Walter Matthau Quotes & Sayings

It's very easy to live here. You're anonymous here. Nobody knows who you are. — Walter Matthau

My mother paid eight dollars a month for rent. When she had it. Mostly we were evicted, because she couldnt afford to pay the eight dollars a month. — Walter Matthau

My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more. — Walter Matthau

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. — Walter Matthau

I don't mind my wife having to last word. In fact I'm delighted when she reaches it. — Walter Matthau

I have more talent in my smallest fart than you have in your entire body. — Walter Matthau

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. — Walter Matthau

Get out of show business. Its the best advice I ever got, because Im so stubborn that if someone would tell me that, I would stay in it to the bitter end. — Walter Matthau

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

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

I could play a cop, I could play a crook, I could play a lawyer, I could play a dentist, I could play an art critic-I could play the guy next door. I am the guy next door. I could play Catholic, Jewish, Protestant. As a matter of fact, when I did The Odd Couple, I would do it a different way each night. On Monday I'd be Jewish, Tuesday Italian, Wednesday Irish-German-and I would mix them up. I did that to amuse myself, and it always worked. — Walter Matthau

There's no such thing as 'too late!' That's why they invented death! — Walter Matthau

I never worked with Marilyn Monroe, but if she'd lived, I think she would have been all right. She would have been President of the United States. — Walter Matthau

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

Why don't you do the world a favour. Pull your bottom lip up over your head and swallow. — Walter Matthau

We're writing a book together. She just finished one. Did you read it? Among the Porcupines? — Walter Matthau

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. — Walter Matthau