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Karl Malden 1912 -- 2009

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Karl Malden 1912 -- 2009

POSTED: Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 3:46 PM

Carrie Rickey, Film Critic

I was certain that veteran actor Karl Malden was immortal. I am sad to be wrong. One of the most reliable and versatile of performers -- the bulb-nosed actor persuasively played the idealistic priest in On the Waterfront and the domineering baseball Dad in Fear Strikes Out -- made his movie debut nearly 70 years ago in They Knew What They Wanted.

The Oscar-winning actor (A Streetcar Named Desire) was an axiom of stage (Golden Boy) screen (Baby Doll) and television (Streets of San Francisco). Incredibly, he co-starred with Vivien Leigh and Michael Douglas.

The Broadway-trained performer of Serbian descent did his most memorable work on stage and screen for Elia Kazan, acting the role of Blanche DuBois' skittish suitor both in the stage and screen versions Streetcar, holding his own and then some against the macho muscle of Marlon Brando and the petal-like fragility of Vivien Leigh. I never liked him so much as I did as Rosalind Russell's faithful suitor in Gypsy, exuding patience, humor and resourcefulness, likewise as Gen. Omar Bradley in Patton. About few actors can one say he could do anything -- and did.

Your favorite Malden?

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Comments (21)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:54 PM, 07/01/2009

The Malden in the film version of Streetcar is my favorite. They don't make movies like that anymore, and that has a lot to do with Malden's performance. His interpretation was so nuanced, and you're right about him holding his owna gainst those heavy-hitter costars. The man was a legend.

— SuMMerD

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:58 PM, 07/01/2009

One of my all time favorite movies is Patton, which Mr. Malden is in as General Omar Bradley, the "G.I. General". Another great entertainer gone. RIP.

— KG071

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:06 PM, 07/01/2009

Seinfeld

— imageshaper

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:09 PM, 07/01/2009

I had thought Karl Malden had died years ago. I never heard anything about him. Well, RIP Karl. You were also one of the Hollywood old timers (even if your nose was jacked-up looking).

— Report My Abuse

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:11 PM, 07/01/2009

Mine was Birdman of Alcatraz with Burt Lancaster

— rgoldberg

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:15 PM, 07/01/2009

I just watched Karl Malden playing "Shooter" in "The Cincinnati Kid" on AMC the other night. He was always a great character actor.

— Chamomiles Davis

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:25 PM, 07/01/2009

American Express commercials.

— fafafooey

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:26 PM, 07/01/2009

One of my favorite character actors. Loved him in Patton and who'd thought he could have pulled off the Herb Brooks character in Miracle on Ice. RIP.

— JusWonderin

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:31 PM, 07/01/2009

How about the "Streets of San Francisco with a young "Michael Douglas."

— bhs1944

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:56 PM, 07/01/2009

He could play good guys (Omar Bradley in Patton) and baddies (sheriff in "One-Eyed Jacks; killer in "Nevada Smith") with equal genius. And every role in between. They don't make themlike him anymore.

— mike l

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:56 PM, 07/01/2009

Another entertainer struck down in the prime of life. It's sad.

— pic man

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:58 PM, 07/01/2009

Malden's movies with Brando were duels of method actors. Malden's looks kept him from going the leading man's way, which was a big plus for Hollywood and Broadway. His work as a character actor was superb.

— DonQ