Walter Matthau was a renowned actor, best known for his starring roles in numerous films, including the iconic Charade (1963),The Odd Couple (1968),Grumpy Old Men (1993),and Dennis the Menace (1993).
Born Walter Jake Matthow on October 1, 1920, in New York City, New York, Matthau's early life was marked by his mother's Lithuanian heritage and his father's Russian Jewish roots. His father, a peddler and electrician from Kiev, Ukraine, had a significant influence on Walter's life.
As a young boy, Matthau attended a Jewish non-profit sleep-away camp and Surprise Lake Camp, where he developed a passion for acting. He later attended Seward Park High School, which laid the foundation for his future endeavors.
During World War II, Matthau served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, stationed in Britain as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator radioman-gunner with the Eighth Air Force. He was part of the 453rd Bombardment Group, alongside James Stewart. Matthau's experience in the war sparked his interest in acting, and he eventually rose to the rank of staff sergeant.
Matthau's early career in television began with the pilot of Mister Peepers (1952),alongside Wally Cox. He later appeared in the Elia Kazan classic, A Face in the Crowd (1957),opposite Patricia Neal and Andy Griffith, and then in Lonely Are the Brave (1962),with Kirk Douglas.
Matthau's breakthrough role came in Charade (1963),alongside Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. He then made his big-screen debut as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple (1968) alongside Jack Lemmon, a partnership that would span several films, including the sequel, The Odd Couple II (1998),Grumpy Old Men (1993),and Grumpier Old Men (1995). Matthau also appeared in Dennis the Menace (1993),alongside Mason Gamble.
Walter Matthau's remarkable career spanned over six decades, leaving behind a legacy that continues to entertain audiences to this day. On July 1, 2000, Matthau passed away at the age of 79 due to a heart attack in Los Angeles, California.
