Walter Matthau

Birthday: 1 October 1920, Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name: Walter Jake Matthow

Height: 189 cm

Walter Matthau was born on October 1, 1920 in Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA as Walter Jake Matthow. He was an actor, known for The Odd Couple (1968), Charade (1963) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). He was married to Carol Grace and Grace Geraldine Johnson. He died on July 1, 2000 in Santa Monica, California, USA.

He [Elvis Presley] was an instinctive actor...He was quite bright...he was very intelligent...He was...Show more »

He [Elvis Presley] was an instinctive actor...He was quite bright...he was very intelligent...He was not a punk. He was very elegant, sedate, and refined, and sophisticated. Show less «

I always had one ear offstage, listening for the call from the bookie.

Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality. The Od...Show more »

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. Show less «

The first girl you go to bed with is always pretty.

[on Glenda Jackson] She's an absolute dreamboat, the epitome of professionalism, a splendid actress,...Show more »

[on Glenda Jackson] She's an absolute dreamboat, the epitome of professionalism, a splendid actress, and she has all the make-up of a fully rounded person. Show less «

I think doing comedy is more difficult ... than doing noncomedic or tragic or whatever you want to c...Show more »

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. Show less «

[1984 remark on Barbra Streisand] The most extraordinary ... er ... uninteresting person I have ever...Show more »

[1984 remark on Barbra Streisand] The most extraordinary ... er ... uninteresting person I have ever met. I just found her to be a terrible bore ... She was doing something and asked the director if I wouldn't mind saying my lines in a certain way. I think I said something to her like, "I was acting before you were born, so please don't tell me how to act." And she said, in her own inimitable way, "Is this guy crazy or something?". Show less «

A lot of parts I want they give to Robert Redford.

I'd love to work with Barbra Streisand again. In something appropriate. Perhaps, Macbeth.

[on Barbra Streisand] I had no disagreement with Barbra Streisand. I was merely exasperated at her t...Show more »

[on Barbra Streisand] I had no disagreement with Barbra Streisand. I was merely exasperated at her tendency to be a complete megalomaniac. Show less «

[on Barbara Stanwyck] Here was an actress that never played just one side of a character. She always...Show more »

[on Barbara Stanwyck] Here was an actress that never played just one side of a character. She always played the truth. I once asked Barbara Stanwyck the secret of acting, and she said, "Just be truthful, and if you can fake that, you've got it made." Show less «

[on The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)] My first day of work was in an abandoned subway stati...Show more »

[on The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)] My first day of work was in an abandoned subway station in Brooklyn. You can't get any lower than that. Before this journey underground, I hadn't been on the trains for years. I can remember the time of my youth when I didn't even have enough money to buy a token -- and that was when they cost five cents! Show less «

To be successful in show business, all you need are 50 good breaks.

I never mind my wife having the last word. In fact, I'm delighted when she gets to it.

'Get out of show business.' It's the best advice I ever got, because I'm so stubborn that if someone...Show more »

'Get out of show business.' It's the best advice I ever got, because I'm so stubborn that if someone would tell me that, I would stay in it to the bitter end. Show less «

Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau's FILMOGRAPHY

Walter Matthau'S roles

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