Walter Matthau: A life in pictures

Walter Matthau, who has died aged 79, was one of America's best-loved comic actors with a long career spanning decades.

Matthau was known for his hang-dog face and perpetually grouchy, slouchy demeanor

He won an Oscar for best supporting actor in The Fortune Cookie which also starred George Burns

One of Hollywood's most enduring comedic teams, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau

Matthau had a son with actress Carol Grace, Charles, who became a film director

Matthau most recently appeared in Hanging Up released earlier this year, starring Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow