What was Walter Matthau known for?

Walter Matthau was known for his distinctive voice, comedic timing, and roles in classic films like *The Odd Couple* and *Grumpy Old Men*. He was a character actor who played eccentric and memorable roles across film, television, and theater.

Where did Walter Matthau study?

Walter Matthau attended The New School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

What notable films did Walter Matthau appear in?

Walter Matthau starred in *Charade* (1963), *The Fortune Cookie* (1966), *Grumpy Old Men* (1993), and *The Odd Couple* (1968).

Walter Matthau

Q: What awards did Walter Matthau receive?

Walter Matthau won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for *The Odd Couple* (1968). He also received Tony Awards for his work in theater and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

American actor, comedian and director (1920–2000)

Person human Q202172

Facts

31 properties

Instance of: human
Sex or gender: male^[25]
Date of birth: October 1, 1920
Date of death: July 1, 2000
Place of birth: New York City
Place of death: Santa Monica
Country of citizenship: United States^[13]
Occupation: comedian, film actor, film director, character actor, stage actor, television actor, actor, director^[14]^[15]^[16]
Educated at: The New School, Seward Park High School^[17]^[18]
Award received: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]
Spouse: Carol Grace^[11]
Child: Charles Matthau^[12]
Genre: Western film, comedy film^[26]^[27]
Official website: matthau.com^[36]
Cause of death: myocardial infarction, colorectal cancer^[29]^[30]
Student of: Erwin Piscator^[37]
Nominated for: Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Academy Award for Best Actor, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play^[39]^[40]^[41]
Languages spoken, written or signed: English^[42]
Birth name: Walter John Matthow^[43]
Documentation files at: SAPA Foundation, Swiss Archive of the Performing Arts
Family name: Matthau, Matthow^[32]^[33]
Given name: Walter, John^[34]^[35]
Height: +189
Manner of death: natural causes^[38]

Show all 31 facts +7

Military branch: United States Army Air Forces^[28]
Name in native language: Walter Matthau^[44]
P14419: 2069
P14750: 1ED0-ACD5-7DDF-82FD-F9EF
Participated in conflict: World War II^[31]
Place of burial: Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery^[10]
Start of work period: 1947

🏷️ Also known as

en Walter John Matthow en Walter Matthow en Walter Matthau ar والتر ماثو da Walter John Matthau de Walter Matuschanskajaski de Walter Matuschanskayaski de Walter Matuschanskayasky de Matuschanskayaski de Matuschanskajaski de Walter John Matthow el Γουόλτερ Ματάου es Walter John Matthow fa والتر ماتائو fi Walter John Matthau he וולטר מתאו he וולטר מתיאו he ולטר מתאו he ולטר מתיאו hu Walter John Matthow

🔖 Identifiers · 115

ISNI: 0000000115072371
VIAF cluster ID: 100234841
Library of Congress authority ID: n84034686
GND ID: 118813986
Academy Awards Database nominee ID: 1332
AllMovie person ID: p46456
Allcinema person ID: 38800
AlloCiné person ID: 2117
American Film Institute person ID: 153520
American National Biography ID: 1803744
Armeniapedia ID: 4509
Awards & Winners artist ID: 0gyy0

Show all 115 identifiers +103

BIBSYS ID: 90915507
Behind The Voice Actors person ID: Walter-Matthau
Benezit ID: B00194018
Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 13897229s
Brockhaus Enzyklopädie online ID: matthau-walter
CINE21 person ID: 6035
CONOR.SI ID: 25434979
Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf12136086
Cinematografo.it name or company ID: 79729
Cinematografo.it name or company ID (new): walter-matthau-ds6pk70z
Cinémathèque québécoise person ID: 10629
DAHR artist ID: 104509
DDB person (GND) ID: 118813986
Danish National Filmography person ID: 8330
Decine21 person ID: 8302
Deutsche Biographie (GND) ID: 118813986
Discogs artist ID: 2048168
Douban personage ID: 27233586
Elonet person ID: 137001
Enciclopedia Galega Universal ID: 150373
Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID: biography/Walter-Matthau
Encyclopædia Universalis ID: walter-matthau
FAST ID: 136717, 1719072
FID performing arts ID: agent/gnd_118813986
FamilySearch person ID: LH3H-R3Y
Fandango person ID: 433093
Film.ru person ID: uolter-mattau
Filmová databáze person ID: 2621
Filmportal ID: 146ce83e70ca4696b1cfd5a522c99367
Filmweb.pl person ID: 8514
Find a Grave memorial ID: 10234
Freebase ID: /m/0gyy0
GTAA ID: 130505
Geni.com profile ID: 6000000029780889744
George Eastman Museum people ID: 99682
Google Arts & Culture entity ID: m0gyy0
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: walter-matthau
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID (former scheme): 0041427
Gravsted.dk ID: waltermatthau
Great Norwegian Encyclopedia ID: Walter_Matthau
Harper's tag: walter-matthau
Hrvatska enciklopedija ID: 39510
IMDb ID: nm0000527
ISzDb person ID: 10548
IdRef ID: 074467999
Internet Broadway Database person ID: 68261, 77950
Ivi person ID: uolter-mettau
JRC Names ID: 162502
KINENOTE person ID: 2131
Kinobox person ID: 20504
Kinopoisk person ID: 11756
LdiF person ID: 68193
Lex ID: Walter_Matthau
Libraries Australia ID: 40035002
LibraryThing author ID: matthauwalter
Listal ID: walter-matthau
MYmovies person ID: 26177
Movie Walker Press person ID: 1910
MovieMeter person ID: 6837
Munzinger person ID: 00000017572
MusicBrainz artist ID: 90c1d84c-e6b2-4386-84f9-11dc59ceabc5
Muziekweb performer ID: M00000320340
NE.se ID: walter-matthau
NL CR AUT ID: xx0055946
NLA Trove people ID: 1037848
NLP ID: a0000001613164
NUKAT ID: n2007133381
National Library of Israel ID (old): 004068932
National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007446102105171
National Library of Korea ID: KAC2020M0735
National Library of Lithuania ID: LNB:BwBe;=Bw
National Library of Poland MMS ID: 9810547964005606
National Library of Spain SpMaBN ID (BNE v1.0): XX1092610
Nationale Thesaurus voor Auteursnamen ID: 071807462
Notable Names Database ID: 768/000023699
Obálky knih ID: xx0055946
Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3938692
Open Media Database person ID: 6837
PORT person ID: 9428
Plex person key: 5d776826961905001eb910ff
Prabook ID: 237653
Prisma ID: 75602
Rai Teche person ID: walter-matthau
RedBA Granada authority ID: 97465
Rotten Tomatoes ID: celebrity/walter_matthau
SBN author ID: RAVV088593
SNAC ARK ID: w6nw0vzk
SPAP ID: a/5b0950ab-d198-46e7-8cd5-8a3a5e59743d
Scope.dk person ID: 3474
Swedish Film Database person ID: 77192
TCM Movie Database person ID: 124923|153520
TMDB person ID: 6837
TV Maze person ID: 115778
TV.com ID: people/walter-matthau
Topic's main category: Category:Walter Matthau
Trading Card Database name ID: 123249
Treccani ID: walter-matthau
Treccani's Enciclopedia del Cinema ID: walter-matthau
University of Barcelona authority ID (former scheme): a1154718
WikiTree person ID: Matthow-1
WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJt8j7d6XJBhB8j3yhyyBP
Yale LUX ID: person/9bf29a43-6136-46c4-8e7f-b12794c44072
ČSFD person ID: 444

Report an error or request removal Lineage (PROV-JSON)

🔗 Connections

← Cast member 60

Charade, JFK, Hello, Dolly!, Earthquake, The Front Page, Fail-Safe, The Fortune Cookie, Cactus Flower +52 more

Occupation 8

actor, film director, comedian, director, character actor, film actor, stage actor, television actor

Award received 6

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor

Nominated for 4

Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Actor, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play

← Winner 3

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor

Cause of death 2

myocardial infarction, colorectal cancer

Genre 2

comedy film, Western film

Given name 2

John, Walter

← Presenter 2

55th Academy Awards, 48th Academy Awards

Child 1

Charles Matthau

Children (paternal) 1

Charles Matthau

Country of citizenship 1

United States

Educated at 1

The New School

Films directed 1

Gangster Story

Instance of 1

human

Languages spoken, written or signed 1

English

Manner of death 1

natural causes

Military branch 1

United States Army Air Forces

Participated in conflict 1

World War II

Place of birth 1

New York City

Place of burial 1

Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery

Place of death 1

Santa Monica

Sex or gender 1

male

Spouse 1

Carol Grace

Spouses 1

Carol Grace

Student of 1

Erwin Piscator

Teachers 1

Erwin Piscator

← Executive producer 1

Little Miss Marker

← FactGrid item ID 1

Cwmtwrch

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Summary

Walter Matthau was born on October 1, 1920^[1], in New York City^[2]. He died on July 1, 2000^[3], in Santa Monica^[4]. He worked as a comedian^[5], film actor^[6], film director^[7], character actor^[8], and stage actor^[9].

FAQs

Where was Walter Matthau born?

Walter Matthau was born in New York City^[2].

Where did Walter Matthau die?

Walter Matthau died in Santa Monica^[4].

Who was Walter Matthau married to?

Walter Matthau's spouses include Carol Grace^[11].

What did Walter Matthau do for work?

Walter Matthau worked as a comedian^[5], film actor^[6], film director^[7], character actor^[8], and stage actor^[9].

Where did Walter Matthau go to school?

Walter Matthau was educated at The New School^[17] and Seward Park High School^[18].

What awards did Walter Matthau receive?

Honors received include Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor^[19], Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play^[20], Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play^[21], and BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role^[22].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

[2] ↑ Walter Matthau — place of birth (P19): New York City. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-12-11. wikidata.org.
[4] ↑ Walter Matthau — place of death (P20): Santa Monica. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-12-31. wikidata.org.
[25] ↑ Walter Matthau — sex or gender (P21): male. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.
[11] ↑ Walter Matthau — spouse (P26): Carol Grace. wikidata.org.
[13] ↑ Walter Matthau — country of citizenship (P27): United States. wikidata.org.
[12] ↑ Walter Matthau — child (P40): Charles Matthau. wikidata.org.
[17] ↑ Walter Matthau — educated at (P69): The New School. wikidata.org.
[18] ↑ Walter Matthau — educated at (P69): Seward Park High School. Retrieved 2021-03-04. wikidata.org.
[5] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): comedian. wikidata.org.
[6] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): film actor. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[7] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): film director. wikidata.org.
[8] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): character actor. wikidata.org.
[9] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): stage actor. wikidata.org.
[14] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): television actor. wikidata.org.
[15] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): actor. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[16] ↑ Walter Matthau — occupation (P106): director. wikidata.org.
[10] ↑ Walter Matthau — place of burial (P119): Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. wikidata.org.
[26] ↑ Walter Matthau — genre (P136): Western film. wikidata.org.
[27] ↑ Walter Matthau — genre (P136): comedy film. wikidata.org.
[19] ↑ Walter Matthau — award received (P166): Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. oscars.org. oscars.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[20] ↑ Walter Matthau — award received (P166): Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. wikidata.org.
[21] ↑ Walter Matthau — award received (P166): Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. wikidata.org.
[22] ↑ Walter Matthau — award received (P166): BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. wikidata.org.
[23] ↑ Walter Matthau — award received (P166): star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 2021-06-06. wikidata.org.
[24] ↑ Walter Matthau — award received (P166): David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actor. wikidata.org.
[28] ↑ Walter Matthau — military branch (P241): United States Army Air Forces. wikidata.org.
[29] ↑ Walter Matthau — cause of death (P509): myocardial infarction. wikidata.org.
[30] ↑ Walter Matthau — cause of death (P509): colorectal cancer. wikidata.org.
[1] ↑ Walter Matthau — date of birth (P569): October 1, 1920. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2015-10-14. wikidata.org.
[3] ↑ Walter Matthau — date of death (P570): July 1, 2000. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2015-10-14. wikidata.org.
[31] ↑ Walter Matthau — participated in conflict (P607): World War II. wikidata.org.
[32] ↑ Walter Matthau — family name (P734): Matthau. Retrieved 2022-05-11. wikidata.org.
[33] ↑ Walter Matthau — family name (P734): Matthow. Retrieved 2022-05-11. wikidata.org.
[34] ↑ Walter Matthau — given name (P735): Walter. Retrieved 2022-05-11. wikidata.org.
[35] ↑ Walter Matthau — given name (P735): John. Retrieved 2022-05-11. wikidata.org.
[36] ↑ Walter Matthau — official website (P856): http://matthau.com/walter-matthau/. wikidata.org.
[37] ↑ Walter Matthau — student of (P1066): Erwin Piscator. wikidata.org.
[38] ↑ Walter Matthau — manner of death (P1196): natural causes. wikidata.org.
[39] ↑ Walter Matthau — nominated for (P1411): Academy Award for Best Actor. wikidata.org.
[40] ↑ Walter Matthau — nominated for (P1411): Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. wikidata.org.
[41] ↑ Walter Matthau — nominated for (P1411): Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. wikidata.org.
[42] ↑ Walter Matthau — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): English. CONOR.SI. wikidata.org.
[43] ↑ Walter Matthau — birth name (P1477): Walter John Matthow. Retrieved 2022-05-11. wikidata.org.
[44] ↑ Walter Matthau — name in native language (P1559): Walter Matthau. wikidata.org.

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Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA

4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Walter Matthau. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/walter-matthau

MLA “Walter Matthau.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 6 Nov. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/walter-matthau.

BibTeX

@misc{4ortxyz_walter-matthau_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Walter Matthau}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/walter-matthau}, note = {Accessed: 2026-11-06}}

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According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Walter Matthau — https://4ort.xyz/entity/walter-matthau (retrieved 2026-11-06)

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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

19d ago · OKA bot bot · 2026-10-18 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Wikipedia languages → ['af', 'an', 'ar', 'arz', 'ast', 'azb', 'be', 'bg', 'bn', 'ca', 'commons', 'cs',

Sitelink count → 67

Claims rich → —

"/* wbeditentity-update-languages-and-other-short:0||nb */ other names, source for place of birth, source for place of death, source for date of birth, source for date of death from Store norske leksik"
6w ago · Turcoscandinavo · 2026-09-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Treccani's Enciclopedia del Cinema ID → walter-matthau

"/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ Treccani's Enciclopedia del Cinema ID: walter-matthau"
7w ago · Jindřich Rubeš · 2026-09-15 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Filmová databáze person ID → 2621

"/* wbremoveclaims-remove:1| */ Filmová databáze person ID: 20504, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/273845|batch #273845]]"
9w ago · MsMorale · 2026-09-03 view diff on Wikidata ↗

TV Maze person ID → 115778

P14750 → 1ED0-ACD5-7DDF-82FD-F9EF

"/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ TV Maze person ID: 115778, [[:toollabs:quickstatements/#/batch/270242|batch #270242]]"
13w ago · Susmuffin · 2026-08-02 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Harper's tag → walter-matthau

"/* wbsetclaim-create:1||1 */ Harper's tag: walter-matthau, Matched to [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/entry/289967780|walter matthau (#289967780)]] in [[:toollabs:mix-n-match/#/catalog/7915|Harper's "
15w ago · ならちゃん · 2026-07-24 view diff on Wikidata ↗

P14419 → 2069

"/* wbcreateclaim-create:1| */ P14419: 2069, #quickstatements; #temporary_batch_1784880373663"
16w ago · ならちゃん · 2026-07-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗

CINE21 person ID → 6035

"/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/42256|batch #42256]]"
24w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-19 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Place of birth → New York City

Educated at → The New School, Seward Park High School

Work period start → —

Aliases → —

+ 32 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)

"/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32080|batch #32080]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (22)"

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