Karl Malden: 1912-2009

Karl Malden, seen in this 1950 photo, 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.

This 1956 photo shows Karl Malden, left, and Caroll Baker in a scene from the film "Baby Doll." Malden, a former steelworker who won an Oscar for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic "A Streetcar Named Desire" and also starred in the 1970s series "The Streets of San Francisco," died Wednesday, July 1, 2009. He was 97.

German actor Horst Tappert, Karl Malden and Dutch entertainer Rudi Carrell, from left, stand together with their trophies after the Bambi Awards ceremony in Munich, Germany, Jan. 20, 1979. Malden was born Mladen Sekulovich in Chicago in 1912, and went on to play a variety of roles including Mitch in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (for which he earned an Oscar) and the ABC series "The Streets of San Francisco."

Oscar-winning actors Karl Malden, left, and Ernest Borgnine share a moment on Feb. 25, 2003, during a ceremony at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif., that introduced a series of U.S. Postal Service stamps commemorating "American Filmmaking: Behind the Scenes." Malden died July 1, 2009, at the age of 97.

Karl Malden accepts the life achievement award at the 10th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, Feb. 22, 2004. 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.

Karl Malden, left, displays his Life Achievement Award with presenter Michael Douglas at the 10th annual Screen Actors Guild awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 22, 2004. 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.

Karl Malden points to a plaque that dedicates the Barrington Street Post Office to the actor in Los Angleles, Nov. 9, 2005. 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.