Page "Karl Malden" Paragraph 1

Malden, the eldest of three brothers, was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Gary, Indiana.

His Serbian father, Petar Sekulović ( 1886 – 1975 ), worked in the steel mills and as a milkman, and his mother, Minnie ( née Sebera ) Sekulovich ( 1892 – 1995 ), was a Czech seamstress and actress.

The Sekulovich family roots trace back to Podosoje near the city of Bileća in Bosnia and Herzegovina, more specifically, in the eastern portion of Herzegovina now resting within Republika Srpska.

Malden spoke only the Serbian language until he was in kindergarten and was fluent in the language until his death.

Malden's father had a passion for music, and organized a choir.

As a teenager, Malden joined the Karageorge Choir.

In addition, his father produced Serbian plays at his church and taught acting.

A young Malden took part in many of these plays, which included a version of Jack and the Beanstalk, but mostly centered on the community's Serbian heritage.

In high school, he was a popular student and the star of the basketball team ( according to his autobiography, Malden broke his nose twice while playing, taking elbows to the face and resulting in his trademark bulbous nose ).

He participated in the drama department, and was narrowly elected senior class president.

Among other roles, he played Pooh Bah in The Mikado.

After graduating from Emerson High School in 1931 with high marks, he briefly planned to leave Gary for Arkansas, where he hoped to win an athletic scholarship, but college officials did not admit him owing to his refusal to play any sport besides basketball.

From 1931 until 1934, he worked in the steel mills, as had his father.