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Remembering Karl Malden: 1912-2009

Written by Nadine Bachan Monday, 06 July 2009 10:17

It saddened me to hear that American actor Karl Malden, a gem of the Golden-era of Hollywood, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 97. The Academy Award winner was one of his generation’s finest character actors. He drew audiences in with his versatility: we could love and respect him, and just as easily, we could pity and loathe him. Malden instinctively knew how to make moviegoers root for him or wish him dead, by the slightest change of voice or stance in demeanour.

Malden was the kind of actor you could instantly form a connection with. Seeing his face on screen became a security blanket: once you realized Malden was in the movie, you instantly settled in for a good watch. You just knew you would enjoy his character – villain or hero, he would make it worth your while.

Born Mladen George Sekulovich to a Serbian father and Czech mother, Malden changed his name in his early twenties for the purposes of having something more marquee friendly. His beginnings as a struggling actor who had to work in steel mills to afford his education as well as support himself and his family eventually grew into a respectable career in film and television that spanned across fifty years. 

His movie credits include Kiss of Death (1947), I Confess (1953), Baby Doll (1956), Bombers B-52 (1957),  Pollyanna (1960), One-Eyed Jacks (1961), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), How the West Was Won (1962), Patton (1970), and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) among many others. Along with cinema, Malden worked in theatre, on Broadway, in radio, and on television.

The first time I saw Malden on screen I was watching 1951’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Although I came upon the film as a fan of Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando, I was instantly enthralled by the supporting actor playing Mitch, Stanley Kowalski’s friend and Blanche Dubois’s suitor. Malden’s talents couldn’t be contained in the background though. Through his amazing performance, the character of Mitch was made both kind and cruel, a flawed character the audience (and I as well) felt for deeply. Malden deservedly went on to win the Best Supporting Actor award at the Oscars for the role.

But Streetcar was not Malden’s first opportunity to work with the late great Marlon Brando, and it would not be the last. Before the film, Malden and a then-unknown young Brando worked together on stage in Truckline Café. A friendship was formed and they collaborated several times.

Malden proved himself again and again as a scene-stealer, even from the incomparable Brando. Working together in 1954’s On the Waterfront, Malden’s performance as the valiant Father Barry next to Brando’s hot-headed Terry Malloy made the supporting, yet pivotal character, an instant classic. Karl as the compassionate and sensible priest is powerful, compelling, and wise. Malden and Brando remained close friends and shared a mutual respect for each other’s talents until Brando’s death in 2004.

Throughout his shining career, Malden gave us his all, which earned him several honours and recognition. In addition to his Oscar for Streetcar, he was nominated again for his role in On the Waterfront. He had also been nominated for several Emmys, Golden Globes, and Golden Laurels. He finally won an Emmy for his role in the 1984 mini-series Fatal Vision. His impressive work in film earned him two Lifetime Achievement awards (from SAG and the Temecula Valley International Film Festival) and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Karl Malden, the portrayer of the quintessential Everyman, will always be remember for making any character someone extraordinary and unforgettable.