Movie News
Karl Malden
1912 - 2009
Beaks here...
You can't do ninety-seven years much better than Karl Malden. Born Mladen George Sekulovich on March 22, 1912 in Gary, Indiana, Malden (he Anglicized his name for obvious reasons, but still felt guilty for it) got his start as an actor with the legendary Group Theater in the 1930s, and appeared in the some of the most influential productions of the first half of the twentieth century. Harold Clurman, Lee Strasberg, Elia Kazan and Stella Adler were his contemporaries. He played Vivien Leigh's love interest in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (after originating the role in the original 1947 Broadway production).
I think we can safely say Karl Malden made the best of his time on this planet.
Though Malden won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Mitch in STREETCAR, the greatness of his understated performance is often overshadowed by Marlon Brando's jarring, animalistic portrayal of Stanley Kowalski. And while Brando is certainly deserving of every ounce of praise he continues to receive, Malden's quiet, halting courtship of Blanche DuBois in the below scene may be my favorite thing in the movie.
Readers Talkback
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ALL YOUR CELEBRITIES ARE BELONG TO US
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If I were Patrick Swayze, I'd be sweating bullets right now...
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RIP Karl Malden, one of the greats. <p> Wasn't Malden also in 12 ANGRY MEN?
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Sleep well, Mr. Malden.
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An Actor's Actor. He'll be missed.
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She was Mrs. Slocombe on ARE YOU BEING SERVED? throughout its long run on the BBC (now on public TV stations throughout America). She ALWAYS brought down the house whenever she talked about "my pussy".<p>Once again, we're all too quickly losing our legends.
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hopefully his nose can carry on without him
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McMahon-Fawcett-Jackson... and now Mays-Malden-and... are we do for another third to keep the "they always happen in threes" thing running?
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Not to mention the Reverend Paul Brown in Pollyanna. He was great in that film.
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All of these celebs passing has kind of numbed me to it. Sick as it sounds, can't help but think who's next.
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Everyday, in the world, one in 44 thousand people die. There are more than 44 thousand actors, actresses, singers, or artists.
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He was in METEOR. http://tinyurl.com/ndoer9
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A tragedy. As far as happening in threes, you should pair McMahon-Mays-Malden, as those are 3 'M' Names. Now 3 'J' names and 'F' names, and the apocalypse will be nigh.
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My best friend died of cancer this afternoon. Too many terrible deaths this week. I'm losing it.
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YOU WANKER!
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little known fact it was something to do with the tax breaks apparently
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He was in a zillion movies. Great in all of them. But Google 'pollyanna sermon' or search for it on YouTube. Love that sermon: "Death Comes Unexpectedly!"
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Eli Wallach eating chicken and drinking lemonade out of the pitcher while riding the hobby horse is one of my favorite moments in cinema.
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But if she gets a TalkBack, and still no mention of McMahon, I'll start posting bits of McMahon's bio all through the Sugden post.
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lots of legends and non entities getting nervous right about now, Loved karl Malden, but my gran was huge fan, v upset she is, you cant buy a face like that.
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He was excellent a few years back as Jed Bartlett's priest in the West Wing episode "Take This Sabbath Day" - all about POTUS ordering the execution of a criminal. He will indeed be missed, and DAMN he lasted well!!
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I'm sorry for your loss. Hang in there, that's what your friend would want you to do.
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It wasn't a complex role, Coppola wrote Gen. Omar Bradley as a pragmatic foil for the insane Gen. Patton, but Malden was both easygoing and authoritative- he was always credible as a military leader in that role. PATTON gets better each time I watch it, and I'm not a war buff or anything like that- as a movie it just works on all levels. And Malden is a huge part of that success. RIP.
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Geez, 2009's Summer of Death claims another...
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... before my dad. When I was a kid, I was frightened at the possibility he could have been my father. That's my little Karl Malden story.
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banning cunthair
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I too am sorry for your loss. We should all keep in mind celebrities don't die. People die. And they die from the same things we all do: natural causes, old age, accidents, or our own excesses. When we mourn for celebrities we are really mourning the loss of our own past, but when we mourn for a close friend we are mourning for a life.
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When Eli Wallach goes, I'm gonna fuckin' lose it.
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RIP Karl Malden. At first I read the headline wrong, and thought Karl Malone had died. But at least Malden lived a long, full life. Did he actually do the voice for McGruff, or was that just a good approximation of his voice? I never knew. <p> And I'm glad to see that this obit hasn't yet been polluted by the usual talkbackers who only want to condescendingly chastise everyone for having the gall to actually want to pay their respects to the deceased.
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you were a great character actor, too.
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I wouldn't even have thought of him. But he was hanging in there. Almost made it to 100. Close, but no cigar.
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One of my favorite actors. TUCO IS IMMORTAL
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that was a great subtle performance. RIP my man
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...another one bites the dust! :-(
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Sorry about your loss.
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My favorite Malden performance. <p> Least favorite: Nuts. What the hell was he and Leslie Nielsen doing in that movie? (And Nielsen might very well be the next one).
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the good the bad and the ugly is on british tv as we speak about half way through, the man is honest to goodness genius
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But I just assumed he had died in the 70s or something.
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Other actors and actresses could learn quite a bit from his work. Sorry to hear about this. One real talent.<p>RIP
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I'm surprised no one mentioned his involvement in Seinfeld. He was great. RIP
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Thanks for those clips too-Good stuff all the way around. Lee J Cobb was a beast wasn't he? Quite a great movie that one. <p> And Streets of San Francisco-another one of those Numerous Cannon/Kojak/Baretta cop flicks of the mid-70's. Don't think I've ever really watched it save here and there. Sam Jaffe? very cool.
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A month or so after Missus Brahms went! Dang! the reaper SUX. Walter Cronkite's next.
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Come on guys! Make it right! Bring peace to the Universe and create a Ed McMahon Talkback! The man deserves one! Oh Yeah! R.I.P. Mr. Malden!
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He was fucking fantastic in On the Waterfront...RIP
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Good 'ol Shooter, and Ann-Margaret looking totally scrumptious. Woof! (Spoiler: I still think he caves way too easily to the blackmailer guy) Edward G is great in that too, but if'n I see him onscreen, then I'll have go and put Key Largo in next.
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You know it.
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Old time movie guy, most known to younger folks today as William H. Macey's father-in-law in Fargo, the old man he's trying to get money out of.<br><br> At this point I think it might be simpler to keep track of what celebrities are still alive.
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That was the first thing I ever saw him in, so I always saw him as a lizard man. Even on Seinfeld.
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Wow really? That is a fun story.
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That's Richard Herd. <P> Your pennace is to watch The Cincinnati Kid tonight.
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Malden was the MAN. After "On the Waterfront" and "Patton" I'm convinced he was one of the most underrated actors of his generation. This blows. Fuckin' death. >:-/
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Shit you're right. They do look similar.
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You never saw him and Golda Meir in the same room.
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RIP Harve Presnell too. Drag!
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R.I.P. Mr. Malden
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This is the closest we've come to a respectful tb. May it not turn into Ain't it Cruel News
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Did you mean Richard Herd? <P> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Herd <P> I don't think Malden appeared on Seinfeld.
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July 1, 2009, 5:37 p.m. CST
I'M CALLING OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND AS THE NEXT TO SNUFF IT!!!
by CharlesThomasMathews1978
She was born in 1916 in Tokyo Japan!?!
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July 1, 2009, 5:38 p.m. CST
Anyone notice the amount of respect that people get...
by itsjust_notcool_anymore_baby
especially celebrities when it comes to the subject of death is ridiculous on the fucking internet? It gets all muddled 10X over until it becomes nothing more than the next asshole's fucking joke. I seen 'On the Waterfront' for the first time about a year ago and I recognize him as the priest from that. He had that one scene in particular on the boat that I remember being a great delivery. R.I.P. Mr. Malden.
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<p>I've always known "of" Malden but the last year I've been watching Streets of San Francisco on DVD and this is how I was introduced to his real acting ability (I vaguely remember his American Express commercials). </p> <p>That show holds up extremely well, because Malden's character is extremely likable and you wish all old school cops were exactly like him. Frankly, I assumed he was already dead, because even on that show he was up there in years.</p> <p>IF you haven't seen Streets of San Francisco, check it out. Great show, great acting.</p>
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The resemblance is uncanny. Just sayin.
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yay!
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SHIT! LEEE!!
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Like FUCK_YOU_GEORGE_LUCAS, I think you are thinking of Richard Herd: <P> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Herd <P> Both actors are physically similar and have a similar cadence and pitch to their voices.
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I was a bridesmaid at her wedding.
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He was great as Herbie in the movie version of Gypsy, and his final role in The West Wing was brilliant. He had a great range and will be missed.
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Yep, you're right. You know, I was even saying to myself "I didn't think that was the guy's name, but that's clearly him". You know, I remember seeing those ads when I was a kid and thinking it was the same guy even. Weird.
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be in a commercial. God, what a shithead.
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97 years is an extraordinary life for anyone, and old Karl seemed to get the most out of it. Exceptional acting skill, fame, genuine class and longevity. 4th of July weekend sounds like a perfect time to celebrate his life by popping Patton in the DVD player. Rest in peace Mr. Malden, and thanks for the great performances...
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millions of teenage girls weep.
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RIP Malden
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Okay maybe Death got the wrong guy the first time. You're supposed to live to be really old like this.</p> <p>My condolences go out to his family. He had a great career. I think he stayed close with Michael Douglas too. So my condolences to him as well. </p>
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are all still alive. I'd say Hitchcock had something to do with it, except that Grace Kelly died in 1982. Fuck, she was hot in Rear Window.
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I can't take the 6 Mill Man dropping too. Don't go joking about the fall of The Fall Guy.
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are dropping like flies.
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...now, Hollywood must pay!
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97..jesus...this is how Sean Connery is gonna go. Nearly faded from our minds in the future and he'll be in his 90s, out of acting for nearly 15 years. So sad. Same with Gene Hackman.
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is who he'll always be to me. RIP sir...
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Karl was a great, great actor. An actor's actor. Can you think of anyone today who could fill his shoes? I'm thinking either nobody, or John C. Reilly. That turn in "Magnolia" kind of reminded me of Malden.
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Be well.
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It's called "When Do I Start?" Pretty good stuff.
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He was great in Fargo, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Paint Your Wagon. He had a great voice. What a great talent. <p> He was probably better known to Broadway audiences. RIP.
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NASAL RAPING BASTARD. it was info to be revealed by his estate after his death.
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hold on to your vaginas guys! we're in for more celeb purges.
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after getting knighted his life is complete to go in the grave complete with his dracula cape just like lugosi.
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I was watching Face/Off last night and there he was.
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I had seen On the Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire before, but it is the Bradley role that I remember best. <p> I think the contrast he offered to Scott's Patton made the movie.
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WTF is it this year, anyway? I thought 2008 was ringing up some huge numbers, but '09 is getting ridiculous...
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just placing bets here...
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People will do anything for money...
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When I was young I saw Patton and loved both Malden and Scott. Then in college I saw Streetcar and On the Waterfront. Malden was terrific in all of them. He lived a great, long life. RIP
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Hm. Who knew?
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sadly, he's next.
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Loved him in everything...westerns..Streets of San Fran...you name it, the guy was a CLASS ACT
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Karl was great. The grandparents watched "The Streets of San Francisco" and "Cannon" every week, they sure don't make show intros like they used to. RIP, Karl.
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Fuck you...I hope Sean Connery finds you and beats you into a bloody pulp. Here's to Sir Sean outliving you!
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The only person I could think of suggesting without being tasteless.
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And had a GREAT voice in THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN.
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Patton is one of my favorite movies...even though I own the DVD I still watch in on TV every Memorial Day. I'm not sure if anybody mentioned it, but I think his wife is still alive, and they got married in like 1939!
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Thank you. One hell of an age to live to and a superb legacy. Sleep well.
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happened during the 70s. i think it shivved Scooter or Beaker or such. <P><P>no? must have been a wicked fever dream
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While willingly sweeping away from any geek bull, it's possible you may be thinking about John Cleese pulling Gonzo's legs out from his body,
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...you guys should really take into consideration the slew of assholes who troll this obit TBs and fucking do something about it. AICN's credibility is seemingly lessened everyday and the kind of BS that is allowed to continue in a thread like this is a shame. Just a suggestion fellas.<P>RIP Karl. You were a class act, sir. And I miss those Johnny Carson jokes about your nose.
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What a remarkable career! Godspeed, Mr. Malden, thanks for the memories.
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He was great in that role! :)
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Once upon time, actors were interesting. They didn't have to be pretty. We can all appreciate a pretty face but where is the Karl Malden, Jack Klugman, or Ernest Bourgnine of the modern age? Can an actor that looks like Malden make it anymore?
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Always loved his turn as the farmer travelling to the West. His telling of the story about farming rocks is a classic...
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Yeah, we lost someone special here. Where is the talent today to match all that we lost in the last year or two?
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Malden carried those bastards.
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Probably more than any other actor or actress ever, Malden had the undeniable bad luck of being the incredible supporting role to countless iconic performances. I mean, come on, Brando in Streetcar AND Waterfront. Steve McQueen in Cincinnati, George C. Scott in Patton, even Hayley fucking Mills in Pollyanna for Christ's sakes. <br> <br> Yet, when you look through his filmography, you come to realize that he was a huge helping hand in making all of those roles iconic. Malden seemed to be an actor's actor and it shows in all of his roles by how easily all other actors play off of him. Let's face it, no one ever wants to admit it, but the truth is 9 out of 10 actors back in the day were fucking god-awful, just absolutely fucking horrendous. Malden wasn't and brought out the great actor in everyone who shared the frame with him. What else could you ask for? <br> <br> And that nose...what a great nose!!!
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Loved him in Patton. We should all be so lucky to die at the age of 97 in our sleep... and not like the screaming passengers in his car... badda-dump... thank you... I'm here all week.
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Well, there is still a little bit of room for the Buscemi's and Giamattis. Even today, studios will put an ugly man up on screen because of Karl's nose. RIP!!!
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Good point.
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Great movie. Great performance. RIP Mr. Malden.<p> And condolences to CROW3711. I hope you are well.
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What an evil bastard in NEVADA SMITH. Anyway, always loved Malden since I first saw him in the original Cinerama presentation of HOW THE WEST WAS WON when I was a kid. When I moved to LA he was president of the Motion Picture Academy and would seemingly be at every program, always with a warm introduction to start the evening. If you love movies, this is a sad day. RIP, Mr. Malden.
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Loved him the THE BIG LEBOWSKI(sp) http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/31687036/ns/ entertainment- celebrities/
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but i liked his general bradley in Patton the best. So good as a counterpoint to george c scott.
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RIP
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RIP
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It's cool to think that Melanie Hamilton Wilkes from Gone With the Wind--such an awesome movie, I love that film--is still with us. If only Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh were still with us. Poor Vivien died in 1967, at the age of 53 . . . of tuberculosis!
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Of cancer. He also appeared in the series premiere of the short-lived 1991 sitcom "Good Sports" with Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. And Farrah Fawcett died just 3 days earlier, on June 25th, also of cancer.<br><br>I just got a chill.
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...if I remember correctly he was also on 'The Pretender' and 'Andy Barker, P.I.', among others.
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This is AICN, right?
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"OK God, we get it."
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Great actor, RIP Carl.
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When I was a kid we never left home without Amex travelers and always watched Streets of San Francisco. RIP good sir.
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Of course Streets of San Francisco. Great fucking theme music.<p> R.I.P sir.
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Goodbye Cookie.
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Must see back in the day.
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Why shouldn't he be, Karl was 10 yrs. older than him. This proves even the ugly and pruny Abe Vigoda is vulnerable.
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...I mean pedophiles just died! Let's have a moment of silence for all the little lives he ruined and all the little buttholes he tore. LONG LIVE MICHAEL BAY!!!!
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Im done
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It's truly very much appreciated.
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which is what's done when one of there own dies. Are they going to make it extra dim, or do it twice? Both Harve and Karl had extensive bway credits along with film and movies. (Harve was great as Daddy Warbucks back in the day, and of course Karl was legendary in everything from Streetcar to Gypsy, which he reprised in film) I don't know if two bway stars ever died on the same day like this.
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rip
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he always played a great heavy when he wanted to<p> good character actors are hard to find
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He did other stuff, 'sides Voyager?<p>I keed, because I love.
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July 1, 2009, 11:27 p.m. CST
Yeah big deal. Doubt he ever had his hands down a boys pants
by EbertsFatThumb
RIP Karl. A very good actor.
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he just relized how badly he fucked up star wars and suffered a massive heart attack. he also likes little boys.
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July 1, 2009, 11:50 p.m. CST
MICHAEL BAY SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED THE NEW SET OF STAR WARS MOVIES
by Charger26
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July 1, 2009, 11:59 p.m. CST
SPOCK JUST DIED!!! IN STAR TREK II, BUT HE CAME BACK
by lockesbrokenleg
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:(
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July 2, 2009, 12:31 a.m. CST
LADY GAGA KILLED MY ERECTION BUT LAURA PREPON RESTORED IT!
by CharlesThomasMathews1978
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I probably watched Pollyanna 100 times when I was a kid....yeah I watched Pollyanna! What of it!?!?
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and rightfully so.
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July 2, 2009, 12:43 a.m. CST
Of course, Abe Vigoda is not scheduled to die until 2012.
by vic twenty
So says the Mayan calander. Then the eternal man will run out of days.
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Very underrated Steve McQueen movie. Entire movie takes place in one room like Casino Royale.
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A Streetcar Named Desire<Br>On The Waterfront<Br>Baby Doll<Br>How the West Was Won<Br>Patton<Br>Meteor<Br>The Streets of mutherfuckin' San Francisco<P>One of those actors that seemed to be in almost every decent old fim on TV when I was growing up - what a legend.<P>And in the UK we lost Mollie Sugden too<P>Sad fuckin' day
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Eli Wallach's performance in The good the bad and the ugly - is probably my favorite acting performance ever. There's so much nuance in it. Awesome.
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Great, great stuff! Still gives me goosebumps. Nice work Karl; so long
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...it's just some kind of viral marketing for 'The Final Destination', right?
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Love and condolences to family.
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played Mrs. Slocombe in Are You Being Served?
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he was excellent in it. One of the greatest American actors of all time
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Also, that purple haired lady from Are You Being Served just dies. I never watched the show on reruns in the states, but you can't help not know who she was.
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in honor of Malden. And no, I don't give a damn that they're two different types of space objects.
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"Oscar winner Karl Malden has died at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, three years shy of his 100th birthday. The Streets of San Francisco star was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1912 and raised in Gary, Indiana - coincidentally the birthplace of Michael Jackson, who died last week."
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Malden played Alfred Kassab in the TV adaptation of "Fatal Vision" - the story of Captain Jeffery MacDonald, a marine medical doctor who was convicted of killing his wife and 2 children. Malden played the step-father of the MacDonald's wife - and he played the part extremely well. Without his bulldog efforts - there never would have been a conviction of MacDonald - which is the entire point of this story. Great TV movie - if you can find it.
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He heard that little boys' pants were half-off.
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...went to IMDB, looked up Karl Malden, and then came back here and was like, "I loved Karl in that episode 105 of Hill Street Blues where he played the subway killer, he was awesome." I don't buy most of your bullshit.
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And he will be missed.
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And The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, one of Disney's more forgetable efforts.
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. . . who either don't really know of an actor like Malden's work/history in the industry or more importantly can not refrain from inserting a slew of profanity and sly innuendo into a forum that is suppose to be in honor of such a talent -- you should be the ones getting it next. Talents such as Malden, Presnell and even Ms. Sugden deserve more respect than that. We mourn and are sadden by the death's of these celebrities because they were part of our lives thanks to their performances being captured on film and entering our homes via TV, DVD's etc. Frankly if you don't really know the person's work and therefore can not say anything good about their contributions to the medium, then either go spend some time wathcing what they've done or just keep your mouth shut!! Heaven will be enjoying some great performances this week, and the rains will continue hear as the angels weep.
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...that people who aren't familiar with Karl Malden's work should die next. So if your kids haven't seen The Birdman of Alcatraz, freedunit01 wants them to get lymphoma and kick the bucket.
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Thats the thing, he wasn't actually in V. I have the same delusion - I posted it up at the remake TB.<Br>I could have SWORN that Karl Marlden was in V. All the time growing up and believing that same creased up wrinkled face that paired up with a young Michael Douglas on Streets could be ripped off at any moment exposing the hideous lizard overlord beneath.<P>And then I look it up and he ain't there.<P>Fuck
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Don't tease me.
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....ANGIE DICKENSON'S PRETTY LITTLE ASSHOLE. <P> TRUE STORY, THAT.
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We will miss you as well.
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Now that's a resume to be proud of. Mostly thanks to Malden, Mitch has always been an essential part of Streetcar. Challenged the audience by demonstrating that even the 'nice guys' have a bit of Stanley in them. And yeah, I grew up with him all over the television in the 70s. Mr. Malden, we salute you.
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RE- The Cincinnati Kid: it ALL takes place in one room? I think you should go back and watch it again...
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Karl was the only good thing about that movie. He classed up a crap project. RIP, Karl, you will be missed.
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... there is no Heaven.
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July 3, 2009, 2:43 a.m. CST
You people are NUTS! Malden was HORRIBLE in PATTON!!!
by Bob Cryptonight
Haven't any of you ever notice how much he is always SMILING in his scenes!? I can't watch the movie without laughing. Even George C. Scott admitted that Malden was bad in the role. Otherwise, though, the guy was aces. I wish STREETS OF SAN FRAN would show up more on tv.
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with nice tails. lets not forget him in Argento's cat o'nine tails. ive samples of him in that movie quite a lot, one track being a pure remix of the theme :) love a bit of karl.
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It's a close thing with Jimmy Durante and Sid James. Loved this man's acting, especially in Kazan's early movies. The most natural of all the method actors and he left a great legacy of films for us to view again and again. And he was GREAT in Patton - I've never forgotten it because I was nine and I had terrible chicken pox at the time. You don't get actors of his calibre cast anymore simply because the casting directors go on 'good looks' and not talent. RIP Mr. Malden. What a life.
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You know it's true.
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