Walter Matthau, towering at 6ft 2 ½ (189.2 cm), brought an imposing physical presence to his iconic grumpy characters in Hollywood classics. His tall, lanky frame amplified the humor and pathos in roles like Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, where it contrasted sharply with shorter co-stars like Jack Lemmon.
Matthau's height enhanced his commanding yet rumpled image in films such as Grumpy Old Men, The Fortune Cookie—for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor—and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He humorously noted playing shorter historical figures like Einstein, underscoring how his 6ft 2 ½ stature defined his unforgettable screen persona.