Biography
Following an apprenticeship in regional theater in his native Australia, Murray Matheson first appeared on the London stage in 1935's And on We Go. His first film was 1945's
The Way to the Stars. Matheson's brittle acting style was somewhat reminiscent of Noel Coward and
Cyril Ritchard (whom Matheson closely resembled); accordingly, most of his film and TV roles were cut from the Coward/Ritchard waspish, epigrammatic cloth. His many roles included an amusing turn as business executive Benjamin Barton David Ovington (BBDO) in the 1967 film version of
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and the recurring role of bookstore proprietor Felix Mulholland on the 1972 TV series
Banacek. Murray Matheson also played The Clown in the memorable 1961
Twilight Zone episode "Six Characters in Search of an Exit"; ironically, Matheson's last appearance was in the "Kick the Can" segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie (1985). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide