Walter Matthau (/ ˈ m æ θ aʊ /; born ... Matthau was born Walter John Matthow on October 1, 1920, in New York City's Lower East Side. Walter Mathhau is best known for being an American actor. Walter Matthau, actor, born October 1 1920; died … Walter Matthau turned against another of his co-stars, Michael Crawford, who would find fame later as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, over a bet. Actor Jack Lemmon Dies at 76 ... a crusading conservative father in "Missing," died of cancer June 27 at a Los Angeles hospital. Matthau refused to place a bet on it because of his hatred for Streisand. They had two children, David and Jenny. Walter Matthau (Walter John Matthow) was born on 01 October 1920 Friday in New York City, New York, U.S. and died on 01 July 2000 Saturday. Matthau was married to Grace Geraldine Johnson from 1948 until their divorce in 1958. Walter Matthau died on July 1, 2000 at the age of 79. He was pronounced dead on Saturday morning shortly after being brought into St John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, said a hospital spokesman. The funeral for Walter Matthau was short and sweet, witnessed by immediate family and a few adoring friends. He married Carol Marcus in 1959, and they had one son, Charles, who became a filmmaker and directed his father in "The Grass Harp" in 1996. Walter Matthau, 79, a comic actor who specialized in outrageous, irascible and frequently irresistible characters in films such as "The Fortune Cookie," which … Matthau died of full cardiac arrest in Santa Monica on July 1, 2000, aged 79. Born into a poor family of Jewish Russian immigrants, he was compelled to work at a very early age. Walter Matthau went to the head of the studio, Richard Zanuck, and Zanuck said, 'I'd love to help you but this is not 'Hello, Walter' we're making.' The Oscar-winning American actor, Walter Matthau, has died of a heart attack aged 79. Related Questions. ... as the straight man to sly Walter Matthau … How old was Walter Matthau when he died? Walter Matthau died on July 1, 2000 at the age of 79. Even light fare such as the comedy “Grumpy Old Men” with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau … Walter passed away on July 1, 2000 at the age of 79 in Santa Monica, California, United States. How old was Walter Matthau at death? When did Walter Matthau die? The show and ultimately the movie were gigantic hits so I knew Walter was on his way." He was 87. Wiki User August 15, 2011 3:35PM. Matthau had two children from his first marriage, and a son, Charles, who became a film-maker, from his second marriage, to Carol Marcus. Walter Matthau (/ ˈ m æ θ aʊ /; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor and comedian.