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Born to a Czech mother and a Serbian father in Chicago as Mladen Sekulovich, on March 22, 1912, Karl Malden did not speak English until he was in kindergarten. After graduating from high school in the nearby steel town of Gary, Indiana, Malden worked in the industry for three years until 1934, when he was frustrated with the drudgery of manual labor. He left to attend the Arkansas State Teacher's College, then the Goodman Theater Dramatic School and never looked back. Three years later, he went to New York City to find fame.

Malden rapidly became involved with the Group Theater, an organization of actors and directors who were changing the face of theater, where he attracted the attention of director Elia Kazan. With Kazan directing, Karl starred in plays such as "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller and "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams. While Malden had one screen appearance before his military service in World War II, in They Knew What They Wanted (1940), he did not establish his film career until after the war. Malden won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and showed his range as an actor in roles such as that of Father Corrigan in On the Waterfront (1954) and the lecherous Archie Lee in Baby Doll (1956).

He starred in dozens of films such as Fear Strikes Out (1957), Pollyanna (1960), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Gypsy (1962), How the West Was Won (1962), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), and Patton (1970) as General Omar Bradley. In the early 1970s, he built a television career on the tough but honest screen persona he had created when he starred as Detective Mike Stone on The Streets of San Francisco (1972), co-starring with Michael Douglas. He also became the pitchman for American Express, a position he held for 21 years. In 1988, he was elected President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a position he held for five years. Following that he, published his memoir entitled, "When Do I Start?: A Memoir", written with his daughter Carla.

Malden also courted controversy by pushing for a special salute to Elia Kazan at the 1999 Academy Awards. Malden defended both Kazan and the award, arguing that Kazan's artistic achievements outshone any shame attached to Kazan's naming names before the Congressional committee investigating Communists in Hollywood. Marlon Brando refused to give Kazan the statuette; Robert De Niro ultimately did. Karl Malden died at age 97 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles on July 1, 2009. He was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, California.

Best remembered as 'Mrs. Slocombe' on the British comedy "Are You Being Served?" Mollie Sugden was born in Keighley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. She attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Her first television role came in 1962 with the series "Hugh and I," which ran for four seasons. In 1972, she won the role of the head of the ladies department at Grace Brothers Department Store, 'Mrs. Betty Slocombe,' on "Are You Being Served." Her character was known for her change in hair color, as well as her affection for her cat. The series ran between 1972 and 1985. She reprised the role in the 1990s for the short live revival, "Grace & Favour." After the initial run of "Are You Being Served" ended in 1985 she continued to work on television including the series "My Husband and I," in which she starred with real-life husband, William Moore. In 2002, she was honoured on her 80th birthday with the "Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special" Mollie Sugden died after a long illness at age 86, just months after her "Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard.

Anna Karen was born on 20 September 1914 in New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for Star Trek (1966), Shadow of the Cloak (1951) and One Step Beyond (1959). She was married to Jeff Morrow. She died on 1 July 2009 in Woodland Hills, California, USA.

Alexis Arguello was born on 19 April 1952 in Managua, Nicaragua. He was an actor, known for Miami Vice (1984), Cat Chaser (1989) and Fists of Steel (1989). He was married to Sulvia Urbina, Patricia Barreto and Loretta Martinez. He died on 1 July 2009 in Managua, Nicaragua.

Violet Lamb was born on 28 November 1910 in Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Silver Swan (1952), Z Cars (1962) and The Secret Garden (1952). She was married to Cyril Luckham. She died on 1 July 2009 in Hampstead, London, England, UK.

Jürgen Egger was born on 26 November 1959 in Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany. He was a writer and actor, known for Harald (1997), The High Crusade (1994) and Der Wixxer (2004). He was married to Catarina Raacke. He died on 1 July 2009 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

David Pears was born on 6 August 1921 in London, UK. He was married to Anne Drew. He died on 1 July 2009 in Oxford, UK.

Jean-André Fieschi was born on 5 May 1942 in Ajaccio, Corsica, France. He was a director and writer, known for Théâtre (1980), Cuixart, permanencia del barroco (1963) and The Accompaniment (1969). He died on 1 July 2009 in Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Lyudmila Zykina was born on 10 June 1929 in Moscow, USSR [now Russia]. She was an actress, known for Kogda pesnya ne konchaetsya (1965), Novogodnee pokhishcheniye (1970) and Sumka, polnaya serdets (1964). She died on 1 July 2009 in Moscow, Russia.

Aulis Salovaara was born on 22 February 1928 in Askola, Finland. He was an actor, known for Pakinateatteri (1960) and Keisari ja senaattori (1963). He was married to Ritva Sinikka Helo. He died on 1 July 2009 in Helsinki, Finland.

Baltasar Porcel was born on 14 March 1937 in Andratx, Balearic Islands, Spain. He was a writer and director, known for Renata davanti allo specchio (2008), Novel·la (1979) and Lletres catalanes (1974). He died on 1 July 2009 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Stanley Karran was born on 26 July 1910 in Cregneash, Isle of Man. He was an actor, known for Waking Ned Devine (1998) and Woundings (1998). He died on 1 July 2009 in Cregneash, Isle of Man.

Sven Andersson was born on 20 July 1918 in Örebro, Örebro län, Sweden. He died on 1 July 2009 in Sweden.