Another celebrity passes..Oscar winner and TV Actor Karl Maden dead

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July 1st 2009 and another celebrity dies. Actor Karl Maden had passed away. Here the brief bio from NY Daily News and Associated Press.

 

Karl Malden, Academy Award winning actor and voice of American Express ads, dead at age 97

By Larry Mcshane

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Updated Wednesday, July 1st 2009

 

 

 

Oscar winner Karl Malden, renowned for his brilliant performances in the film classics "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On The Waterfront," and star of a hit 1970's television cop show "Streets of San Francisco" died early Wednesday in his California home.

 

He was 97. Malden - born Karl Sekulovich - died of natural causes, surrounded by his family. His health was failing in recent years.

 

The actor with the famously bulbous nose took home the Academy Award for his role as naive suitor Mitch in the 1951 film version of the Tennessee Williams' classic.

 

He originally played the part on Broadway.

 

Malden starred opposite Marlon Brando in "Streetcar."

 

Three years later, he played a priest - again opposite Brando - in the unforgettable "On The Waterfront." The role earned him another Oscar nomination. Malden's more than 50 movie roles included parts in "Patton," "Fear Strikes Out" and "The Sting II."

 

Decades after his initial movie success, he became known to a new generation of television viewers as Det. Mike Stone in "The Streets of San Francisco," paired this time with a young actor named Michael Douglas.

Malden also was star of an 1981 TV bio Movie of Gold Medal Winning US Hockey Olympic Coach Herb Brooks in "Miracle on Ice."

 

As his acting career wound down, Malden emerged as a spokesman for American Express. During his two decades as pitchman, his voice became as familiar as his oft-repeated catchphrase: "Don't leave home without it."

 

In addition to his Oscar, Malden captured a 1984 Emmy for his role as Freddy Kassab, the father in the true crime drama "Fatal Vision." He was elected president at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at an age when many actors were retired, serving from 1989-92.

 

Malden's last acting role came in 2000, when he played a priest on an episode of "The West Wing."

 

Malden once recalled the night he captured the Oscar. Malden had little hope of winning when he sat down next to Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall inside the Pantages Theater.

 

Suddenly, his name was called. Malden said stood up and asked Bogart to keep an eye on his coat. "He said, 'Get up there, kid, take your Oscar,'" Malden recounted.

 

"So I got up."

 

c)2009 NY Daily News and Associated Press wire stories.

 

 

 

Anyhow here the youtube.com link. His most famous role is starring in 1970's hit "Streets of San Fransicsco" with the actor most famous role. An early Miami Vice-type cop show i saw in re-runs as a kid. This is sad as i never seen anything in my life with so many famous people passing so close.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F0wlfmxKdU