During his lifetime, Walter Matthau was both an actor and a comedian. His acting career began in the 1950s and he was known for his comedic roles in “Storm of the Century” and “The Last Stand”. But in the 1980s, Matthau had an even greater impact on Hollywood with his role as the director of the film “Scarface” and the hit television series, “The Wonder Years.”
Actor
Walter Matthau was an American actor who is best known for his role as Oscar Madison in the film The Odd Couple. He also received two Tony Awards for the same role. However, he also starred in several other movies.
After playing Oscar Madison, Matthau’s career took off. In fact, he won an Oscar for his performance in the 1964 film Whiplash Willie Gingrich. Later, he won the Golden Globe Award for the same role.
As a film actor, Matthau specialized in playing curmudgeonly cranks. His most famous characters were Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple” and a mysterious, irascible survivor named Judge Cool in the 1996 film “The Grass Harp.”
His work onstage, however, was his most prominent role. Matthau starred in over 20 Broadway plays. Additionally, he was a member of the cast of the California Suite.
In the mid-1970s, Matthau began starring in crime dramas. This included a 1974 revival of Juno and the Paycock. He teamed with Jack Lemmon in several films. They also re-teamed in 1993 for the comedy Grumpy Old Men, which proved to be a box office hit.
Matthau also appeared in the Elia Kazan classic A Face in the Crowd. He later teamed up with Andy Griffith for a couple of movies, including Onionhead.
Matthau was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the 1976 film The Sunshine Boys. He later reprised the role in the film version of “The Odd Couple”.
In the 1980s, Matthau starred in two more crime dramas: Charley Varrick and I Ought to Be in Pictures. He also teamed up with Diane Keaton for the film Hanging Up.
For the 1990s, Matthau continued to appear in well-received films. These include Grumpy Old Men (1993), The Front Page (1974), and Dennis the Menace (1993).
Despite his age, Matthau had a slouchy, slightly crumpled posture. He had a back injury during World War II, and this affected his appearance. But, he was a master of timing his lines, and his ironic, sarcastic comments were a hit with audiences.
Comedian
During the 1960s, Walter Matthau was a popular comedic actor. He began with a role in a television pilot, Mister Peepers. Later, he had lead roles in Broadway hits. In 1973, he played a detective investigating a mass murder on a bus.
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, he had recurring health issues. For example, in 1976, he had heart surgery. Then, in 1997, he suffered a brain hemorrhage.
He was in the Army Air Forces in England during World War II. He also served as a cryptographer in Europe. He had two children with his previous wife, Carol.
In the 1990s, he starred in several comedy sequels, including Dennis the Menace and Grumpy Old Men. He also narrated Doctor Seuss Video Classics: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Earlier, he had starred in three Broadway plays: A Shot in the Dark, The Odd Couple, and Oscar Madison. He won the Tony Award for the first two. His role as Oscar Madison in the Broadway version of The Odd Couple helped him break out as a leading man.
As a child, he spent much of his time in a day nursery. He was born in New York City. Despite the odds, he became a successful stage and film actor.
Throughout his career, he worked with several Hollywood heavyweights, including Jack Lemmon, Gene Kelly, and Neil Simon. But he was most famous for his work in “The Odd Couple,” where he played the congenital slob Oscar Madison.
Among his other films, he starred in the 1975 hit The Sunshine Boys. This movie, directed by Herbert Ross, was based on a play by Neil Simon.
Another film he starred in was The Bad News Bears. In this 1976 comedy, he played a coach.
Matthau and Lemmon made 10 movies together. After working on The Fortune Cookie, they continued to collaborate on films, such as Kotch (1971), A Shot in the Dark, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, and the Grumpier Old Men.
Sadly, Matthau died on March 8, 2001. His wife, Carol, and his two children survive him.
Film director
Walter Matthau was a film and stage actor who became the most popular comedic star in the world in the late 1960s. He was born in New York City, and grew up on the Lower East Side. In addition to his films, Matthau also appeared on many television shows, including The DuPont Show of the Week.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. Afterward, he returned home to pursue his acting career. During this time, he also crewed a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber.
After serving in the Air Force, he attended the Dramatic Workshop of the New School in Manhattan. Among his teachers was Erwin Piscator, a German filmmaker. Despite a difficult childhood, Matthau excelled at boxing, and he eventually became a pro.
He acted onstage in several plays, including A Shot in the Dark and Anne of a Thousand Days. His film debut came in 1955, when he starred in The Kentuckian. Later, he teamed up with Jack Lemmon on a number of films, including Kotch (1971), I.Q. and Grumpy Old Men.
Matthau also portrayed the elderly, sage-like characters that he often played in his late career. He narrated the Doctor Seuss Video Classics: How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Dennis the Menace.
He also appeared in the film Hopscotch. When it was rewritten to include Matthau’s talents, the script landed him a starring role. Similarly, Matthau played the gentlemanly Judge Cool in 1996’s The Grass Harp.
Matthau married actress Carol Marcus in 1959. Their son, Charles, is a film director. Upon his death, Matthau’s daughter, Jenny, became the president of the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York.
In 1999, Matthau suffered from pneumonia, and was hospitalized for double pneumonia. The following year, he had a colon tumor removed.
As a child, he attended Surprise Lake Camp, a Jewish non-profit sleepaway camp. His mother, a garment worker, was a Russian immigrant. Eventually, he graduated from Seward Park High School in New York.
Matthau won two Tony Awards, for “The Odd Couple” and “A Shot in the Dark.” He has been nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.
First Monday in October
The First Monday in October is a comedy-drama film based on a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, which was adapted into a film. It was released in 1981. This film features Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh as the two main characters, with Noble Willingham and James Stephens also appearing in the movie.
Originally, the film was scheduled for a February 1982 release. After a controversy regarding the death of one of its stars, Henry Fonda, the film was forced to be released a month later. The film was a big success and is currently available on DVD from Paramount Home Video. A Blu-ray release has not yet been announced.
During the early part of the movie, the dialogue is professional and has a smooth surface. However, as the film progresses, the dialogue becomes increasingly manipulative. The screenplay is long on calculation and short on invention. As a result, the movie has a tendency to drag.
One of the biggest attractions in the film is the fact that it is the first ever film in which a woman is appointed to the Supreme Court. The character of Ruth Loomis is the first lady to sit on the court. She is conservative and has strong opinions. In contrast, her opponent is a liberal who believes that individual rights are absolute. When her late husband is accused of misdeeds, she runs into a conflict with the liberal Justice Dan Snow. Despite his stance, he defends her.
The movie’s cast includes the talented Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh. Their performances are strong and they bring a lot of lovable grumpiness to the film. Unfortunately, the film’s direction by Ronald Neame does not add much to the experience. He follows the script and adds no surprises. Despite the good performances, the film’s dated premise makes the movie an uneven experience. Overall, the movie is a fun, light-hearted experience, but its cheesy dialogue and lack of inventiveness make it an incomplete film. So, if you’re looking for a film with a witty script, a likable cast, and a little bit of heart, check out The First Monday in October.
