So Long, Mr. Malden...

It's sad and scary both to say goodbye to you, because you represented the last man standing from a period in film-making whose like we won't see again.

As we celebrate the Fourth, we should think of you, since you represented all the best possibilities of being American : a young immigrant, full of promise, who found identity and success in the new world.

In your 97 well-lived years, you were a veteran, were married over seventy years to one lady. You were a family man, a dedicated worker, a lover of your craft.

You gave back to your industry on-screen, making Brando and Kazan look good... and off-screen, most recently as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

A delightful education awaits those who only remember you from "The Streets Of San Francisco" and the old American Express Travelers Cheques campaign.

Just explore the following Malden titles on www.bestmoviesbyfarr.com:

Kiss Of Death (1947)

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

On The Waterfront (1954)

Baby Doll (1956)

Fear Strikes Out (1957)

Pollyanna (1960)

Birdman Of Alcatraz (1962)

How The West Was Won (1962)

Patton (1970)

If a film actor is judged by the breadth and quality of the work he leaves behind, then you, Karl Malden, were one hell of an actor.

We will miss you.

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Comments

[Flavor]

I loved Mr. Malden, he was a great actor and he made you believe the character he became, a true actor. I loved him in the streets of sanfrancisco and I had no clue he was blessed to be 97 young, thank you Mr. Malden for sharing your talent and gift with the world.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I know he taught Michael Douglas a lot on that series.

[Pema]

Ill never forget his performance in Street Car Named Desire. He was magnificent. The sences between him and Blanch goes down in film history.
prayers to the family
thanks for the memories Karl!

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

streetcar was malden's first oscar

[YellerDawg]

What a great actor! He was one of my all-time heroes. Thanks for giving him his due. He certainly deserves our appreciation. He was also a wonderful human being and had a successful and happy personal life. That doesn't seem to merit much notice these days. I hope his loved ones get the message that there are a lot of us out there who remember and love him.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

a note like this helps them know. thanks for doing it.

[Ed Urbanowski]

Mr. Malden was a true professional who made every project that much better through his involvement. His work in "On The Waterfront" was the soul of the film as Brando was the heart. He made General Bradley sympathetic and convincing to Scott's larger than life Patton. We welcomed him when he brought "The Streets Of San Francisco" to our homes in the 70s and he was magnificent on "The West Wing."
Mr. Malden was a true gentlemen. He leaves the world a better place for having been here.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

so true...wonderfully said.

[doodlebug2]

Very weird, yesterday I was re-reading a D-Day (Ambrose) book and was reading about Omar Bradley (who Carl played in Patton) and in the background on the radio, I heard he had past away. Great actor/man

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

wild coincidence!

[Steven Weber - Huffpost Blogger]

A great actor. I would have loved to have seen him on stage in his heyday. His quiet strength, his utterly unique physical characteristics along with his breadth of work make him one for the ages. Pity that he and his ilk pass from this plain virtually ignored by the pop culture, so obsessed with the disposable, the cheap, the superficial. When Brando died, there was maddeningly little notice, this for a man who literally impacted an entire art form.
Thank, Karl...

[Halsey]

First..thank you yet again Mr. Farr for a wonderful post..to Steven..you wrote:

"Pity that he and his ilk pass from this plain virtually ignored by the pop culture, so obsessed with the disposable, the cheap, the superficial. When Brando died, there was maddeningly little notice, this for a man who literally impacted an entire art form. "

Knowing Mr. Malden only thought his art on the big screen..I "think" he'd prefer the non gnashing of teeth, tearing of garb we see with the sad passing of..well. Michael Jackson.. Karl (may I call you Karl?) was an artist..amazing that a guy that was, let's face it, not a pretty boy..never had that bulbous (sp?) nose fixed. Today, yes, some pretty boys ARE good actors (Brad Pitt has done some good work..and Redford..has been amazing in spite of his natural gaga look..also Paul Newman)..I digress..Karl did exemplary work, eschewed the silly kleg lights... no...I truly believe his quiet passing is just the class he wanted. Long after the frat boy movies and even decent girl bonding movies...Patton and On The Waterfront (my two absolute favorites with Mr. Malden)..will be watch, rented, treasured as the art they were.

I say, hail to a true actor, faithful to his craft and amazing in his delivery. Pure class.
Peace on Mr. Malden... 97!..zounds!

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

hi steven- what you say is absolutely true.
however, those in the know will always remember karl.
and I think he knew his work would stand the test of time.

[Chuckwheat]

Dad Longworth in "One Eyed Jacks" is another strong role.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

wish this was on dvd...

[rektruax]

It is. Found it in a weird little bargain bin (about a buck if I remember) in a grocery store in Petoskey MI a few years ago. No fooling.

There were no special features, and the film starts right away, but it was definitely One Eyed Jacks.

[isadora]

I loved Karl Malden. I loved him and Michael Douglas together as the best portrayed, most likable of the TV police partners of that time. When Malden was interviewed on TV years ago he stated frankly that he liked the studio system because he got to work with the best people. He probably meant the likes of Brando and George C. Scott. I always wanted to tell the man who so superbly played Omar Bradley in "Patton" that it was the good fortune of those best people that he got to work with that they got to work with the best--Karl Malden. Loved his reprisal of cassock faishon on "West Wing," when he played a priest of the fictional Catholic President Battlet. Another pairing of excellen ce--Sheen and Malden. We wil miss him, but are so glad for the work that he left us. Hope you and Brando are enjoying the reunion in the great beyon. This man was also a shining Hollywood rarity in his personal life--married for 70 years.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

believe his "west wing" appearance was the last thing he did.

[Gestault]

I always considered Malden as one of the "A" list actors, even when he wasn't working that much...he was self made royalty-none of he films that he worked in would have been as good without him...and apparently he was as intelligent and decent as he came across in his roles... He was the professional that all actors strive to be thought of in their own work. You look at his rich legacy of work left behind and feel empty at the attempts of lesser but more prominent actors from yesterday and today. The rest of them just don't get it...

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

you read my mind--well expressed!

[devadasi]

Absolutely an A list actor...an actor's actor......he was brilliant in 'Streetcar'

[daffey]

You know, sometimes when I read history texts about WWII, I have a harder time seeing Bradley apart from Malden than I do Patton apart from Scott. He always had a sense of something on the screen that I couldn't describe. Sort of a 'gee, it would be nice to be friends with him' feeling. Rest in peace.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

a regular guy-and proud of it.

[3fingerbrown]

In our comments on Farr's Father's Day roundup of of great dad films, none of us mentioned "Fear Strikes Out." On the surface it's about the Tony Perkins character, Jimmy Piersall, the big-league ballplayer who suffers a nervous breakdown. But to me, the movie was just as much about the father, played by Malden, giving us a complex portrait of a man who doesn't realize he's destroying the person he loves the most.

And don't forget "The Cincinnati Kid." Surrounded by a crew of all-time scene-stea­lers--Edwa­rd G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Cab Calloway, Rip Torn--Malden shines through on sheer talent and expertise.

Finally, Malden was a man of character. He never deserted his friend Elia Kazan, who gave Malden three of the greatest roles of his career. Kazan's role in the Hollywood red scare is still debated today. (Personally, I agree with Richard Schickel's revisionist view that Kazan was unfairly damned by his peers for testifying before the committee.) But back when it was fashionable in left-wing movie circles to vilify Kazan, Malden fought the lonely fight to get Hollywood to acknowledge Kazan's artistry with a special Oscar. This was a stand-up guy.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

all true.

and I think "Fear" was Malden's film.

[CoyoteMan]

I personally would like to see the same or more outpouring of grief for Karl Malden as there is for Michael Jackson!
Certainly Karl Malden's body of work is well worth our interest.
My condolences to his family.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I was just thinking the same thing.

stop the circus- I want to get off.

[pwoxby]

OK, I give up. How did being born in Chicago make Karl Malden an immigrant?

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

sorry- he was the son of immigrants,

[GardenerNorCal]

Without his presence in supporting roles many films would have fallen flat. You had a long run. Now rest. And be assured your work was respected and loved.

[Glenn1441]

Distinctive screen presence. Marvelous actor. Gosh, 97-years! After the far-too-soon deaths of Fawcett and Jackson, it's comforting to know one of Hollywood's great character actors lived a rich and rewarding life.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

agree on that.