Karl Malden Has Died
by John NolteSome of you might remember the 1999 Academy Awards, the year the great Elia Kazan was finally given an honorary Oscar. The decision to honor Kazan was met with controversy and anger, especially among those who pride themselves on their tolerance, open-mindedness, charity and forgiveness. You see, before Kazan knew better he flirted with Communism, but being a true liberal with an open mind, after learning of the horrors of Stalin’s regime he turned against it and then committed a Hollywood sin worse than furthering an ideology responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths, he named names.
Knowing full well what it would mean, it was Karl Malden, a former Academy President, who proposed and publicly pushed for Kazan to receive this long overdue tribute. And that, along with a 70-year marriage, says an awful lot about the man.
The actor was just as impressive. The simple way to describe him would be as a beefy everyman, but that too easily dismisses a natural and very real screen presence that made him one of the most recognizable faces in the country. Malden worked with some of the most powerful actors of the last fifty years, Brando, McQueen, George C. Scott, Burt Lancaster, and yet he never got lost in the scene. He knew how to watch another actor, he knew how to listen and this kept our eye on him as we waited for what he’d do next.
His voice was also distinctive; one second deep and rich with authority, but on a dime unspeakably cruel towards a Blanche DuBois or hilariously needy calling after Baby Doll. Malden had the range of a character actor but could carry a film as well as any matinee idol, and in a career that lasted six decades, inevitably there were duds, but you always felt in good hands when he arrived onscreen.
Malden’s performance as the domineering, perfectionist father of real-life baseball player Jimmy Piersall in “Fear Strikes Out” (1957) is the one that most stands out in my mind. John Piersall may be something of a monster, but Malden never lets us forget he’s also a man who lacks self-awareness. Even at his most cruel, Malden allows us to pity a father who might not wake up to the effects of his behavior until it’s a too late, and when this moment does arrive, thanks to the back-filling provided by a measured, nuanced performance, it is devastating and unforgettable.
A WWII veteran, Oscar and Emmy winner, Karl Malden died yesterday at home. He was 97.
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69 Comments
RIP.
Also, sadly, Mollie Sugden, of Are You Being Served? fame (Mrs. Slocombe) died yesterday.
Classy guy, known for being a good and successful actor.
Based on the length of his marriage, we assume a good husband, and remembered as a decent person.
Not a bad way to be remembered at all.
The one I'm going to really miss when he goes is James Garner. All around wonderful guy (even if he did donate to Barbara Boxer's campaign).
My favorites were Patton and the tv mini-series, Fatal Vision. He will be greatly missed.
I also read that Harve Presnell recently died. Very sad.
Sad, I remember him fondly for many of his roles. Great actor, good man. His like will be missed. Hollywood just lost another link to what made it a beacon for an art form. RIP Mr. Maulden.
I was just reading that he got that nose by having it broken a couple of times playing high school basketball. It's kind of sad to think that today he would get fixed up with a new nose as "pretty" as can be, and somehow I don't think that would be a real improvement………
RIP Mr. Malden….
He played General Omar Bradley in Patton and did a outstanding job…. a true credit to his work!
Thanks for your service as well in WWII
My Favorite Malden film was "Parish". He wasn't a the good guy in that role. He was a tough,demanding SOB. But the way he played it, taught me about the business world. How to handle bad bosses.
Mr. Malden, you will be missed!
Ironically, what I remember Malden for most was his series of American Express commericals in the 1970s. He was one of the most trustable spokesmen I ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0mEAYOKWo8
About ten years ago I worked on a tv movie that starred Hume Cronyn, and after it wrapped, I dropped by a book signing his wife was having at a nearby bookstore. After exchanging greetings, Hume jauntily asked me if I knew his friend, standing nearby, Karl Malden? Of course I didn't, and we all knew it, but Malden was a gracious as can be and shook my hand warmly. Mind you, he had to be 89 at this time, but he was stood straight as an arrow, and had a firm voice & handshake. I had no idea he was so tall! And I was struck by his incredibly soft hands. After so many years of seeing and appreciating him, it was really delightful to meet him in the flesh.
nice!
Thats right….. those commercials where great!!!
RIP, Mr. Malden
Karl Malden was born "Mladen George Sekulovich" (Serbian father, Czech mother) and evidently he was very unhappy about changing his name to get into Hollywood. He made up for it when he was in "On the Waterfront" – he had one of the characters titled Sekulovich to honor Karl's late father. The man was class and honesty.
strangely, although I can't really remember his ever doing a bad job, I too particularly remember Fatal Vision and what a great job Malden did. It was probably the fact that, as true crime stories goes, that is as compelling as any I've ever read, and the mini-series was really well done.
They were effective. For years, people thought that Am.Ex traveler's checks were the only way to take money over seas.
Apparently he slipped the name in throughout his career, while his father was still living. But when it was used as a convict's name in "Birdman of Alcatraz," it angered his father because "no Sekulovich has ever been in prison!!"
As most fans know, Karl Malden's real last name was Sekulavich. And if you watch his movies, you'll find that he regularly inserted the name "Sekulavich" into the dialogue!
For instance, in his first scene in "Patton," he turns to a soldier and barks, "Hand me those field glasses, Sekulavich."
I like him in Nevada Smith. The end of the movie when McQueen caught up to him at the river Maldens acting was great. Also I heard he used his real name somewhere in all his movies. In Patton in one scene when his loses his helmet during a battle he points to the ground and tells a soldier. Get me that helmet Sekulovich. I kind of enjoy when watching his movies looking for where he slips it in. Like watching for Hitchcock to show up in the movies he made.
That is sad!
Andrew beat me to the punch but I too seem to remember Malden most for his AmEx commercials. And I remember Johnny Carson parodying them.
I think his portrayal of Omar Bradley in Patton was his finest movie role. Best scene: On Sicily, while being shelled, he is running for cover without his helmet. He's hiding from the shelling when another GI (not recognizing him) asked him if he knows who the idiot is who planned this operation. "I don't know", Malden says, 'but they ought to hang him!"
Perhaps the line that best symbolized Malden the man was also in the same movie. While the German generals are watching movies of the American opposition (generals) one officer says "he is a very unassuming man. Most unusual for a general!"
I liked him best as the reverend in Pollyanna. Think I'll watch that this weekend.
Ahhh memories good ones!
The more you read about the life of Karl Malden the better you like him. That is a testament to a life well lived, how you are perceived after your death. Contrast this to many celebrities who've passed away recently & you will see what I mean. Karl Malden was a class act all the way & I know he's got a mansion in heaven. Rest well Mr. Malden you've earned it.
I thought that was what China was for…..
I believe Mr Malden spent part of his war service stationed a few miles from my home, coincidentally at the same time as the equally admirable Jimmy Stewart.
I guess my favourite is probably Doc in 'Halls of Montezuma', but there's so many to choose from.
RIP
Hawk – do you remember Johnny Carson with the fake nose doing a take off on the American Express commercials? it was hilarious.
Tennessee: He even did commercials memorably. He did those American Express Traveler's Cheques commercials, and for years people repeated the refrain "You're in a strange city. You've lost your travelers checks. What will you do? What will you do?" After that, I never even considered buying anything but American Express Traveler's Cheques.
Of course, considering where I live, I'm particularly fond of the TV Series "Streets of San Francisco" in which Malden starred with a young Michael Douglas. In those days, the cops were the good guys and the politicians were the bad guys.
Thanks John. 'Fear Strikes Out' is a good one (always drives me crazy watching the scene where Tony Perkins and he are *throwing* the baseball back and forth) I'd go with 'One-Eyed Jacks' as a favorite right up there with 'Streetcar' and 'Waterfront'. Such a terrific actor.
I had the pleasure of meeting Karl Malden years ago while shooting 'Miracle on Ice' when he portrayed Herb Brooks. The consummate professional and a true gentleman. He will be missed but thankfully he'll live on by way of so many wonderful performances in many great films.
TCM has a few of them ready to go next Friday:
http://www.tcm.com/movienews/index/?cid=247298
Karl Malden, Rest in Peace.
loved her in that show! A truly talented comic actress.
Tennessee: He even did commercials memorably. He did those American Express Traveler's Cheques commercials, and for years people repeated the refrain "You're in a strange city. You've lost your travelers checks. What will you do? What will you do?" After that, I never even considered buying anything but American Express Traveler's Cheques.
Of course, considering where I live, I'm particularly fond of the TV Series "Streets of San Francisco" in which Malden starred with a young Michael Douglas. In those days, the cops were the good guys and the politicians were the bad guys.
TENNESSEE: I'm not quite sure how I did it, but I accidentally deleted the above comment.
And yes–that was one of Carson's most hilarious bits. The nose was perfect!
Even in such lightweight fare as Bombers B-52 he brought gravitas to a film. A true class act.
You are so right; a good '50s soap opera film that, as he always did, he helped raise to a higher level.
John – excellent job on remembering Malden's part in getting Kazan his due. My favorite Malden roles were Bradley in Patton, and the fire-and-brimstone preacher in my favorite Disney film, Pollyanna. He was a treasure for movie fans of all ages.
Tennessee: And now the original comment has re-appeared. I must have a gremlin in my computer today. But a comment on Malden is worth repeating, right?
A long time ago, my bank tried to sell me VISA traveler's checks. I thought they were kidding. Only American Express makes genuine traveler's cheques that anybody in his right mind would accept overseas. LOL
I was having some myself a little earlier; just the vagaries of the computer age, I think. I was a big fan of Streets of San Francisco as well.
I think computers have gotten so smart that they occasionally play practical jokes on us just to see what we'll do.
I've been seeing TV ads for a country/western album with the name Tennessee Jed prominently mentioned. Is that you by any chance?
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I thought he did a great job as the pater familias in the Jimmy Stewart segment of How The West Was Won, too.
RIP Karl Malden great guy!
I do love Fear Strikes Out (big baseball fan here). Malden and Perkins are terrific in the dramatic scenes, but I howl with laughter watching Perkins play baseball. Unintentionally, it's one of the funniest portrayals of a professional athlete I've ever seen.
Just saw him this past weekend in "The Cinncinatti Kid". He did a credible job as a card "mechanic", playing between Steve McQueen and EG Robinson. Good actor, he'll be missed.
Yep, he was great in Patton, but I thought equally great as the heavy in "Nevada Smith" with Steve McQueen. The final scene where's he lying knee-capped in the stream yelling at the back of McQueen "…you're yellaw (yellow), you haven't got the guts"! Sorry, should've inserted the "spoiler alert" for those who haven't seen the movie. One of my favorites for both actors…
I can't say for certain, but I think Malden won an Emmy for Fatal Vision.
Before I was old enough to watch 'Streetcar', I was introduced to Malden on 'Streets of San Francisco' one of my favorites shows as a kid.
I agree with barkerman, I will miss James Garner, great actor, and he looks like my grandpa who died when I was 18.
Karl Maldan as stated in the previous posts was a Class Act and a Fine Dependable Character Actor. No question about it. He was also a Real American Sucess Story. He came from very humble beginings and rose to be a mainstay in his Chosen Profession without selling himself out. No small feat in any business muchless Show-Business. A Fine Actor but much more important A Finer Man. So Long Pal the Pleasure was all Ours.
He did, as well as an Oscar for Street car
You know I had forgotten he was the bad guy in that movie. Loved the movie, and he was indeed fabulous in that. It's sort of odd how actors usually only identified with stand-up guys (Malden, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke among others) can play truly vicious, nasty villains – and be great at it!
I'll always see Gen. Omar Bradley when I see the late great Karl Malden despite his long and varied career. Gen. Bradley lived in El Paso for most of the final decades of his long life and El Paso was proud that the "soldiers General" honored us with his residency. The best line amongst many in "Patton", in the midst of an artillery attack that causes Gen. Bradley to don an unadorned (no stars) helmet and take cover with a regular G.I. The G.I. asks him "who is the dumb sonofabitch in charge of this operation?" Malden as Bradley says " I don't know, but they should find him and shoot him!" Classic….
No doubt about it, Karl Malden was always a superb craftsman and a real professional. He always demonstrated great intelligence and insight even when playing villains in films like "Nevada Smith" and "One Eyed Jacks." Everyone will be talking about their favorite Karl Malden roles but I always liked him in "Hot Millions", the 1969 caper comedy with Peter Ustinov and maggie Smith. Malden was the tightly wound and overwroght boss and he played off beautifully against stars Ustinov and Smith. He did a great slow-burn and delivered his straigh lines with real skill. He must have been a pretty tough customer too since he put himself on the line for Elia Kazan's Lifetime Achievement Oscar knowing that that he was bucking Hollywood hagiography and the accepted party line on the 1950's.
That is a great movie! Stuffed with amazing actors, and a really great soundtrack.
I had a feeling this was coming, but I expected it would happen before he reached 97. He was a swell guy. As decent as a man can be. My favorites have been mentioned already but I felt he also did an exceptional job as the resentful warden in Birdman of Alcatraz. I also remember he portrayed Leon Klinghoffer in the TV movie Hijacking of the Achille Lauro.
Excellent movie with an outstanding cast.
James Garner isn't dead, don't rush him.
Mark Sanford is an idiot, and a bit of a cad…but the latter fault is one for his family to rule on.
Contrary to what the left is saying, this is not an act of political hypocrisy. To the best of my knowledge Sanford never lied under oath about his affair in a sexual harassment suit. Perjury, not adultery, was the legal transgression for which Bill Clinton was impeached. (I felt than and now that censure was an adequate punishment for Clinton's legal wrong-doings.)
In addition, so far as we know Sanford did not use public funds for his dalliance. Of course, it can be argued that absconding from his duties as governor for a week without notice in and of itself constitutes gross negligence; I will shed no tears for him if he does have to leave office as a result of his bad judgement.
a true icon from a long gone era
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he was elegant. i'd take him over any in hollyweird now. rest in peace mr. malden.
the comment was in reference to a comment about missing garner WHEN he goes.
I believe you may have your threads crossed up…Jeff Jena is where you want to be.
Malden's Father Pete Barry is my second all-time favorite movie priest, right after Father Jerry Connolly.
I remember that Oscar broadcast very well, John, as it was the last one I have ever watched. Seeing the hatred on the faces of a group of antendees, few, if any, of them were even born during Hollywood's "red scare," including Nick Nolte (no relation, I hope) as Kazan accepted his award was sickening. Watching them behave lkike a group of spoiled brats as they refused to stand or applaud one of the greatest film directors as part of something that happened decades earlier, something that had NO direct effect on them (I'm sure Nick Nolte has lost jobs because of his alcohol problems or his generally weird behavior, but I seriously doubt he lost work because of the blacklisting of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
I do remember Malden's part in pushing for Kazan to receive the honorary Oscar. RIP Karl Malden.
Liked him best as Omar Bradley in Patton. Basically was straight man to George C. Scott. I thought he was remarkable for being so memorable while being soft spoken and plain (compared to Patton).
I saw that Oscar telecast, too. Ed Harris was practically seething in his seat.
All I can say after reading the many respectful posts here is I too will enjoy revisiting the many great characters he lived. 70 years married, 60 years in the biz, what more could a man ask for? God, may he rest in peace and provide you with many eons of what he has left us on film.
Malden was fantastic as the police detective in Hitchcock's "I Confess" (1953).
The scenes with his pal Monty Clift were great.
Short,sweet tribute up there.
Great tribute, John.
I did not know that it was Malden who proposed Elia Kazan for his long-overdue Oscar, but reading about his character, I'm not suprised. Ave atque vale.
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Sorry, my bad.
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