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July 1, 2009

Karl Malden dies

Posted: 04:28 PM ET

Stars are dropping like flies... another one today.

Malden

Actor Karl Malden, who starred in the classic films "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront", has died at the age of 97, we have confirmed.

Malden's manager, Bud Ross, told CNN the actor died in his sleep early Wednesday at his home in the LA area. He didn't know the cause of death.

"It could be a combination of things," Ross told us. "He was 97 years old."

Malden earned two Academy Award nominations, and won for his supporting role in "Streetcar" in 1952.

He also won an Emmy for a TV movie in 1985 and was nominated for another four Emmys for the television series "The Streets of San Francisco".

A trench coat-wearing Malden also appeared in TV ads for the American Express card, imploring viewers, "Don't leave home without it."  Remember those ads?

A memorial service is expected to be held within the next three to four weeks, Ross tells us.

This makes at least seven celebrity deaths within the last week or so... Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, 50s actress Gale Storm, pitchman Billy Mays, comedian/impressionist Fred Travalena and now Karl Malden.

Celebs, check your pulse!  Make sure you have one.

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Benst   July 2nd, 2009 12:45 pm ET

Rest in peace, Karl Malden. He was an excellent actor. A star in every meaning of the word.

Another celebrity who died recently was Doctor Jerri Lin Neilsen Fitzgerald, (March 1, 1952 – June 23 2009). She was the doctor who was at the South Pole in 1998, when she found out she had cancer (which would kill her 11 years later), and had to treat herself, (because, bad weather prevented planes from landing for a while), until she could be airlifted out.
She was a famous woman and in the news for quite a while.

I hope all the people who died recently, famous or not, rest in peace, and saw the "white light" after they died. There have been people who had near-death expericences and did not see the "white light". Some of them had visions of hell, demons, and being cut off from G-D.

Carlos   July 2nd, 2009 1:30 pm ET

RIP Karl Malden, we will remember not to forget out American Express cards! Thanks for the memorial performances.

ColinCody   July 2nd, 2009 5:25 pm ET

I have seen Karl’s work many times in many movies, but the performance I will always remember was his portrayal of Omar Bradley in "Patton." He held his own with George C. Scott, and that was no mean trick indeed. I am a professional actor, myself, and I know that the best thing one can say of an actor's work is that he was believable while being interesting. I never saw Karl when he was not both of those simultaneously.

Karl almost lived long enough to attain "geezer" status. So, in spite of dying "young," he did far outlive the vast majority of movie stars and entertainers of his era. He must have had great DNA and tried to take care of his health.

I hope he also got his passport to heaven stamped before his departure date...Luke 9:23. It would be extremely sad to have lived so long as a good man, achieved so much fame and fortune and done so much high quality work only to end up at last in the wrong ultimate destination. Eternity is obviously vastly more important than our time here on earth, as Karl would tell you now if he could; however, our eternal destination is dependant upon our choice of supreme value in the here and now.

If possible, perhaps Karl can get with Farrah, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and a host of others with valid passports for endless wonderful times together. I will also join them there someday to be sure, though I hope to delay that trip by about 50 more years. There is still much to be done here of great value.

Ray   July 2nd, 2009 10:27 pm ET

finally we remember someone besides Michael!!! yes Karl was a bit older but he made a lot of movies....are we running his movies, paying tribute, deciding where he will be buried. giving him front page on all headlines....as you can see we are not although he did much more than Michael...he was an eccellent star and one to be truly remembered!!!!

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