Oscar Winning Actor Karl Malden Dies

UNDATED—Karl Malden did not have the looks of a leading man….with his craggy face and bulbous nose he often was cast in supporting roles…but he said he made the best with what he had… and in a career that spanned 6 decades that was awfully good.

“You lied to me Blanche…lies…lies and all out lies.“

First on Broadway then on the big screen Malden played the lonely suitor Mitch in   Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar named Desire ...he won an Oscar for the role…and another nomination for playing the crusading priest father Barry in “On the Waterfront.“

“Boys this is my church and if you don’t think Christ is down here on the waterfront you have another thing coming.”

Malden appeared in some 50 films ...he said for each role he always started by trying to find out what made the character tick…whether it was General Omar Bradley in Patton… or Warden Harvey Shoemaker in the Birdman of Alcatraz: “The only thing i have gotten back is defiance…not once have you ever shown a sign of rehabilitation.“

But his signature role would be on TV:

For 5 years Malden was veteran cop Mike Stone on The Streets of San Francisco…co-starring his young partner Michael Douglas: “That’s right doc Billy jacks do you know where he is now?“ The role won him two Emmy’s and made him the perfect pitchman for American Express:“Don’t leave home without them”

At 91, Malden was honored with the Screen actor’s Guild Lifetime achievement Award. “This is the peak for me thank you.“

Malden said he loved every movie he’d ever been in…even the bad ones…work he said is what kept him going.