Karl Malden Trivia

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Born Mladen Sekulovich, he always regretted that in order to become an actor, he had to change his name. Since he was proud of his heritage, when he starred in a movie or on TV, he insisted that a character carry his family name: In On the Waterfront (1954), Fred Gwynne`s character was named "Sekulovich".

2008 marks the Maldens` 70th wedding anniversary making theirs the third longest marriage in Hollywood history surpassing the 69 years of Bob Hope and Dolores Hope (1934 until his death in 2003) and just behind Norman Lloyd and Peggy Lloyd, who were married in 1936. Art Linkletter and Lois Foerster hold the record with 73 years (1935).

Has two daughters, Mila Malden and Carla Malden. Carla co-authored his autobiography "When Do I Start".

Raised in the same city as Michael Jackson.

Of Serbian and Czechoslovakian descent.

His family had lived longer lives than their son, Karl: his father, Petar Sekulovich, died at age 96, in 1976, two decades later, his mother, Minnie Sekulovich, died at age 104, in 1996.

In 2001, he received an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from Valparaiso University.

Was best friends with: Eva Marie Saint, Marlon Brando, Kirk Douglas, Richard Widmark and Carroll Baker.

On November 12, 2005, the Los Angeles Barrington Station renamed the building, after him, in Los Angeles, California, in honor of his proud achievements. This was followed by a passage of a bill founded by U.S. Congressman, Henry Waxman.

On November 11, 2004, his ex-"The Streets of San Francisco" (1972), co-star, Michael Douglas, presented him with the Monte Cristo Award of the Eugene O`Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut, for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Among the recipients besides Malden were Jason Robards, Zoe Caldwell, Edward Albee, August Wilson and Brian Dennehy.

After he graduated from high school at the top of his class, he briefly left Gary, Indiana, to move to Arkansas, where he`d hoped to get a college athletics scholarship. The college turned him down due to his refusal to play football, other than basketball, hence, he returned to his hometown of Gary, Indiana.

His father, Petar Sekulovich, produced Serbian plays at his church.

As a teenager, he joined the Karageorge Choir.

His family moved to Gary, Indiana, when he was 5.

On December 12, 2008, just six days before his 70th wedding anniversary, Malden was inducted into the Wall of Legends, at St. Sava Church in San Gabriel, California, where Milan Opacich paid tribute to a wonderful man who was a great benefactor of a Catholic church.

He always practised meticulous preparation, studying a script carefully long before he stepped into the role.

He quit working in the steel mills at 22 to study acting at the Goodman Theatre because he wasn`t getting anywhere in the mills.

While working at an acting workshop in New York, he brought Eva Marie Saint, whom he knew.

He had not saved enough money to pay for one semester of schooling at the Goodman Theatre, the dramatic arm of the Chicago Art Institute, despite his working in the steel mills for a few years. He made a deal with the director of the program, hence, he gambled what little money he had agreeing that if he impressed the staff during his first semester, he would be given a full scholarship.

Long before Michael Douglas, worked with him, Malden`s friendship with Douglas` father began in 1940, when a 23-year-old unfamiliar actor, Kirk Douglas, attended New York Summer Stock with him, prior to Kirk`s summer vacation from college. This association led Kirk`s son to having a co-starring role opposite Kirk`s classmate in "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972), at the time Michael`s father said to him that he was about to learn a lot from his father`s classmate.

The most controversial film he starred in was Baby Doll (1956), which he played a dullard husband whose child bride is exploited by a businessman. The film was condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency for what was termed its "carnal suggestiveness." It was written by Tennessee Williams.

Graduated from Emerson High School in Gary, Indiana, in 1931, with high grades.

Was a spokesperson for American Express Traveler`s Checks, from 1968 to 1989.

A pitchman for American Express commercials for decades, his slogan ("Don`t leave home without them") became a national catchphrase.

At the urging of Elia Kazan, he change his name from Mladen Sekulovich to Karl Malden, taking his maternal grandfather`s given name for his first name, and switching a couple of letters of his own first name for his last name. Malden remained a strong friend of Kazan`s after the famed director was chastised by the Hollywood community for naming names before the House of Un-American Activities Committee in 1952. He strongly supported Kazan`s controversial "lifetime achievement" Oscar honor, claiming that politics should have no place when it comes to awarding artistic merit.

Was offered a scholarship to attend Chicago`s Goodman Theater where he met future wife, Mona Greenberg, a fellow scholarship student. They wed in 1938 and remained married for over 70 years until Karl`s death in 2009.

In high school he played basketball and was president of his class. He broke his nose twice playing sports as a teenager.

The eldest of three sons born to Serbian immigrants Petar and Minnie Sekulovich, he was raised in the Serbian community of Gary, Indiana, where his father worked as a milkman.

Started acting when he was only 15.

His father, Petar Sekulovich, worked in the steel mills and as a milkman, his mother, Minnie Sekulovich, was a seamstress.

Served as a noncommissioned officer in the 8th Air Force.

Before he was a successful actor, he worked in the steel mills.

Graduated from Chicago Art Institute in 1937, and came back to Gary, Indiana, without work or money.

After his father`s death, six years later, he traveled to his father`s real-life hometown of Yugoslavia, there, he helped produce the film Twilight Time (1982), a private movie.

His wife graduated from Roosevelt High School in Emporia, Kansas, where she attended Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia St. University). He and Mona visited the campus in 1959, and was impressed by the ESU Summer Theatre. He returned in the summer of 1964, to teach, working with the actors in the company. Prior to leaving, he gave his honorarium to established the Karl Malden Scholarship, which is still given today.

Was also good friends with the late Telly Savalas.

Best remembered on TV for his starring role as Lt. Mike Stone on "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972).

After a young Dick York who was coming into the hallway, out of the men`s washroom, Malden was looking for him to play the role in Tea and Sympathy. He thought York was right for the role, which eventually paid off.

Remained good friends with Michael Douglas, during and after "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972).

Born Mladen Sekulovich, he always regretted that in order to become an actor, he had to change his name. Since he was proud of his heritage, when he starred in a movie or on TV, he insisted that a character carry his family name: In "On The Waterfront", Fred Gwynne's character was named "Sekulovich". (imdb.com)

His sixty-seven year marriage to Mona Greenberg is the third longest in Hollywood history. Bob Hope and Dolores Hope's sixty-nine year marriage, from 1934 until his death in 2003, is the second longest. Norman Lloyd and Peggy Lloyd (29 June 1936 - present) is the longest. (imdb.com)

According to his memoir "When Do I Start," he arranged a meeting between his "Meteor" (1979) co-star Sean Connery and his friend Marlon Brando at Connery's request. Brando drank heavily at the get-together with Connery to get back at Malden, as he had earlier admonished him about Brando's drinking as alcoholism ran through his family and had ruined the career of his sister Jocelyn Brando. Brando did not get drunk, despite the intake of alcohol. (imdb.com)

Received both of his Oscar-nominations for movies also starring Marlon Brando. (unknown)

has two daughters, Mila and Carla. Carla co-authored his autobiography "When Do I Start" (unknown)

Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1963 (unknown)

President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1989 to 1992 (unknown)

Was a close friend of The Magnificent Seven (1960) star Brad Dexter. who was also of Serbian descent. (unknown)

2008 marks the Malden`s 70th wedding anniversary making theirs the 2nd longest marriage in Hollywood history surpassing Bob and Delores Hope`s 69 yrs., (1934 until his death in 2003) and just behind Norman and Peggy Lloyd, who were wed 2yrs earlier (1936). (unknown)

In 1971, he accepted the Oscar for "Best Director" on behalf of Franklin J. Schaffner, who wasn`t present at the awards ceremony (unknown)

Birth name was Mladen Sekulovich. Born to a Czech mother and a Serbian father in Chicago (unknown)