Walter Mathews (actor)

Walter Mathews (October 10, 1926 – April 28, 2012) was an American character actor whose credits included roles in television, film and theater.

Walter Mathews
BornOctober 10, 1926
DiedApril 28, 2012, age 85
Mountain Center, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOhio University
OccupationActor

Mathews was born in New York City on October 10, 1926,[1] and was raised in the Bronx.[2] He earned a master's degree in drama from Ohio University.[2]

Mathews debuted in the Broadway production of King Lear in 1956, which starred Orson Welles.[2] He was a member of the original Broadway cast of Equus, which opened in New York in 1974.[2]

On television, Mathews appeared in a series of commercials for Fram Oil Filters as the original fictional Fram mechanic who promised consumers, "You can pay me now or pay me later."[2] In 1962 Matthews appeared as Mr. Harper on the TV western The Virginian in the episode titled "The Brazen Bell." Mathews also had recurring roles in the Another World and General Hospital soap operas.[2] His additional television credits included Ripcord, Emergency!, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Murder, She Wrote, Perry Mason, Mannix, Charlie's Angels, Adam-12, Quincy, M.E., Mission: Impossible, Starsky & Hutch, Alice, Medical Center and The FBI.[2]

His film credits included roles in The Naked Kiss (1964), The Lawyer (1970), Beyond Reason (1977), Nighthawks (1981) and Cannery Row (1982).

Mathews made his last on-screen appearance in 1986.[1]

Mathews died of natural causes on April 28, 2012, in Mountain Center, California, at the age of 85.[2]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1959Middle of the NightMickey HilliardUncredited
1964The Naked KissMike
1964Where Love Has GoneReporterUncredited
1966Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!Stagehand, Movie SetUncredited
1966Not with My Wife, You Don't!Television ProducerUncredited
1967A Covenant with DeathAppraiserUncredited
1970The LawyerMr. Andre
1981NighthawksCommissioner
1982Cannery RowSonny
1984Racing with the MoonSailorVoice
1985Beyond ReasonAl
1986The Check Is in the Mail...Water & Power man #1
1986Mission KillForeman

References

  1. Fulghum, Sherill (2012-05-06). "Actor Walter Matthews Dies". Allvoices.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  2. "Character actor Walter Mathews dies, Appeared on TV shows including 'Murder, She Wrote'". Variety. 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
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