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Acting

Walter Matthau

Career: Active from 1954 to 2000, busiest in 1978 with 5 main titles.

Leading roles: 60
top three billing

Average score: 62/100

Highest rated: Mirage
86/100

What stands out

Compared with the average well-known movie, over 70 of their titles. Select a trait to filter titles.

Walter Matthau Catalog average

Rarely in their work

Violence
2.8, average 4.1
Uncanny
1.2, average 2.5
Scare
1.5, average 2.6
Adrenaline
3.8, average 4.8

Main genres

Select a genre to see those titles.

Recurring tags

Character-Driven 14
Character Study 6
Romantic Comedy 5
Historical Setting 5
Situational Humor 5
Eccentric Characters 5
Social Commentary 5
Relationship Dynamics 4
Psychological Tension 4
Nostalgic 4
Legal Drama 4
Political Intrigue 3

Works often with

People in at least two of their main titles.

Movies and TV shows

88

Type

Role

Score

Decade

Genre

Group by

2000s

1 title · average score 36

Hanging Up

36

as Lou Mozell

1990s

16 titles · average score 58

The Odd Couple II

43

as Oscar Madison

The Marriage Fool

56

as Frank Walsh

Out to Sea

51

as Charlie

I'm Not Rappaport

50

as Nat Moyer

Grumpier Old Men

49

as Max Goldman

I.Q.

56

as Albert Einstein

Incident in a Small Town

59

as Harmon Cobb

Dennis the Menace

46

as Mr. Wilson

Grumpy Old Men

61

as Max Goldman

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

78

as Narrator (voice)

Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love

57

as Clifford Pepperman

The Incident

68

as Harmon Cobb

1980s

10 titles · average score 58

The Couch Trip

46

as Donald Becker

The Little Devil

72

as Padre Maurizio

Pirates

44

as Captain Thomas Bartholomew Red

Movers & Shakers

35

as Joe Mulholland

The Survivors

57

as Sonny Paluso

I Ought to Be in Pictures

68

as Herbert Tucker

Buddy Buddy

59

as Trabucco

First Monday in October

57

as Dan Snow

Hopscotch

76

as Miles Kendig

Little Miss Marker

64

as Sorrowful Jones

1970s

17 titles · average score 64

House Calls

47

as Dr. Charley Nichols

The Stingiest Man in Town

60

as Ebenezer Scrooge (voice)

Casey's Shadow

72

as Lloyd Bourdelle

The Bad News Bears

81

as Morris Buttermaker

The Sunshine Boys

69

as Willy Clark

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

81

as Lieutenant Garber

The Front Page

65

as Walter Burns

Charley Varrick

68

as Charley Varrick

The Laughing Policeman

50

as Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD

A New Leaf

85

as Henry Graham

Kotch

70

as Joseph P. Kotcher

Plaza Suite

53

as Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley

1960s

24 titles · average score 65

Hello, Dolly!

60

as Horace Vandergelder

Cactus Flower

75

as Dr. Julian Winston

The Odd Couple

84

as Oscar Madison

Candy

48

as Gen. R.A. Smight

A Guide for the Married Man

54

as Paul Manning

The Fortune Cookie

76

as Willie Gingrich

Mirage

86

as Ted Caselle

Fail Safe

83

as Prof. Groeteschele

Ensign Pulver

56

as Doc

Charade

85

as Hamilton Bartholemew

Lonely are the Brave

85

as Sheriff Morey Johnson

Tallahassee 7000

TV show · as Lex Rogers

1950s

17 titles · average score 64

Gangster Story

44

as Jack Martin

King Creole

84

as Maxie Fields

Onionhead

52

as 'Red' Wildoe

Ride a Crooked Trail

62

as Judge Kyle

Voice in the Mirror

66

as Dr. Karnes

A Face in the Crowd

82

as Mel Miller

Slaughter on 10th Avenue

56

as Al Dahlke

Bigger Than Life

83

as Wally Gibbs

The Indian Fighter

54

as Wes Todd

The Kentuckian

33

as Stan Bodine

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

86

TV show · as Off. Pete Chandler / Phil

Atomic Attack

as Dr. Spinelli

1940s

3 titles · average score 63

Suspense

62

TV show · as Lawrence Stevens

Studio One

65

TV show · as Olsen / Jacobs

The Philco Television Playhouse

TV show · as Stuart Benson / Iago