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Oscar-winning actor Karl Malden dead at 97

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2004 file photo, actor Karl Malden accepts the life achievement award at the 10th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles. Malden, a former steelworker who won an Oscar for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic "A Streetcar Named Desire," died Wednesday, July 1, 2009. He was 97. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, file)

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FILE - In this 1950 file photo, actor Karl Malden is shown. Malden, a former steelworker who won an Oscar for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic "A Streetcar Named Desire," died Wednesday, July 1, 2009. He was 97. (AP Photo, file)

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FILE - In this 1956 photo released by Warner Bros., actor Karl Malden, left, and Carroll Baker are shown in a scene from "Baby Doll." Malden, a former steelworker who won an Oscar for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic "A Streetcar Named Desire," died Wednesday, July 1, 2009. He was 97. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. file)

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Malden was known for his meticulous preparation, studying a script carefully long before he stepped into his role.

"I not only figure out my own interpretation of the role, but try to guess other approaches that the director might like. I prepare them, too," he said in a 1962 Associated Press interview. "That way, I can switch in the middle of a scene with no sweat."

"There's no such thing as an easy job, not if you do it right," he added.

He was born Mladen Sekulovich in Chicago on March 22, 1912. Malden regretted that in order to become an actor he had to change his name. He insisted that Fred Gwynne's character in "On the Waterfront" be named Sekulovich to honor his heritage.

The family moved to Gary, Ind., when he was small. He quit his steel job 1934 to study acting at Chicago's Goodman Theatre "because I wasn't getting anywhere in the mills," he recalled.

"When I told my father, he said, 'Are you crazy? You want to give up a good job in the middle of the Depression?' Thank god for my mother. She said to give it a try."

In 2005, the U.S. Postal Service honored Malden by naming the post office in Brentwood to honor his achievement in film and his contributions to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, which meets to discuss ideas for stamp designs.

Malden helped create the "Legends of Hollywood" stamp series that has featured Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Gary Cooper, and another celebrating Hollywood's behind-the-scenes workers.

"As a kid, all the letters that would come from the old country, he would see the stamps and they always intrigued him," said David Failor, executive director of stamp services for the Postal Service. "He was such a regular guy."

Malden and his wife, Mona, a fellow acting student at the Goodman, had one of Hollywood's longest marriages, having celebrated their 70th anniversary in December.

"That was sort of the last goodbye," said Saint, who attended a party in the couple's honor. "His wish was, 'After I die, I don't want you to do anything but have a party.' So another party is coming up."

Besides his wife, Malden is survived by daughters Mila and Cara, his sons-in-law, three granddaughters, and four great grandchildren.

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Associated Press writers Polly Anderson in New York and Michael Cidoni in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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July 02, 2009 11:12 AM EDT

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