Karl Malden
ActingAbout Karl Malden
Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; Serbian Cyrillic: Младен Секуловић; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an Serbian-American actor. He was primarily a character actor who for more than 60 years brought an intelligent intensity and a homespun authenticity to roles in theater, film and television, especially in such classic films as A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) — for which he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor — On the Waterfront (1954), Pollyanna (1960), and One-Eyed Jacks (1961). Malden also played in high-profile Hollywood films such as Baby Doll (1956), The Hanging Tree (1959), How the West Was Won (1962), Gypsy (1962) and Patton (1970). From 1972 to 1977, he portrayed Lt. Mike Stone in the prime time television crime drama The Streets of San Francisco. He was later the spokesman for American Express. Malden was President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1989 to 1992.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Karl Malden reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Karl Malden's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 66% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Karl Malden remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Oscar's Greatest Moments, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Karl Malden Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Karl Malden's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Karl Malden.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Whoopi Goldberg: The Winning Act | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | A Streetcar on Broadway | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | A Streetcar in Hollywood | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | A Father… A Son… Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Vanished Without a Trace | Ed Ray | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Earth and the American Dream | Reader (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Oscar's Greatest Moments | Himself - Host / Narrator | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Nuts | Arthur Kirk | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Miracle on Ice | Herb Brooks | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Word of Honor | Mike McNeill | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | Captains Courageous | Disko Troop | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Streets of San Francisco | Detective Lieutenant Michael Stone | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Wild Rovers | Walter Buckman | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Cat o' Nine Tails | Franco Arnò | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Patton | General Omar N. Bradley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Hot Millions | Carlton J. Klemper | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Billion Dollar Brain | Leo Newbigen | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin | Judge Higgins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Hotel | Keycase Milne | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Murderers' Row | Julian Wall | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Nevada Smith | Tom Fitch | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Cincinnati Kid | Shooter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Cheyenne Autumn | Capt. Wessels | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Dead Ringer | Sergeant Jim Hobbson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | How the West Was Won | Zebulon Prescott | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Gypsy | Herbie Sommers | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Birdman of Alcatraz | Harvey Shoemaker | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | All Fall Down | Ralph Willart | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | One-Eyed Jacks | Sheriff Dad Longworth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Great Impostor | Father Devlin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Pollyanna | Reverend Paul Ford | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Hanging Tree | Frenchy Plante | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Time Limit | Prisoner (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Fear Strikes Out | John Piersall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Baby Doll | Archie Lee Meighan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | On the Waterfront | Father Barry | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Phantom of the Rue Morgue | Dr. Marais | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Take the High Ground! | Sgt. Laverne Holt | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | I Confess | Inspector Larrue | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Ruby Gentry | Jim Gentry | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Diplomatic Courier | Sgt. Ernie Guelvada | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Harold Mitchell | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Halls of Montezuma | C.E. "Doc" Jones | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Where the Sidewalk Ends | Det. Lt. Thomas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Gunfighter | Mac | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Kiss of Death | Sgt. William Cullen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Boomerang! | Det. Lt. White (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | 13 Rue Madeleine | Jump Master (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | They Knew What They Wanted | Red | Average | Similar → |
Karl Malden - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Karl Malden?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Karl Malden is "Oscar's Greatest Moments" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Karl Malden acted in?
Karl Malden has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Karl Malden?
Other notable films include "Whoopi Goldberg: The Winning Act", "Vanished Without a Trace", and "The Streets of San Francisco".