Born Mladen Sekulovich, the former steel-mill worker and World WarII vet with an average-Joe mug (and bulbous nose) emerged in the 1950s in anumber of notable film performances. He won an Oscar for hisportrayal of Blanche's earnest suitor Mitch in the 1951 adaptation of AStreetcar Named Desire (he'd previously played the part on Broadway), and received another nod for his role as streetwise Father Barry in 1954's On TheWaterfront. He followed with turns in Baby Doll (1956), How the WestWas Won (1962), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), and Patton (1970), among many others.
In 1972,Malden successfully switched mediums with a full-time gig on the ABC drama TheStreets of San Francisco. As Lt. Stone, the gruff, widowed homicide detectivewho was partnered with Michael Douglas' Inspector Keller, he nabbed four Emmynominations. Audiences also got to know him during commercial breaks: In the '70s and '80s, he starred in ads for American Express Travelers Cheques,uttering the famous line: "Don't leave home without them." Malden, who claimedan Emmy in 1984 for the TV movie Fatal Vision, also served as president of theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1989 to 1992; he last appearedon screen in a 2000 episode of The West Wing. In his personal life, Malden wasmarried to actress Mona Graham for more than 70 years, which stands as one ofHollywood's longest marriages. –Dan Snierson
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NEW YORK — Jack Nicholson said Wednesday that he “warned” fellow celebrity Karl Malden.
The 72-year-old Oscar winner was dining at the Wolseley restaurant in London when a photographer told him about Malden’s death.
After saying, “That’s awful,” Jack added “I warned him,” but refused to elaborate.
I think this is wrong. Malden won the oscar for streetcar. Only one of the main four to not win was Brando.
Actually Mr. Malden won the Oscar for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and lost the nomination for “On the Waterfront” to Edmund O’Brien in “The Barefoot Contessa.”
Like kaky said, this article is definitely wrong. Malden won for “A Streetcar Named Desire” along with Kim Hunter and Vivien Leigh. Although his death is tragic, at least he led a full life compared to some of the other recent celebrity deaths.
We’ve lost a true icon, along with the longevity of his life & his marriage. What a gifted actor & amazing man. He will be missed.
Ah, now it’s fixed. Thank you, Mr. Snierson!
Lon your research is flawed. Malden won for Streetcar in 1951. Edmond O’Brien won in ‘54 for The Barefoot Contessa.
Just watched Nevada Smith about a week ago. Malden was a great “bad guy”. RIP Karl.
Is it weird that this is the celebrity death that actually brought a tear to my eye. I hated the movie Baby Doll, but he was amazing in Streetcar and in On the Waterfront. My favorite movie with him in it is Pollyanna. I know, I know cheesy, but he was awesome. I think I will watch it tomorrow in memorium sp?(am?) which ever it is
Oh crap. Just saw that Harve Presnell died. Awesome actor with an incredible voice. “They call the wind Mariah”. RIP. I really feel worse now…Double Bummer.
Born in ‘56, I saw a lot of Mr. Malden’s work… great guy, he will be missed.
Jack Nicholson said the same thing about Heath Ledger, remember? And got a lot of flack on that in the news.
R.I.P. Mr. Malden. I always enjoyed your work.
So that old addage that celebrity deaths come 3 at a time, this hopefully is it for a while. We lost a lot of celebrities this month. David Carridine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays and now Karl Malden.
While there were other lesser-known celebs who have died this month as well, like Fred Travelina, the adage usually applies to better-known celebrities.
Thank you Mr. Malden for leaving behind some wonderful performances for us to enjoy for years to come.
Age of 97! Now that is a long & full life. Not 62, not 50 but 97! Ahh…I remember Streets of San Francisco (huge crush on Michael Douglas). When Michael wanted to leave Streets to go and produce Cuckoo’s Nest, everyone thought he was foolish but Karl is the one who told him to go for it and he always had a place on Street if he ever wanted to come back. Michael has always said Karl was surrogate father to him. Yes, Karl won Best Supporting for Streetcar Named Desire. I remember him saying when Jessica Tandy (the original Blanche Dubois on Broadway) finally won an Oscar for Driving Miss Dandy, he was ecstatic because now all four of the original cast of Streetcar have won Oscars (I guess they were a tight group). Karl, Kim Hunter & Marlon Brando all starred in the play & movie version and Jessica was the only one who was left out of the movie. They said, it did not feel the same without her. He was married to the same wife since 1938!! My condolences to his family.
Age of 97! Now that is a long & full life. Not 62, not 50 but 97! Ahh…I remember Streets of San Francisco (huge crush on Michael Douglas). When Michael wanted to leave Streets to go and produce Cuckoo’s Nest, everyone thought he was foolish but Karl is the one who told him to go for it and he always had a place on Street if he ever wanted to come back. Michael has always said Karl was surrogate father to him. Yes, Karl won Best Supporting for Streetcar Named Desire. I remember him saying when Jessica Tandy (the original Blanche Dubois on Broadway) finally won an Oscar for Driving Miss Dandy, he was ecstatic because now all four of the original cast of Streetcar have won Oscars (I guess they were a tight group). Karl, Kim Hunter & Marlon Brando all starred in the play & movie version and Jessica was the only one who was left out of the movie. They said, it did not feel the same without her. He was married to the same wife since 1938!! My condolences to his family.
jj11 – this is the celebrity death that brought a tear to my eye as well. I know he was famous for so many wonderful roles, but the one that sticks with me is Father Cavanaugh from The West Wing. The back and forth between he and Jed over the death penalty and Jed’s guilt is brilliant and the final scene where he asks Jed if he wants him (Fr. Cavanaugh) to hear Jed’s confession never fails to give me chill bumps.
OOPS! Grrrrr!! Sorry for the double post, this stupid site does this to me all of the time. And Jessica won for Driving Miss Daisy not Driving Miss DANDY.
An excellent actor! He will most definitley be missed
RIP Karl. LOVE LOVE LOVE him in “On the Waterfront”. I’m glad he lived a long, happy life with his wife.
Loved him in everything! Laugh if you will, but his role in “Pollyanna” is my favorite. Rest in peace, Karl! Thank you!
Delaina- I hope it helps you to know that some where out there another person knows exactley how you feel. I will have a glass of wine tonight and toast 2 amazing, sexy, and prolific actors who had more talent in their eyebrows than most of them today. (The guys in the Hangover not withstanding. Awesome flick)
Two of my favorite movies of all time are Streetcar and On the Waterfront. Can’t imagine those movies without Mr. Malden. Well done sir! And fair sailing to you.
Malden was a class act. He also was Michael Caine’s right hand man in Beyond the Poseidon Adventure in 1979.
97 is a good life.
http://blog.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/
What an incredible actor. He brought realism to everything he did. You just believed him when he was playing a character on TV and movies.
let’s not forget pollyanna! that man could make the chandeliers shake!
He was born in former Yugoslavia and was Serbian. We`re proud of him
any great things will come to me and great sports info is great value.
http://www.nowgoal.com/21.shtml
RIP Karl. And so much for the hocus pocus of ‘everything comes in threes.’
Mr. Malden was a great actor. I will pull out On the Waterfront and Streetcar this weekend and enjoy his performances again. With Gale Storm and now Karl Malden dying, we older folks are losing those actors who created memories for us. RIP
I mostly remember Karl Malden from his American Express commercials. I watched those on TV all the time growing up. When I got older, I saw him in the films “The Cincinnati Kid”, “Take the High Ground”, and “Nevada Smith”. There was also “Meteor”. Plus, he was just terrific in “The Streets of San Francisco”. He could be a tough, gritty actor. Very realistic. I am glad he lived such of a long life.
Karl was indeed a class act – loved his voice and the characters he played. He and his wife married the year I was born – a strong love to have survived all those years in and near Hollywood where short, unhappy marriages are the norm. He put a lot into and got a lot out of his life. How his dear wife will miss him. I often watch the old movies – they were the best!
EW, where’s the photogallery? Usually when an actor dies, you guys are on top of it. You had one for Farrah. Karl Malden totally deserves one:
A Streetcar Named Desire (stage)
A Streetcar Named Desire (film, Oscar)
Baby Doll
On the Waterfront
Pollyanna
Streets of San Francisco
Alice in Wonderland (tv version)
C’mon, I want to see one!