Oscar winning actor Karl Malden dies at 97

London (ANI): Oscar winning actor Karl Malden has died at the age of 97 at his home in Los Angeles. His family said that the actor had been in poor health for several years and his death occurred due to natural causes, reports the BBC.

Malden, who rarely played the lead in the films he did, had acknowledged in the past that his average looks and prominent nose - twice broken on the sports field - would not help him play a leading man. Hence, most of his more memorable performances came in supporting roles.

The actor refrained form TV series until he got to act as homicide detective Mike Stone in The Streets of San Francisco alongside Michael Douglas, which ran from 1972 to 1977. Eventually, he became know as Lt Mike Stone while Douglas got his share of fame as Insp Steve Keller in the drama series.

Malden was also nominated for four consecutive times for an Emmy for The Streets of San Francisco.
But he finally lifted the trophy in 1984, for the mini-series "Fatal Vision". Malden won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1951, for his performance in A Streetcar Named Desire, and was nominated again in 1954.