[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 116 (Wednesday, July 29, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2058-E2059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MR. KARL MALDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2009

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take this 
time to remember one of northwest Indiana's most cherished natives, 
Karl Malden. An extraordinary talent, his memorable on-screen 
characters and his remarkable ability to connect with his audience have 
delighted generations of moviegoers. As an actor, Karl Malden brought 
joy to people in ways that very few people can. Mr. Malden passed away 
on July 1, 2009, at the age of 97, but his legacy will forever remain 
in the hearts and spirits of his family and friends, as well as his 
many loyal fans.
  Born Mladen George Sekulovich on March 22, 1912, in Chicago, Karl was 
raised in Gary, Indiana, a hardworking steel-producing community. The 
son of a Czech seamstress and a Serbian milkman and steelworker, Karl's 
early years were much like many of his generation who grew up in 
northwest Indiana at the time. As a high school student, he was a 
gifted athlete and student, excelling on both the basketball court and 
in the classroom. A leader among his peers, Karl was also the senior 
class president of the Gary Emerson High School class of 1931.
  Following his graduation in 1931, Karl briefly considered continuing 
his athletic career at the collegiate level before returning to Gary, 
and like his father, began working in a local steel mill. His career in 
the mills would not last long though as his passion for theater and 
acting continued to grow. Early on, young Mladen often performed in 
Serbian plays produced by his father at his church. Undoubtedly, this 
had an immense impact on his decision to leave the steel mill and begin 
studying at Chicago's Goodman Theater. From there, Karl would 
eventually relocate to New York and begin performing on Broadway. Thus, 
the start of his illustrious career as an entertainer began.
  For more than seven decades, Karl Malden brought memorable characters 
to the stage and screen. With more than fifty film credits and numerous 
plays and television projects on his resume, not to mention one of the 
most recognizable commercial characters in history, Karl Malden proved 
that he is one of the most adored and versatile actors of not only his, 
but all, generations. From his lesser known roles to his unforgettable, 
Oscar-winning performance in A Streetcar Named Desire, Karl's 
determination and passion for his craft were,

[[Page E2059]]

without a doubt, an extension of the lessons he learned as a child 
growing up in Gary, and as a laborer in the steel mills. It is this 
same passion for his craft that has raised millions of dollars for 
programs aimed at preserving and researching the history of film.
  From his high school years to his golden years, Mr. Malden was always 
held in high esteem by his peers, so it is no surprise that he served 
as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for 
several years, and in 2004 he was honored with the Screen Actors 
Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award.
  Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in paying tribute to an American treasure, Mr. Karl 
Malden. A gifted actor whose characters often embodied the hard-
working, blue-collar northwest Indiana community from which he emerged, 
Mr. Malden has been a source of pride for the people of Gary, Indiana, 
for decades, and I ask that you join me in remembering him today as one 
of northwest Indiana's most beloved sons.

                          ____________________