Hollywood: Veteran Oscar Winner & 5 yr. Pres. of Motion Picture Academy Karl Malden to Receive “Monte Cristo Award” from Eugene O’Neill Theater Center
Chairman Michael Douglas To Present; Kirk Douglas, Danny DeVito Expected

(Beverly Hills, Calif., Oct. 11, 2004) – Karl Malden, veteran OscarĘ winner and former Motion Picture Academy president will receive the prestigious ”Monte Cristo Award” from the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center on Thurs., Nov. 11, it was announced today by Amy Sullivan, Executive Director & Richard Kuranda, Producing Director.

The luncheon event at the Beverly Hills Hotel is expected to attract a stellar line-up of fellow actors, including O’Neill Alum and Trustee Michael Douglas, who will serve as Chairman of the event and will present the award, Kirk Douglas, Danny DeVito, Martin Landau, Joel Schumacher, Matthew Broderick and others.

The ”Monte Cristo Award” is named after Eugene O’Neill’s boyhood home in Connecticut, the Monte Cristo cottage, which was the location for two of his most famous dramas, “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and “Ah, Wilderness!”

It is awarded annually to an artist whose work best exemplifies the excellence and pioneering spirit of the famed, Nobel Prize-winning playwright.

Previous “Monte Cristo Award” recipients include Jason Robards, Edward Albee, August Wilson, Zoe Caldwell and Brian Dennehy.

In 1952, Malden won an Academy Award as “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” appearing opposite Marlon Brando.

He also won an Emmy Award in 1985 for his star turn in “Fatal Vision.”

The Screen Actors Guild presented its “Lifetime Achievement Award” to the veteran actor in 2004.

Between 1972-1976, Malden and Michael Douglas appeared together in the hit TV series, “The Streets of San Francisco.”

Malden played Douglas’ mentor, Detective Mike Stone.

In 1988, he was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a post he held for five consecutive years.

Born Mladen Sekulovich in Chicago in 1912 and labored in the mills factory of the steel industry, the long-running acting career of Karl Malden began in 1937, when he made his stage debut, followed in 1940 by his film debut.

Among Malden’s memorable films are “On The Waterfront,” “Birdman of Alcatraz,” “Gypsy,” “Cheyenne Autumn” and “Patton.”

He also famously appeared in a series of American Express commercials in the 1970s and 80s.

Eugene O’Neill wrote nearly 50 plays, including “Moon for the Misbegotten” and “The Iceman Cometh.”

In 1964, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center was created as America’s premier theater laboratory for the development of new work and is located in Waterford, Conn.

“We are thrilled that Karl Malden is accepting this award, which he richly deserves and are delighted that Michael Douglas, our long time supporter and almnus, has agreed to present it. We are very much looking forward to celebrating the occasion with our friends and alumni on the west coast. ” Tom Viertel, O’Neill Board Chairman.