Charles "Charlie" Matthau (born December 10, 1962) is a film and television director and actor and the son of actor Walter Matthau and actress/author Carol Saroyan.
Born in New York City, he appeared as a child actor alongside his father in such films as Charley Varrick (1973), The Bad News Bears (1976) and House Calls (1978). Among his directorial projects have been The Grass Harp, from a novella by Truman Capote, and the made-for-TV movie The Marriage Fool, both of which starred his father. He also directed Doin' Time on Planet Earth (1988), Her Minor Thing (2005), Baby-O (2009) and Freaky Deaky (2012), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
He was reportedly named for his godfather, actor Charlie Chaplin. He attended the University of Southern California, where he met his first wife, Michele Bauer, BA, Masters, Law. He and his current wife, Ashley, were seen on an episode of HGTV's Selling New York in June 2013. Ashley is a dancer and working on her own teahouse.
Filmography
Director
-
Seven Tedly Sins (pre-production)
-
The Book of Leah (post-production)
2012
Freaky Deaky
2005
Her Minor Thing
1998
The Marriage Fool (TV Movie)
1995
The Grass Harp
1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (TV Movie)
1988
Doin' Time on Planet Earth
Writer
2012
Freaky Deaky (adaptation)
Producer
-
The Seeding (co-executive producer) (pre-production)
2012
Freaky Deaky (producer)
1995
The Grass Harp (producer)
1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (TV Movie) (producer)
1990
The Incident (TV Movie) (associate producer - as Charlie Matthau)
1982
I Ought to Be in Pictures (associate producer)
1981
Buddy Buddy (associate producer)
1981
First Monday in October (associate producer)
Actor
-
The Book of Leah (post-production) as
Psychiatric Patient
2021
October Spies as
Agent Williams
2020
Gunfight at Silver Creek as
Mr. Billings
2012
Freaky Deaky as
Groovy Director
2010
Salvation Insurance (Short) as
Professor Hollinsworth
2010
Queen of the Lot as
Card Player #1 - Chuck
2007
Ghost Town: The Movie as
Doc Morrison
2006
The Towering Inferno: The Writer, Stirling Silliphant (Video short)
2005
Going Shopping as
Sarcastic Boyfriend (uncredited)
2005
Her Minor Thing as
Glenn
2003
An Ordinary Killer as
Detective Mark Peyton
2000
Hanging Up as
Young Lou
1998
The Marriage Fool (TV Movie) as
Salesperson
1995
Number One Fan as
Scotty Youngman
1995
The Grass Harp as
Barbershop Regular
1991
Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (TV Movie) as
Partner
1988
Doin' Time on Planet Earth as
Punk Student
1978
The Stingiest Man in Town (TV Movie) as
The Boy (voice)
1978
Saturday Night Live (TV Series) as
Bee
- Walter Matthau (1978) - Bee (uncredited)
1978
House Calls as
Michael Atkinson (as Charlie Matthau)
1976
The Bad News Bears as
Athletic
1973
Charley Varrick as
Boy
Miscellaneous
1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough (TV Movie documentary) (consultant)
1985
Movers & Shakers (assistant to producers)
1980
Little Miss Marker (assistant to executive producer)
Soundtrack
2012
Freaky Deaky (lyrics: "Doin' The Freaky Deaky")
Thanks
2019
House of Cardin (Documentary) (special thanks)
2014
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (Documentary) (our deepest appreciation - as Charlie Matthau)
2001
Hollywood Remembers Walter Matthau (TV Movie documentary) (special thanks)
1987
The Price of Life (Short) (special thanks)
Self
2021
Letters from Hollywood (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Walter Matthau (2021) - Self
2020
Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast (Podcast Series documentary) as
Self - Guest
- Chris Lemmon and Charlie Matthau (2020) - Self - Guest (as Charlie Matthau)
2017
Du sollst nicht langweilen: Billy Wilder (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2014
Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (Documentary) as
Self - Filmmaker
2006
Hollywood Greats (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Jack Lemmon (2006) - Self
2004
Beyond Ordinary: The Making of 'An Ordinary Killer' (Video documentary) as
Self
2000
Larry King Live (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 28 June 2001 (2001) - Self
- Episode dated 13 July 2000 (2000) - Self
2001
Hollywood Remembers Walter Matthau (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
1999
E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Adam West: Batman Unmasked (1999) - Self
1997
Walter Matthau: Diamond in the Rough (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
1976
The World of Walther Matthau (TV Movie documentary) as
Self (as Charley Matthau)
1976
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #15.111 (1976) - Self
1975
The Gentleman Tramp (Documentary) as
Self - Walter Matthaus Son by Chaplin (uncredited)