Another son of Gary, Indiana dies

Michael Jackson was born in Gary and spent the first ten years of his life in the Northwest Indiana steel town. His personal life was a series of disasters, and it's likely his bizarre behavior contributed to his drug use. Or was it the other way around? Although he was an immensely talented singer, songwriter, and dancer, his moniker "Jacko"--as in "whacko"--was fair and accurate.

Contrast that with the life of Chicago-born Mladen George Sekulovich, who grew up in Gary. You probably knew him as Karl Malden. He died Wednesday.

The man was a class act. If he ever stormed off the set of a film, held out for more pay, or embarrassed himself in public, I never heard about it. Drug abuse? Unlikely. Malden was 97 when he passed.

He excelled at playing the "regular guy," which is why he was a natural choice to play General Omar Bradley, the "G.I. General," in the film "Patton."

Other great films Malden appeared in were "A Streetcar Named Desire," "On the Waterfront," and "The Birdman of Alcatraz."

He did a lot of great TV work too, most notably in "The Streets of San Francisco" and the miniseries "Fatal Vision."

He was unique in Hollywood. Not just for his solid performances over the decades, but for getting married just once and making it last.

His widow Mona survives him.

They were married 70 years.

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