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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:
  • 1963 Emmy: Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Nominee
  • 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
  • 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: Actor, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic) - Nominee
  • 1962 Tony: Actor, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic) - Winner
  • 1965 Tony: Actor (Dramatic) - Winner
  • College:
  • Attended The New School for Social Research, New York, NY
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