Walter Matthau Quotes

I think doing comedy is more difficult ... than doing noncomedic or tragic or whatever you want to call it. "Because it`s difficult to make all kinds of different audiences understand what you`re doing, and moving you to laughter.

I never mind my wife having the last word. In fact, I`m delighted when she gets to it.

Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality. The Odd Couple (1968) was mine. That was the plutonium I needed. It all started happening after that.

I always had one ear offstage, listening for the call from the bookie.

The first girl you go to bed with is always pretty.

`Get out of show business.` It`s the best advice I ever got, because I`m so stubborn that if someone would tell me that, I would stay in it to the bitter end.

To be successful in show business, all you need are 50 good breaks.

I`d love to work with Barbra Streisand again. In something appropriate. Perhaps, Macbeth.

He (Elvis Presley) was an instinctive actor...He was quite bright...he was very intelligent...He was not a punk. He was very elegant, sedate, and refined, and sophisticated.

A lot of parts I want they give to Robert Redford.

My mother paid eight dollars a month for rent. When she had it. Mostly we were evicted, because she couldn`t afford to pay the eight dollars a month.

(on Glenda Jackson) She`s an absolute dreamboat, the epitome of professionalism, a splendid actress, and she has all the make-up of a fully rounded person.

You can`t do it with strangers. It takes about five years to get into the ebb and flow. If it`s not working after five years, get rid of them.

You see, my father was a Catholic priest, Greek Orthodox, but I think he started out as a Jew, then he became a Catholic priest.

My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn`t pay the bill he gave me six months more.

We`re writing a book together. She just finished one. Did you read it? Among the Porcupines?

I wanted to be a pharmacist. I liked the way our local pharmacist was always dressed in a nice white coat; he looked very calm, you`d give him money, and he`d give you something that you wanted to buy.

My own feeling is that he was a shyster and that he would become anything to get his way. Like, if he met you, he would be preaching papal supremacy.

Every actor looks all his life for a part that will combine his talents with his personality... `The Odd Couple` was mine. That was the plutonium I needed. It all started happening after that.

It`s very easy to live here. You`re anonymous here. Nobody knows who you are.