Walter Matthau (October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was a legendary American actor and comedian, a master of deadpan comedy and world-weary grumpiness who, with his sad-eyed, hangdog face, became one of the most beloved and iconic stars of his generation.
After a long career on stage, Matthau achieved immortality on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for originating the role of the slovenly but lovable sportswriter Oscar Madison in Neil Simon’s classic play, The Odd Couple. His on-screen career exploded when director Billy Wilder paired him with Jack Lemmon for the first time in The Fortune Cookie (1966), a brilliant performance that earned Matthau an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
This film launched one of cinema’s greatest and most enduring comedic partnerships. Matthau and Lemmon would go on to make 10 films together, forever cementing their legacy as the bickering but inseparable roommates in the film version of The Odd Couple (1968) and as the feuding neighbors in the late-career hit Grumpy Old Men (1993). He also gave acclaimed solo performances in films like the crime thriller Charley Varrick (1973) and the beloved baseball comedy The Bad News Bears (1976), leaving behind a legacy as a true giant of American comedy.
