Walter Matthau secured an Academy Award for his role in the 1966 film The Fortune Cookie, marking a pivotal moment in a career defined by world-weary characters and a distinctive hangdog face. Born in 1920 in New York City, he transitioned from stage work to a versatile film presence, eventually becoming an essential figure in American cinema.
Early Development and Theater Roots
Raised in the Lower East Side of New York City, Matthau attended Seward Park High School and participated in youth productions at Tranquillity Camp and Surprise Lake Camp. His early professional exposure included Yiddish theater, where he acted and worked as a concession cashier. Later, he honed his craft at The New School's Dramatic Workshop under Erwin Piscator. He gained significant stage recognition, including a 1962 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in A Shot in the Dark, followed by a 1965 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
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During World War II, Matthau served as a radioman-gunner in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945, seeing duty in England, Germany, and France. Upon his return, he resumed his acting career, eventually securing his first motion picture role in the 1955 film The Kentuckian. Throughout the late 1950s, he appeared in diverse projects such as A Face in the Crowd and the Elvis Presley vehicle King Creole, while also directing a low-budget film titled The Gangster Story in 1960.
Collaborations and Later Recognition
Matthau is widely associated with his frequent collaborations with actor Jack Lemmon, appearing together in ten films, most notably The Odd Couple. His filmography spans various genres, including his role as a Pentagon adviser in the drama Fail Safe and his portrayal of a hapless baseball coach in The Bad News Bears. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1982 and earned additional Academy Award nominations for his work in Kotch and The Sunshine Boys.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, New York City
- Died: 2000, Santa Monica
- Military Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942-1945
- Tony Awards: 1962 and 1965
- Academy Award: Best Supporting Actor, 1967
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: 1982
- Education: Seward Park High School, The New School
- Burial: Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Walter Matthau serve in the military?
Yes, he served as a radioman-gunner in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945.
How many Tony Awards did he win?
He won two Tony Awards: one in 1962 for Best Featured Actor and one in 1965 for Best Actor in a Play.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor — 1967
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play — 1965
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play — 1962
- Educated at The New School
- Worked as comedian, film actor and film director
