Walter Matthau Overview

Born Walter Matuschanskavasky in New York City, Matthau is the son of impoverished Jewish-Russian immigrants who got his start playing bit parts in a Second Avenue Yiddish theatre when he was 11 years old. He excelled in both drama and sports during his highschool years, but it wasn't until after he served his country during World War II that he enrolled in acting classes at New School's Dramatic Workshop. Matthau began his professional career in summer stock but soon graduated to... See All