Malden Picks Up Cowboy + Western Honours

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE star Karl Malden has been inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers.

The OSCAR-winning actor, 93, received the honour on Saturday night (16APR05) at the Western Heritage Awards, held at the National Cowboy + Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma.

Though health problems kept Malden from attending, he addressed the crowd via videotape. In his message, Malden recalled being the villain in the 1961 film ONE-EYED JACK and a gun duel around a fountain with star and director Marlon Brando.

He said of the late actor, "The way he shot me was brilliant."

Actor Ernest Borgnine, a past inductee, represented Malden at the ceremony, which also recognised Malden for his work in such Westerns as THE GUNFIGHTER, THE HANGING TREE and HOW THE WEST WAS WON.

Past winners include LOUIS L'AMOUR, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, John Ford and Jack Palance.