Karl Malden Dies at 97; Broadway to Dim Lights in His Honor

Bainbridge Performing Arts Changes Sprin...

By Dan Bacalzo • Jul 2, 2009 • Los Angeles

Karl Malden in the film version
of A Streetcar Named Desire

The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in Karl Malden's memory tonight, July 2, at exactly 8:00pm for one minute. The Broadway and film actor died yesterday at his home in Brentwood, California of natural causes. He was 97.

Malden originated the role of Mitch in the Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire, and later reprised his performance in the film version, winning an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting role.

The actor was born Mladen Sekulovich, and began his acting career under that name, inclusive of his Broadway debut in the Group Theatre's production of Golden Boy. He subsequently changed his name to Karl Malden, and appeared on Broadway numerous times, including the original production of All My Sons and revivals of Peer Gynt and Desire Under the Elms.

His film credits also include an Oscar-nominated turn in On the Waterfront, as well as roles in such movies as Birdman of Alcatraz, How the West Was Won, and the 1962 movie adaptation of Gypsy, in which he played Herbie. He earned four Emmy nominations for his leading role in The Streets of San Francisco, and won an Emmy for the miniseries Fatal Vision. He was also well known to TV viewers for a long-running American Express ad campaign in which he popularized the phrase, "Don't leave home without it."

He his survived by his wife Mona Greenberg, two daughters, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.