"On the Waterfront" Actor Karl Malden 2009 Westwood Village Cemetery

Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American actor. Malden was primarily a character actor who "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, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, On the Waterfront, and One-Eyed Jacks. Malden later played in high-profile Hollywood movies such as Baby Doll, How the West Was Won, and Patton as well as appearing on U.S. television as Lt. Mike Stone on the 1970s crime drama, The Streets of San Francisco and as 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 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 1988 to 1993.

Personal life

On December 18, 1938, Malden married Mona Greenberg (born 1918), who survives him. Their marriage was one of the longest in Hollywood's history, lasting nearly 71 years. In addition to his wife, Malden is survived by daughters Mila and Carla; his sons-in-law; three granddaughters, Alison, Emily and Cami; plus four great-grandchildren, Mila, Stella, Charlie and Thomas Karl. In 2008 the year before Karl died he and Mona celebrated their platinum (70th) wedding anniversary. In 1997, Malden published his autobiography, When Do I Start?, written with his daughter Carla.

Death

Karl Malden's grave Malden died at his home in Los Angeles on July 1, 2009, at the age of 97. He is said to have died of natural causes. Malden's manager said, "It could be many things. I mean, he was 97 years old!" He is said to have been in poor health for several years. Malden's friend and former co-star Michael Douglas wrote a tribute to Malden for Time magazine's "Milestones" section. He is buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.