# The Grumpy Old Man has died. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275 "2000-07-01T16:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/1 "2000-07-01T16:13:20Z")
[Actor Walter Matthau Dies at 79](http://www.wpni.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31626-2000Jul1.html) Matthau was pronounced dead at 1:42 a.m., shortly after being brought into St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, said hospital spokeswoman Lindi Funston. Often cast as a would-be con man foiled by life’s travails, Matthau bellowed complaints against his tormentors and moved his lean, 6-foot-3 frame in surprising ways. Said his frequent costar, Jack Lemmon: “Walter walks like a child’s windup toy.” ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/2 "2000-07-01T16:57:22Z")
How sad! I love Walter Matthau. He was one of the most natural actors around. I liked that he didn’t seem to take himself seriously. My Lord. Oscar Madison gone. I think I’ll go rent _The Fortune Cookie_. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/3 "2000-07-01T17:34:34Z")
Who had him in the ghoul pool? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/4 "2000-07-01T18:11:05Z")
[Fixed link](http://www.wpni.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31626-2000Jul1.html) ---
**Author:** ![Easy\_Tokyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71c47a/32.png) [@Easy\_Tokyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Easy_Tokyo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/5 "2000-07-01T18:12:15Z")
He was one of the greats. I loved him with Elaine May in the movie about discovering and naming a rare plant. She discovers it by accident, although this has been his lifelong goal, so he decides to kill her and get the “glory” of a plant named after himself. ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/6 "2000-07-01T18:16:37Z")
He was one of the great actors. Hollywood’s pool of talent is perceptibly diminished by his absence. ~~Baloo ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/7 "2000-07-01T19:47:09Z")
He was a great one. ---
**Author:** ![Sylence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Sylence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylence)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/8 "2000-07-01T19:52:00Z")
A damn shame. He was one of the greats. – Sylence ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/9 "2000-07-01T20:20:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > He was one of the greats. > > I loved him with Elaine May in the movie about discovering and naming a rare plant. She discovers it by accident, although this has been his lifelong goal, so he decides to kill her and get the “glory” of a plant named after himself. > \*\* Sorry, hon, you need to rent the movie again. It is called “A New Leaf,” and is one of my favorites. He is a playboy who marries the rich Elaine May, planning to kill her because she is SO HOPELESS. and he needs the money. Somewhere along the line she crawls into his heart and at the end he saves her life. Excellent movie! Scotti ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/10 "2000-07-01T20:23:18Z")
☹ I liked him a LOT. I’ve seen a couple of interviews with him and thought he’d make a GREAT grampa. I suppose this means Jack Lemmon is the “grumpiest” old man?? ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grumpy-old-man-has-died/24275/11 "2000-07-01T21:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > I suppose this means Jack Lemmon is the “grumpiest” old man?? It definitely means Lemmon’s flying solo for the time being. I don’t mean to sound flip. I really am saddened over his passing.