Actor Karl Malden Dies at 97

Oscar winning actor Karl Malden has died at the age of 97. He is best known for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic A Street Car Named Desire. Malden also did American Express commercials in the 1980's. He was the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences from 1989-1993. Karl Malden died of natural causes Wednesday in his Brentwood California home.

He was born to Czech and Siberian immigrants and barely spoke Engish as a young child. During WWII he served as a corporal in the 8th Air Force. Malden studied acting at the Goodman Theatre Dramatic School and debuted on Broadway in 1940. From there he went on to star in more than 50 Hollywood films. He also starred in the 1972 television show, The Streets of San Francisco where he played a verteran police investigator. After the show ended, he stared in the television movie Fatal Vision and won an Emmy for his role. In 2000 Malden played a preist on an episode of West Wing.

Malden leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Mona, and daughters Mila and Cara and their husbands, three granddaughters, and four great grandchildren.