peddler from Kiev, left home when he was 3 years old. He lived with his older brother, Henry, and their mother, a garment worker, on the Lower East Side of New York. After graduating from Seward Park High School during the Depression, he took government jobs as a forester in Montana, a gym instructor for the Works Progress Administration and a boxing coach for policemen. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a radio cryptographer in a heavy bomber unit in Europe and returned home a sergeant with six battle stars. In 1948, his first Broadway role was when he was hired as an understudy for the role of an 83 year old English bishop in 'Anne of the Thousand Days' starring Rex Harrison. His fame came with The Fortune Cookie (1966) and The Odd Couple (1968). While making the former, he suffered a serious heart attack. This was due to heavy smoking and chronic gambling. In 1976, he had heart bypass surgery. In 1993, he was hospitalized for double pneumonia. In 1995, he had a benign colon tumor removed. In 1999, he was hospitalized again for pneumonia. His ill health was due to his eating habits. He had two children with Grace Johnson, David and Jenny. Spouse Carol Grace (21 August 1959 - 1 July 2000) (his death) 1 child, Grace Geraldine Johnson (1948 - 1958) (divorced) 2 children.

Hanging Up (2000) , The Marriage Fool (1998) , The Odd Couple II (1998) , Out to Sea (1997) , I'm Not Rappaport (1996) , Grumpier Old Men (1995) , The Grass Harp (1995) , I.Q. (1994) , Incident in a Small Town (1994) , Grumpy Old Men (1993) , Dennis the Menace (1993) , Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore (1992) , How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1992) , JFK (1991) , Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (1991) , The Incident (1990) , Piccolo diavolo, Il (1988) , The Couch Trip (1988) , "Parkinson One to One" (1987) , Pirates (1986) , Movers & Shakers (1985), The Survivors (1983) , I Ought to Be in Pictures (1982) , Buddy Buddy (1981) , First Monday in October (1981) , Hopscotch (1980) , Little Miss Marker (1980) , The Stingiest Man in Town (1978) , California Suite (1978) , Casey's Shadow (1978) , House Calls (1978) , Actor (1978) , "Insight" (1977) , The Bad News Bears (1976) , The Sunshine Boys (1975) , The Front Page (1974) , Earthquake (1974) , The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) , The Laughing Policeman (1973) , Charley Varrick (1973), Pete 'n' Tillie (1972), Awake and Sing! (1972) , Kotch (1971) , Plaza Suite (1971) , A New Leaf (1971) , Hello, Dolly! (1969) , Cactus Flower (1969) , Candy (1968) , The Secret Life of an American Wife (1968) , The Odd Couple (1968) , A Guide for the Married Man (1967) , The Fortune Cookie (1966) , Mirage (1965) , "Profiles in Courage" (1964) , Goodbye Charlie (1964) , Fail-Safe (1964) ,"Dr. Kildare" (1964) ,
"The Rogues" (1964) , Ensign Pulver (1964) , "The DuPont Show of the Week" (1963) ,
"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1964) , Charade (1963) , Island of Love (1963) , "The Eleventh Hour" (1963) , "Naked City" (1960) , Who's Got the Action? (1962) , Lonely Are the Brave (1962) , "General Electric Theater" (1956) , "Target: The Corruptors" (1961) ,"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"(1958) , "Route 66" (1961) , "Tallahassee 7000" (1961) , "Play of the Week" (1960) , Strangers When We Meet (1960) , Juno and the Paycock (1960) , Gangster Story (1960) , Onionhead (1958) , Ride a Crooked Trail (1958) , Voice in the Mirror (1958) , King Creole (1958) , "Kraft Television Theatre" (1952) , "Climax!" (1957) , Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) , "The Alcoa Hour" (1956) , "Goodyear Television Playhouse" (1953) , A Face in the Crowd (1957) , Bigger Than Life (1956) , The Indian Fighter (1955) , "Justice" (1955) ,The Kentuckian (1955) , "Robert Montgomery Presents" (1954) , "The Philco Television Playhouse" (1952) , "Armstrong Circle Theatre" (1952) , "Kraft Television Theatre" (1954) , "Center Stage" (1954) , "The United States Steel Hour" (1954) , "Danger" (1952) , "Studio One" (1953) , "Campbell Playhouse" (1953) , "Suspense" (1953) , "Lux Video Theatre" (1950) , "Mister Peepers" (1952), "The Motorola Television Hour" (1950)