Press Releases

<< back to news list

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BROADWAY DIMS LIGHTS IN MEMORY OF STAGE AND SCREEN ACTOR KARL MALDEN
July 02, 2009

The Broadway community mourns the loss of Karl Malden, who died July 1st at age 97. The veteran actor’s career spanned theatre, film, and television throughout nearly six decades.

The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory on Thursday, July 2nd at exactly 8:00pm for one minute.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, commented, “Karl Malden’s performances in some of Broadway’s most legendary original productions in the 1930’s, ‘40’s and ‘50’s showcased his talent and set a standard for excellence on stage. He made an lasting impact on Broadway and in other mediums throughout his career that will continue to live on.”

The prolific actor began his career on the stage. Mr. Malden’s Broadway debut began in 1937 with a small part in Clifford Odets’s Golden Boy. In 1947 he was in the original productions of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and Tennessee William’s Streetcar Named Desire, both directed by Elia Kazan.

Mr. Malden appeared in over twenty Broadway shows, including revivals of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt and Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms; the title role in The Egghead by Molly Kazan, and Key Largo by Maxwell Anderson.

After appearing with Marlon Brando in the original Broadway production of Tennessee Williams’s Streetcar Named Desire, he repeated the role on film that earned him an Oscar.

He had roles in numerous films including All My Sons, Ruby Gentry, I Confess, On the Waterfront and Gypsy, among others. On television he starred in The Streets of San Francisco.

His wife of 70 years, former actress Mona Greenberg, two daughters, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren survive Mr. Malden.