Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 â€" July 1,
2009) was an American actor. He was primarily a character actor who,
according to Robert Berkvist, "for more than 60 years brought an
intelligent intensity and a homespun authenticity to roles in theater,
film and television", especially in such classic films as A Streetcar
Named Desire (1951) â€" for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting
Actor â€" On the Waterfront (1954), Pollyanna (1960), and One-Eyed
Jacks (1961). Malden also played in high-profile Hollywood films such
as Baby Doll (1956), The Hanging Tree (1959), How the West Was Won
(1962), Gypsy (1962) and Patton (1970).From 1972 to 1977, he portrayed
Lt. Mike Stone in the prime time television crime drama The Streets of
San Francisco. He was later the spokesman for American Express. Film
and culture critic Charles Champlin described Malden as "an Everyman,
but one whose range moved easily up and down the levels of society and
the IQ scale, from heroes to heavies and ordinary, decent guys just
trying to get along", and at the time of his death, Malden was
described as "one of the great character actors of his time" who
created a number of "powerhouse performances on screen". Malden was
also President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from
1989 to 1992.Karl Malden, the eldest of three sons, was born Mladen
Sekulovich in Chicago, Illinois on March 22, 1912, which was his
mother's 20th birthday. He was raised in Gary, Indiana.His Bosnian
Serb father, Petar Sekulović (1886â€"1975), worked in the steel mills
and as a milkman, and his mother, Minnie (née Sebera) Sekulovich (22
March 1892 â€" 15 July 1995), was a Czech seamstress and actress. The
Sekulovich family's roots trace back to Podosoje near Bileća, Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Malden spoke only Serbian until he was in
kindergarten; he remained fluent in the language until his death.
Malden's father, who had a passion for music, organized the Serbian
Singing Federation, uniting immigrant choral groups across the United
States.
2009) was an American actor. He was primarily a character actor who,
according to Robert Berkvist, "for more than 60 years brought an
intelligent intensity and a homespun authenticity to roles in theater,
film and television", especially in such classic films as A Streetcar
Named Desire (1951) â€" for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting
Actor â€" On the Waterfront (1954), Pollyanna (1960), and One-Eyed
Jacks (1961). Malden also played in high-profile Hollywood films such
as Baby Doll (1956), The Hanging Tree (1959), How the West Was Won
(1962), Gypsy (1962) and Patton (1970).From 1972 to 1977, he portrayed
Lt. Mike Stone in the prime time television crime drama The Streets of
San Francisco. He was later the spokesman for American Express. Film
and culture critic Charles Champlin described Malden as "an Everyman,
but one whose range moved easily up and down the levels of society and
the IQ scale, from heroes to heavies and ordinary, decent guys just
trying to get along", and at the time of his death, Malden was
described as "one of the great character actors of his time" who
created a number of "powerhouse performances on screen". Malden was
also President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from
1989 to 1992.Karl Malden, the eldest of three sons, was born Mladen
Sekulovich in Chicago, Illinois on March 22, 1912, which was his
mother's 20th birthday. He was raised in Gary, Indiana.His Bosnian
Serb father, Petar Sekulović (1886â€"1975), worked in the steel mills
and as a milkman, and his mother, Minnie (née Sebera) Sekulovich (22
March 1892 â€" 15 July 1995), was a Czech seamstress and actress. The
Sekulovich family's roots trace back to Podosoje near Bileća, Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Malden spoke only Serbian until he was in
kindergarten; he remained fluent in the language until his death.
Malden's father, who had a passion for music, organized the Serbian
Singing Federation, uniting immigrant choral groups across the United
States.
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