Broadway Dims the Lights for Karl Malden

The marquees of Broadway theatres will be dimmed for one minute at 8 p.m. tonight, July 2, in honor of the late Karl Malden, who died yesterday at age 97.

Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, said in a statement:

"Karl Malden's performances in some of Broadway's most legendary original productions in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s showcased his talent and set a standard for excellence on stage. He made an lasting impact on Broadway and in other mediums throughout his career that will continue to live on."

Malden made his Broadway debut in 1937 with a small role in Golden Boy (under his birth name, Mladen Sekulovich). Eliza Kazan directed Malden on stage in 1947 in All My Sons and A Streetcar Named Desire; Malden won an Academy Award for his performance in the 1951 film version of Streetcar, also directed by Kazan.

Read the obituary of Karl Malden at BackStage.com.

-- Daniel Lehman