Karl malden cause of death

1. Biography of Karl Malden
2. Early Life and Career
3. Acting Career

Biography of Karl Malden

Karl Malden, the American actor who played, among other roles, the famous Zebulon Prescott in the TV series "How the West Was Won," passed away on the night of July 1-2, 2009, in his home in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Malden was 97 years old, so he did not live to see his centennial anniversary, which was only three years away.

Early Life and Career

Karl Malden was born in Chicago to Serbian immigrants, and his childhood was spent in the town of Gary, Indiana. The Malden family was a hardworking one - his father worked in a steel mill from morning till night, while his mother was a seamstress and laundrywoman. In school, Karl actively participated in drama club productions, but he could never have imagined that he would become a Hollywood star and win an Oscar.

After finishing school, Malden decided to follow in his father's footsteps and got a job at the steel mill. However, he didn't stay at the factory for long. In 1934, he traveled to Chicago and successfully enrolled in the local drama school. During his studies, Malden performed in a small Chicago theater, but after graduation, he struggled to find suitable work. However, he found something much more important - he met a young aspiring actress named Mona Graham. They soon got married, and Karl Malden spent his entire life with Mona. In December 2008, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Acting Career

Together with his young wife, Karl Malden returned to his hometown of Gary. However, his family greeted him coolly, never forgiving him for leaving the steel business. Realizing that giving up on his acting career was pointless, Malden traveled to New York, where he landed a successful role in one of the Broadway theaters. In 1940, he made his film debut.

After World War II (Malden served as a sergeant in the US Air Force), the actor returned to the theater and film roles. In 1951, Malden appeared in the film "A Streetcar Named Desire," for which he received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, worldwide fame, and the unofficial title of the "King of Supporting Roles."

Throughout his life, Karl Malden was a staunch supporter of the Stanislavski system. He convincingly portrayed characters such as the sadistic sheriff in "One-Eyed Jacks" (1961) and the unprincipled and amoral tycoon in "The Money Maze" (1967) by Ken Russell. "I love all the movies I've been in," Malden liked to say. "Even the not-so-successful ones. I just really love this work."

Malden's last role was in the TV series "The West Wing" in 2000. From 1989 to 1993, he served as the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.