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Walter Matthau

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Walter Matthau: Biography

Birth Name: Walter John Matthow
Birth Place: New York, NY
Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 10/01/1920, Libra
Date of Death: 07/01/2000
Profession: Actor

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Walter Matthau Fast Facts:

Began reading Shakespeare at age 7 and made his professional stage debut at 11 in the 1931 musical comedy The Dishwasher.
Made his film debut in Burt Lancaster's 1955 western The Kentuckian.
Served in the U.S. Army Air Corps (under Lt. Jimmy Stewart) from 1942-1945, receiving six battle stars and reaching the rank of staff sergeant.
Liked to provide false information to interviewers, a prank that resulted in many believing his birth name was Walter Matuschanskayasky (he even asked to be credited that way in the 1974 film Earthquake because he was unhappy with how his footage was edited).
Final film was Diane Keaton's 2000 comedy-drama Hanging Up, in which he played the ailing father of three feuding sisters. When he became ill during filming, he was admitted to the same hospital his character was said to be in.
Struggled throughout his life with an addiction to gambling, which he once estimated had cost him a total of $5 million.

Walter Matthau Relationships:
Aram Saroyan - Stepson
Carol Grace Marcus - Wife
Charles Matthau - Son
David Matthau - Son
Grace Geraldine Johnson - Ex-wife
Henry - Brother
Jenny Matthau - Daughter
Lucy Saroyan - Stepdaughter
Marvin Matthau - Brother
Milton Matthow - Father
Richard Samples - Nephew
Rose Berolsky Matthow - Mother
Walter Matthau Awards:
1971 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
1975 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
1966 Oscar: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Winner
1959 Tony: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play - Nominee
1962 Tony: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play - Winner
1965 Tony: Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play - Winner
1967 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1969 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1972 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1973 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1975 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1976 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Winner
1981 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1982 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
1963 Emmy: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
College:
Attended The New School for Social Research, New York, NY