WALTER MATTHAU

Walter Matthau was an American actor and comedian best known for his film roles, such as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, a film based on the play of the same title by playwright Neil Simon, for which he also appeared on Broadway theatre. Within just two years of working on Broadway, he started acting in Hollywood and received numerous film credits. He also appeared in the less successful Odd Couple film sequel some 30 years later, The Odd Couple II.

Walter was known for his frequent collaborations with Odd Couple co-star Jack Lemmon, particularly in the 1990s with the films Grumpy Old Men and its sequel, Grumpier Old Men. For his performance in the 1966 Billy Wilder film The Fortune Cookie, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Besides the Oscar, he was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Tony awards. Walter died in 2000 due to heart and kidney disease.