Happy Birthday Walter!

Entertainment 4 Minutes

Today is Walter Matthau’s birthday (born October 1, 1920, and died July 1, 2000) and starred in one of my favorite movies, Grumpy Old Men.  I found an article on Facts.net and wanted to share it.

From Facts.net:

Walter Matthau, a name synonymous with talent, charisma, and timeless performances, left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. From his iconic roles in classic films like “The Odd Couple” and “Grumpy Old Men” to his versatility in both comedy and drama, Matthau captivated audiences with his unique and captivating style. In this article, we will delve into the extraordinary life and career of this Hollywood legend. Prepare to be amazed as we uncover 15 mind-blowing facts about Walter Matthau that showcase his incredible talent, off-screen charisma, and enduring legacy. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to discover the fascinating world of one of the most brilliant actors of our time.

The Odd Couple became a classic comedy duo.

Starring alongside Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau brought the characters of Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar to life in Neil Simon’s hit play and subsequent film adaptation. Their chemistry and comedic timing made them an unforgettable duo in Hollywood history.

Walter Matthau was born on October 1, 1920.

The talented actor, known for his distinctive gravelly voice, was born as Walter John Matthow in New York City. He would go on to become one of the most beloved and accomplished actors of his time.

Matthau served in World War II.

During his early adulthood, Matthau served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a B-24 Liberator radioman-gunner in the Pacific theater. His military service greatly influenced his portrayal of tough, no-nonsense characters later in his career.

The Fortune Cookie earned Matthau an Academy Award nomination.

In 1966, Matthau received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Whiplash Willie Gingrich in Billy Wilder’s The Fortune Cookie. This marked the beginning of a successful awards career for the talented actor.

Matthau and Jack Lemmon were close friends on and off the screen.

The dynamic duo of Matthau and Lemmon not only shared a successful on-screen partnership but also formed a strong friendship in real life. They went on to star in numerous films together, showcasing their incredible chemistry and friendship.

Walter Matthau won an Academy Award for The Sunshine Boys.

In 1972, Matthau won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Willie Clark in The Sunshine Boys. This recognition solidified his status as one of the top actors of his generation.

Matthau played a variety of roles throughout his career.

From grumpy but lovable old men to quirky and eccentric characters, Matthau’s versatility as an actor allowed him to take on a wide range of roles. He showcased his talent in both comedic and dramatic performances, captivating audiences with his unique charm.

Matthau starred in several successful films with director Billy Wilder.

Matthau collaborated with renowned director Billy Wilder on multiple occasions, resulting in critically acclaimed films such as The Fortune Cookie, The Front Page, and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Their collaboration was a match made in Hollywood heaven.

Matthau received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 1980, Walter Matthau was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This recognition celebrated his contributions to the world of entertainment and solidified his status as a Hollywood legend.

Matthau appeared in the hit film Grumpy Old Men.

In 1993, Matthau starred alongside Jack Lemmon again in the comedy film Grumpy Old Men. Their reunion was met with great excitement from fans, and the film became a box office success.

Matthau had a successful stage career.

Prior to his success in film, Matthau made a name for himself on the stage. He performed in various productions, showcasing his acting prowess and captivating audiences with his performances.

Matthau had a passion for playing poker.

Off-screen, Matthau had a love for the game of poker. He was known to engage in friendly poker games with his friends and fellow actors, adding an extra element of excitement to his already vibrant life.

Walter Matthau was married twice.

Matthau was first married to Grace Geraldine Johnson, with whom he had two children. After their divorce, he later married Carol Saroyan, with whom he had his third child. Family was important to Matthau, and he cherished his role as a husband and father.

Matthau continued to act until his final years.

Even in his later years, Matthau remained dedicated to his craft. He starred in films such as Grumpier Old Men and The Odd Couple II, showcasing his enduring passion for acting and his commitment to entertaining audiences.

Walter Matthau’s legacy lives on.

Walter Matthau left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment with his incredible talent and unforgettable performances. His iconic roles and his contributions to the industry will always be remembered, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations of actors and entertainers.

Conclusion

Walter Matthau was more than just a talented actor. He was a legend in the entertainment industry and left an indelible mark on Hollywood. From his iconic performances to his unique personality, Matthau captivated audiences for decades. These 15 mind-blowing facts about Walter Matthau shed light on the man behind the characters, showcasing his incredible talent, his humorous nature, and his enduring legacy. Whether it was his comedic genius in films like “The Odd Couple” or his dramatic depth in movies like “Charley Varrick,” Matthau truly had a range that few actors could match. His wit, charm, and ability to bring characters to life made him a beloved figure both on and off the screen. As we reflect on Matthau’s life and career, it becomes clear that he was not just a celebrity, but an artist who made a lasting impact on the world of entertainment. His talent, passion, and enduring appeal will continue to inspire and entertain generations to come.

SOURCE: FACTS.NET; GINGER HOCH

Unknown's avatar

Published by pat frederick

Published

127 thoughts on “Happy Birthday Walter!”

  1. Morning All!
    that last photo of Walter is from IQ–he played Albert Einstein in a romantic comedy with Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins. He was great in that too!
    dark outside. hope we get to see more sun!
    i see on tcth President authorized a Gofundme acct for those affected by Helene. not sure how that will be managed, but it’s an effort.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Morning, Pat! I loved the Odd Couple and both Grumpy Old Men movies. Great actor! 44 here this morning, still dark. Wheezer didn’t want to uncurl himself from the cushion to eat his tuna at first – he had that spot all nice and warm!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. James O’Keefe
    @JamesOKeefeIII
    BREAKING: Second Border Patrol Agent BLOWS WHISTLE on Border Crisis: ‘My Conscience Will Be Clean, That’s Way More Important Than My Pension’

    “The cartels run the border down here,” says Aaron Veckey, a United States Border Patrol agent with 19 years of service, stepping forward to expose the horrific conditions at the U.S.-Mexico border. Inspired by fellow whistleblower Zachary Apotheker (@ZachApotheker
    ), featured in “Line in the Sand,” Veckey brings OMG onsite to his Customs and Border Protection patrol station in Ajo, Arizona, to reveal the disturbing truth.

    “Where I first saw it [human rights violations] was here, underneath that canopy there,” Veckey shares. “It was just men, women, and children… They were freezing. It was at least 40 degrees.” He describes another instance of extreme conditions, adding, “You got 50 Muslims, 50 Sikhs, 50 Christians, 50 whatever, and they’re fighting over shade.”

    “If they have a thousand bodies for us, as fast as they can bring us bodies, we pick them up as fast and we push them all into this parking lot.” He adds, “They have pushed us around through fear, through browbeating us. They’ve ordered us to do stuff,” highlighting how U.S. Border Patrol agents are often forced between cartel operations and bureaucratic pressure to keep quiet.

    Bringing these atrocities to the attention of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), Veckey filed reports detailing the violations, only to be met with a cease and desist letter, ordering him to stay silent. Despite being ordered to remain silent, Veckey is sacrificing his future for justice.

    Watch “Line in the Sand,” releasing October 10th, only at https://tuckercarlson.com/lineinthesand.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree with Rodney 100%!!!

      Rodney: “Trump better keep RFK Jr on a short leash, I dont want that man anywhere near the 2nd Amendment and he better stay away from the climate bullshit, I will never forget him saying we should lock up climate deniers.”

      Liked by 1 person

      1. AGREED.
        I think he should stay away from those hings as well. but the fda? or nih? and maybe let him sit in on the intelligence stuff. but i’m wary of letting him run it. but he needs closure–the country needs closure. maybe he will get some.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Oh, I agree!! I’m also unsure of where he stands with American-made vs. outsourcing. In many areas, he still tends towards globalism.

          Liked by 1 person

            1. I think HHS should be his primary area of responsibility – NIH, FDA, CDC, etc. TBH, I don’t think I’d trust him on the political side of things. He IS still a Kennedy, after all! He can go against the “family” on some things but not too far….IMO.

              Liked by 1 person

  8. 4nt1p4tt3rn ‍ Appalachistan Wolf Lodge #47

    @4nt1p4tt3rn

    I want you to think about something: We’re almost exactly a month out from an election for POTUS. The western half of a battleground state just got, for all intents and purposes, destroyed. POTUS has stated that no more aid to them will be forthcoming. The longshoremen are starting a nationwide strike tomorrow. These are two things that, by themselves, would have the fedgov in any normal era falling over itself to try to put the absolute best face and spin on, to correct as quickly as possible, lest it hurt their chances in an election, both at the POTUS level and down-ticket. Now, they’re happening simultaneously, and the administration couldn’t be seen to give less of a F. It really forces you to wonder why they’re so unconcerned about optics right now, so close to a precarious election.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Both Mom and Sis try telling me I should go ahead and sign up for Medicare Part B in spite of having free coverage from the VA. It makes no sense – I would still run into the very same roadblocks but I’d be paying for the privilege! NO THANKS!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Wall Street Apes
    @WallStreetApes
    🚨 Wisconsin Election Workers Being Told THEY CAN NOT CHECK FOR ID

    When asked “what type of identification do you need? A voter’s registration card, driver’s license”

    Election worker “Previously I had to check everybody’s IDs. But this year, I was told I wasn’t allowed.”

    “We just walked in to get absentee ballots to register to vote for November 5th. Walked in, and we asked her how we go about getting those, and she said, oh, I’ll mail them to you. I said, well, what type of identification do you need? A voter’s registration card, driver’s license, whatever.

    And her response is, previously, I checked. I had to check everybody’s IDs. But this year, I was told I wasn’t allowed.

    Can somebody please tell me what’s wrong with that picture? I said, how long will it take us to get those? Because we’re gonna be going out of town.

    And she said, oh, you’ll get them tomorrow. I’m gonna walk them over to the post office right now. You’ll get them tomorrow. So I walked in, asked for an absentee ballot. They’re gonna send it without anybody checking if I’m registered.

    What’s wrong with that picture?”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We always have to show ID at some point along the way – even when every single person in the room at the library here knows who I am and where I live, I am asked for my DL. I can formally request a mail-in ballot, which will only be sent to me if nothing has changed since the last time, but I still have to seal it in the return envelope and sign the seal, whether I mail it back or drop it off @ the City Office or CH. I can’t say what shenanigans they might pull in the Omaha/Lincoln region but it is required state-wide.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. when we go in to vote, there is always the same group of ladies. we have our voter id cards ready but they call out our names to the people checking us off the voter list before we can show them. I couldn’t tell you who the dems are there or who are the repubs because all the ladies get along. it’s clear they have been doing this for a long time.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Same here, same group of ladies, same registry book that I have to sign after I show them my DL. But I’ve never had to wait in a line – the most voters I’ve seen when I was there was maybe 2? People just drop in off-and-on thru the day, when they get a few minutes.

          Liked by 1 person

  20. Goya Foods

    @GoyaFoods

    “In the face of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, Goya stands united with the resilient communities of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, embodying the spirit of compassion and support. Together, we nourish hope and rebuild lives, reminding everyone that even in the darkest times, we can share the light of generosity,” said Bob Unanue, the President and CEO of Goya Foods.

    By collaborating with Sweetwater Mission FoodBank and Lara Trump in North and South Carolina, Global Empowerment Mission in Florida, and Atlanta Community Food Pantry in Georgia, Goya is providing food to families and individuals greatly affected by Hurricane Helene. #GOYACARES

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Still clear and sunny here, up to 59 now. There’s a lot of moisture moving up towards the NE, I would expect. Maybe it is that moisture hitting the colder air?

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Just The News: “American colleges and universities are accepting billions of dollars in foreign money without reporting it, according to a new report. The National Association of Scholars released the report, which says that taking money from foreign governments and organizations without reporting it has become commonplace among American universities.

    “Higher education is awash with conflicting interests,” said NAS Fellow and report author Neetu Arnold, who added that universities “search for partnerships and grants abroad, sometimes from adversarial governments.”

    From NAS:

    By using public records requests, we compiled the amounts of reported and unreported foreign gifts to universities. We found that from 2010 to 2016, universities failed to disclose some 54 percent of all reportable gifts. During the Trump administration, particularly after the ED’s investigation found $6.5 billion in unreported foreign funds, disclosures by universities far exceeded the total amount we could find by records requests by $1.7 billion. Under the Biden administration, universities returned to the status quo – underreporting gifts by at least 39 percent.

    Arnold said universities also seek out and compete for foreign grants. “These grants and payments come with stipulations,” he continued. “One stipulation, Section 117, requires that universities disclose foreign gifts to the Department of Education. Yet, many universities fail to do so, even when threatened with extensive and embarrassing investigations.”

    NAS has begun digging into the extent of those foreign donations, a number which is not fully known. They have created a “Foreign Donor Database” to track the billions of “ghost dollars.”

    They have compiled documentation on 70 universities that allegedly did not report the foreign dollars, and that combined with instances found in Department of Education records suggest billions of dollars in foreign money has flooded U.S. institutions.

    The issue has national security implications as nations like China have used agreements, faculty and donations to steal away American intellectual property, even research related to national security. For that reason, nearly all Confucius Institutes, a China-backed educational group that previously worked on campuses, have now shut down.

    The funding raises more questions, though, as research from universities is used to guide American policy making, polls are used in elections, and technology research is used in vulnerable infrastructure and military defense.

    While schools can face investigations from the Department of Education for refusing to report funds, it seems that is not enough motivation to ensure compliance.

    “It is clear that for decades, both the ED and universities ignored Section 117 disclosure requirements,” Arnold said. “It would be unsurprising if we didn’t see any deviation from the expected reporting amount, but what we found was jaw-dropping.”

    Liked by 1 person

  25. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4906833-clinton-warns-october-surprise-harris/

    Our Take: Some focused anon just yelled, ‘bingo!’ at Hillary Clinton bringing up Pizzagate a month before the election. Today begins October. Let the surprises commence!

    That this story is a cautionary tale foreshadowing a coming story about Kamala Harris is fascinating; more so, given the timing of the Diddy story blowing up and piercing normie bubbles across the sociopolitical spectrum. Layer in Kamala’s alleged connections to and electoral support from the Hip Hop world, and I’m popping popcorn.

    At the very moment that ordinary Americans are coming to grips with Sean Combs as ‘the Epstein of the music industry,’ Clinton reminds the collective mind of Pizzagate — warning of Harris having her own Pizzagate moment within the next month. Remember that Clinton was a US Senator from NY, and the highest profile RICOs on the game board surfaced through SDNY.

    Hey, remember when Hillary Clinton, like, fainted or something outside that van that one time? Tell me we aren’t watching a movie. —Ashe in America

    Liked by 1 person

  26. This is getting beyond ridiculous, bordering on criminal, IMO!!!

    https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/30/republicans-covid-pandemic-nih-plan-00181512

    Our Take: The timing of this article is apropos, as I just spent my lunch hour at work on the phone dealing with a crisis at home. My daughter just started kindergarten at the local public school—where my sister works, and I have confirmed does not have any woke curriculum… yet, the other day my wife noticed that she was incessantly itching her scalp. Worried that it was lice, we inspected her, didn’t find anything, and chalked it up to dandruff.

    Then we went to a birthday party over the weekend, where other parents informed me that several other kids at the school were rumored to have lice. I asked why the school wouldn’t have informed us; I, myself, went to this elementary school, and the one lice outbreak I can remember was treated like nuclear waste spill, and was told that new school policy suppresses that kind of information from parents, for reasons unknown.

    Fast-forward to the Monday work day, and Mrs. Ghost starts pummeling my texts with lice hysteria. She realized that lice eggs incubate for weeks before hatching, and a picture she had taken of our daughter’s scalp showed “dandruff” that was identical to pictures of lice eggs.

    I immediately phoned the school and got the nurse, whom I began interrogating. I learned that new[-ish] CDC policy nationwide stipulates that lice is no longer considered a serious medical issue, and therefore children with lice should be kept at the school in class with the clean kids. However, despite the reduction in perceived threat level of these vermin, the disclosure of lice outbreaks to parents has been elevated and is now considered a HIPPA violation and prosecutable offense. (“Oh, but demanding to know whether I am vaccinated isn’t?!” — couldn’t help myself.)

    So now, due to the suppression of truthful knowledge, the school has created a time bomb, where hundreds of children are wandering my community with parasitic eggs laid in their hair, waiting to hatch and take over. Soon we will be overrun, and all of this could have been avoided with a friendly heads up and some special shampoo. I find myself realizing that the lice and our politicians are effectively the same organism: dysgenic parasites that wallow in filth and suck the lifeforce out of children. This is what happens when we relinquish control of our society to smelly cat ladies; we all get infected with head lice.

    The only logical response to this situation—both the head lice and federal organizations like the NIH—is open defiance. We cannot surrender our civilization to these unclean bottom-feeders, who, more often than not, are overprivileged ne’er-do-wells from the upper middle class. We cannot allow them to normalize lice in our children.

    All of these rotten institutions must be dismantled, and their personnel investigated for malfeasance. We must make an example out of those who have abused their power and the public trust.

    PS – I’m now considering launching a full-scale unrestricted 5th generation warfare campaign against the local school board, usurping their leadership, anointing myself “dominus noster,” and imposing a totalitarian terror against bureaucrats and pronoun-people who seek to dominate and subjugate others. Because dictators aren’t born, they are made. So if I do end up becoming history’s next great tyrant, just remember that it all started with head lice. I was always willing to be reasonable until I had to be unreasonable. — GhostofBasedPatrickHenry

    Liked by 1 person

    1. i remember the one outbreak while i was in school. everyone–and i mean everyone lined up outside the nurse’s office to be checked. if yo had it, the child was sent home immediately and could not return until the lice had been treated. they were told which shampoo to use and for how long.
      it happened during our kids’ time in school as well. same procedure.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. HB never had head lice but she did bring home scabies from a friend’s house – tbh, they were typical “trailer trash” but nice people. We all had to get treatment. She never spent the night there again, tho. It wasn’t long after that we moved from Madison to Stanton and didn’t have as much contact with them. They did come up to visit once in a while – we played cards while the kiddos played.

        They were the ones who introduced me to the people from whom I got my Spirit. They also took one of the puppies (named Blaze for the white mark on his face) that we kept at our house until they moved to another home where they could have a dog.

        “Scabies is not an infection, but an infestation. Tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei set up shop in the outer layers of human skin. The skin does not take kindly to the invasion. As the mites burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, the infestation leads to relentless itching and an angry rash.”

        Liked by 1 person

      1. nah…just a little quick one. sometimes you see them repel down from the recessed lights in the ceiling. there’s so small you lose sight of them. then they scare the shit out of you while you’re not paying attention…LOL

        Liked by 1 person

  36. area hit hard in NC is essential for solar panels and semi conductors

    FTA

    The remnants of Hurricane Helene ripped through the Western North Carolina mountain town of Spruce Pine last week, disrupting a quartz facility integral to the global production of solar panels and semiconductor chips.
    The largest Spruce Pine mine is owned by Sibelco, a private Belgium mineral company that is Mitchell County’s top employer. Sibelco told The News & Observer Monday that the company has “temporarily halted operations at the Spruce Pine facilities” since Sept. 26.
    “The hurricane has caused widespread flooding, power outages, communication disruptions, and damage to critical infrastructure in the area,” the emailed statement said. “Many people in the area, including our employees and their families, are facing displacement and significant disruptions.”
    As of Saturday morning, the storm had dumped more than 2 feet of rain on the town, submerging its downtown buildings and overwhelming area roads, railways, utilities, and homes. Sibelco’s mines are north of downtown in an area called the Spruce Pine Mining District. From above, they look like giant white sandy beaches. The area is set back from the local North Toe River, which flooded. But news reports indicate surrounding Mitchell County has experienced extensive damage to roads and rail lines, which could impact workers’ ability to get to the site and the company’s ability to transport materials.
    The town is home to the purest quartz on the planet, a byproduct of continental formations that occurred more than 380 million years ago. High-purity quartz is essential to making the silicon wafers that get cut into chips. While there are other sources of quartz, the purity many producers demand is only found around the mines of Spruce Pine. “It is rare, unheard of almost, for a single site to control the global supply of a crucial material,” wrote Ed Conway in his 2023 book “Material World.” “Yet if you want to get high-purity quartz — the kind you need to make those crucibles without which you can’t make silicon wafers — it has to come from Spruce Pine.”

    Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article293265924.html#storylink=cpy

    Liked by 2 people

  37. Ownership of American ports should be returned to America and AMERICAN companies should make these goods with American workers instead of all the profits going to foreign countries!!!! No foreign entity should have that much control in OUR country!!! Just like this:

    “President Trump Will Keep U.S. Steel American-Owned, American-Made

    Joanna M. Wischer and Adam Molon, Oct 01, 2024

    EXCERPT: “Recently, both President Biden and Vice President Harris bizarrely flip-flopped on their vow to block Japan’s Nippon Steel from acquiring one of our country’s largest and most vital steel manufacturing companies, U.S. Steel. This September, the Biden-Harris Administration granted an extension on the U.S. Department of Treasury’s national security investigation into the deal, pushing the final determination likely past election day.

    President Trump, on the other hand, has vowed to block this deal once he gets elected this November, and has not wavered. President Trump understands that foreign countries have vastly different interests than ours when it comes to ensuring the wellbeing of Americas industrial base, and he would never surrender control of any of America’s national security and economic security assets to foreign countries.

    U.S. Steel’s pending acquisition by Japan’s Nippon Steel is opposed by rank-and-file steelworkers and the United Steelworkers (USW) union alike, due in large part to major uncertainty about whether American steelworkers would keep their jobs, their pensions, their profit sharing, and their retirement healthcare if the deal were closed, as well as whether U.S. Steel would continue to make steel in America.

    The USW has stated that the deal represents a selling out of American steelworkers, with “shocking disregard for our contracts and [U.S. Steel’s] dedicated workforce.” The purchase also poses a clear and present national security threat connected to China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

    As the geopolitical intelligence firm Horizon Advisory has reported, “Nippon directly owns significant operations in China” that “share both technology and production expertise with the PRC’s [China’s] industrial base.” And “Nippon’s pervasive integration in China’s steel sector today guarantees that Nippon also supports the literal naval buildup that Beijing’s globally dominant shipbuilding industry has led and that the People’s Liberation Army draws on, increasingly, to project power globally.”

    In the presidential election, only President Trump and J.D. Vance have credibility when it comes to putting the United States and American workers first. They will prevent this disastrous takeover – by a foreign firm with nine factories in Communist China – of an iconic pillar of American industry….”

    https://newsentry.substack.com/p/president-trump-will-keep-us-steel

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.