In Memoriam Karl Malden
One of the greatest character actors of all time has died. Karl Malden, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actor in A Streetcar Named Desire, passed away of natural causes yesterday in Los Angeles. He was 97.
He made up for his ordinary looks by his extraordinary performances, distinguishing himself in three films directed by Streetcar director Elia Kazan, including his (in my view) his greatest performance (and that’s saying a lot) as Father Barry in On the Waterfront. Kazan had first met the actor in New York in the 1930s where he him “in a host of successful Broadway shows.”
He later starred alongside Michael Douglas in the 1970s television show, “The Streets of San Francisco.” He served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences from 1989-1992. His acting range was incredible, from the pathetic older man trying to control his younger wife in Kazan’s Baby Doll, to the level-headed “G.I.’s general,” Omar Bradley, in Patton, to the persistent police inspector in Hitchcock’s under-appreciated I, Confess.
He was truly protean, able to play almost any character. In the three films he did with Kazan, he assumed three entirely different guises. He could be a nebbish, manipulated by those around him–or the moral force of one of the grestest movies of all time. He could hold his own again more charismatic screen legends like George C. Scott, Montgomery Clift and Brando.
Words cannot capture the true greatness of this man, so let me offer two scenes from Waterfront where he really shows his acting chops. I can’t watch the first without crying. All you need do is look at his face at the end of the second clip to see that a good actor doesn’t need dialogue to express his character’s emotions.
UPDATE: From the comments:
An actor who could play characters at opposite ends of the moral and emotional scales and all points between — from Dad Longworth in “One Eyed Jacks” to Omar Bradley in “Patton” and Father Barry in “On the Waterfront” — and make them rock solid believable, is an actor that comes along maybe two or three times in a century.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
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The Streets of San Francisco was where I really got to know Karl, then thru years his wonderful performaces in the mentioned films.
I heard Michael Douglas once say that Karl Malden taught him so much about being a professional in acting. He said between Karl and his father Kirt, he couldn’t have had better teachers.
Gosh, what a world of difference between this guy and the circus around M Jackson.
It makes me want to see “On the Waterfront” once again. The Streets is one of my all time favorite tv shows. It reminded me of Steve McQueen’s Bullit.
Thanks!
Comment by Libertygal — July 2, 2009 @ 10:04 am - July 2, 2009
He had great screen presence and a distinctive voice and could be quite funny. He was able to transform “Don’t leave home without them” into a dire warning. RIP.
Comment by Ignatius — July 2, 2009 @ 10:04 am - July 2, 2009
A great and gifted actor. So many great performances.
My favorite — SKAG — TV series with Piper Laurie (as his wife). One of those TV series that was too good for TV.
Comment by Julie the Jarhead — July 2, 2009 @ 10:13 am - July 2, 2009
He was the “one of a kind” actor that old Hollywood valued.
Comment by heliotrope — July 2, 2009 @ 10:14 am - July 2, 2009
Karl Malden was one of a kind. I loved Streets of San Francisco when I was a kid & of course those American Express commercials. Whenever I used traveller’s checks while I was on business, I thought of his warning: DON’T leave home without them! RIP Karl.
Comment by Jimbo — July 2, 2009 @ 10:56 am - July 2, 2009
He also was in the classic Disney movie Pollyanna as the fire and brimstone preacher. When I was a child that was one of my favorite movies.
Comment by Swampfox — July 2, 2009 @ 9:32 pm - July 2, 2009
An actor who could play characters at opposite ends of the moral and emotional scales and all points between — from Dad Longworth in “One Eyed Jacks” to Omar Bradley in “Patton” and Father Barry in “On the Waterfront” — and make them rock solid believable, is an actor that comes along maybe two or three times in a century.
Comment by Jim — July 3, 2009 @ 4:09 am - July 3, 2009
His turn with Roz Russell in Gypsy deserves remembering.
Comment by Mpav — July 3, 2009 @ 4:34 pm - July 3, 2009