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Biography
American

Karl Malden

1912 — 2009

Oscar-winning American actor of Serbian descent, known for his roles in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and On the Waterfront (1954), and for his long-running television role in The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977). His autobiography When Do I Start? (1997) is a vivid account of a life in American theatre and film, from the Group Theatre through the Method revolution to Hollywood stardom.

Past sales0
PeriodModernist
NationalityAmerican
1. Biography

A short life of the author

Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich, 1912–2009) was an American actor of Serbian heritage who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and appeared in landmark films including On the Waterfront (1954), Baby Doll (1956), One-Eyed Jacks (1961), and Patton (1970). He also served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

When Do I Start?

When Do I Start?: A Memoir (1997, Simon & Schuster, with Carla Malden) is his autobiography, tracing his journey from a steelworker’s son in Gary, Indiana, through the Group Theatre and the Actors Studio to a sixty-year career in film and television. The book provides firsthand accounts of working with Elia Kazan, Marlon Brando, and the generation that transformed American acting.

Collecting Malden

When Do I Start? (1997, Simon & Schuster) first editions are affordable at $15–$30. Signed copies are available from the period of the book’s publication. Malden memorabilia — including film stills, lobby cards, and American Express advertisements (he was the company’s spokesman for over two decades) — is collected alongside his autobiography.