Quiz

He and Jack Lemmon acted together in 10 movies: Buddy Buddy (1981), Non per soldi... ma per denaro (1966), Prima pagina (1974), Storie d'amore (1995), That's amore! Due improbabili seduttori (1995), Due irresistibili brontoloni (1993), La strana coppia 2 (1998), La strana coppia (1968), and Gli impenitenti (1997). Lemmon also directed Matthau in Vedovo, aitante, bisognoso d'affetto, offresi... anche babysitter (1971). Lemmon and Matthau also both appeared in JFK - Un caso ancora aperto (1991) but had no scenes together.

He once estimated his lifetime gambling losses at $5 million.

After filming Due irresistibili brontoloni (1993) in 1993 in freezing weather in Minnesota, he was hospitalized for double pneumonia.

Served in the US Army Air Force, 8th Air Force, 453rd Bombardment Group in England with James Stewart.

Dan Castellaneta has said that his original voice for Homer Simpson was simply an impression of Matthau.

According to son Charles Matthau, Walter's real name was Walter Matthow, but he changed it to Walter Matuschanskayasky to sound more exotic.

During the filming of Hello, Dolly! (1969), he clashed with Barbra Streisand and disliked her so intensely that he refused to be around her except when required to do so by the script. He is famously quoted as telling Streisand that she "had no more talent than a butterfly's fart." Interestingly, he is clearly seen in the audience at the One Voice (1986) concert at her Malibu ranch, where invitation-only guests had the privilege of paying $5,000 per couple to help establish the Streisand Foundation, which supports numerous charitable organizations. Apparently, he did not hold grudges.

Dealt with a gambling addiction his entire adult life.

People were never sure if he was joking or saying things seriously, either on-screen or off-screen.

When he inscribed himself formally to the U.S. Social Security in 1937, he included "Foghorn" as his middle name. He never changed it.

Was passionate about classical music and often sang pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the set.

Very tall as young man (6'3"), Matthau had a very slouchy posture by the time he was an actor. This was in part due to back injuries sustained in combat during World War II. But he probably exaggerated it because the slouch fitted his miserly characters.

Buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote, Natalie Wood, Donna Reed, among other stars are buried at this cemetery.

He hated to be identified as a comedic actor.

Brought to the St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, by ambulance from his home on the late evening of 30 June 2000, after suffering a heart attack. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward at 1:42 a.m. on 1 July.

Once claimed that his wife's name was Carol Wellington-Smythe Marcus, just to give it a more "aristocratic" sound.

Reports are that he made up "Matuschanskayasky" as a joke and that his real "real" name is Matthow. The existence of Michelle Matthow would seem to confirm this...

Won two Tony Awards: in 1962, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "A Shot in the Dark," and in 1965 as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "The Odd Couple," recreating his part as Oscar Madison in the film version of the same name, La strana coppia (1968). Previously, he also had a Tony nomination in 1959 as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "Once More, with Feeling."

Appeared in Una nave tutta matta (1964), the sequel to La nave matta di Mister Roberts (1955), for which his friend Jack Lemmon won an Oscar.

Screen-tested for the part of Richard Sherman in Quando la moglie è in vacanza (1955). After seeing his test, director Billy Wilder believed he had found his leading man. Unfortunately, executives at 20th Century-Fox were unwilling to take a risk on an unknown newcomer. Because of this, the role went to Tom Ewell, who had originated the role on Broadway.

His big break came when understudying the actor who played the Archbishop in "Anne Of The Thousand Days", starring Rex Harrison.

Studied in the dramatic workshop at New York's New School with Gene Saks, Rod Steiger, Harry Guardino, and Tony Curtis.

He was a lifelong Democrat.

Told the editors of AFI's "Private Screenings" that John Ford's Il traditore (1935) is his favorite film.

While making a TV series in Florida before his movie stardom, he lost $183,000 betting on spring-training baseball games.

Drove a Mercedes with the personalized plate WALTZ.

He once claimed that his father was an Orthodox priest in Czarist Russia, who was removed after he claimed that the Pope was infallible.

When he accepted his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Non per soldi... ma per denaro (1966), he showed up on stage with a cast in one of his arms, to which presenter Shelley Winters said: "You had a tough time getting in here". During his speech, Matthau mentioned that he fell from his bicycle a few days earlier.

He has appeared in four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Un volto nella folla (1957), Sciarada (1963), King: una testimonianza filmata... da montgomery a memphis (1969) and È ricca, la sposo e l'ammazzo (1971).

Father, with Grace Geraldine Johnson, of son David Matthau and daughter Jenny Matthau. Father, with Carol Grace, of son Charles Matthau.

Had one sibling, an older brother named Henry Matthow (born 14 July 1918; died 21 May 1995 in Long Beach, New York). His mother, Rose Matthow, was born 15 December 1894 and died in Pacific Palisades, California, in January 1979.

Honored with a day of his film work during the TCM Summer Under The Stars. (9 agosto 2018)

The original family name was Matushansky. Father, Meilach Matushansky, a native of Belaya Tserkov, Kiev Governate, Russia changed his name to Milton Matthow.

Played Albert Einstein in the film Genio per amore (1994) even though he was a half-foot taller than the famous scientist.

Lived on Toyopa Drive in Pacific Palisades next door to Mel Blanc and around the corner from William Schallert, who lived on Ramos Place.

Between 1962 and 1974, Walter Matthau and George Kennedy appeared in four films together: Solo sotto le stelle (1962), Sciarada (1963), Mirage (1965), and Terremoto (1974).

Turned down the sequel to Dennis the Menace (1993).

Stepfather of Lucy Saroyan and Aram Saroyan.

Uncle of Juliette Gruber.

He was in the play "Anne of the Thousand Days". (1948)

Made his stage debut in Philadelphia.

He was originally wanted for the Seven-Year Itch.