U.S. Postal Service Mourns Karl Malden

Actor Karl Malden, pictured here in 2000, was a member of the U.S. Postal Service's stamp selection committee. (Courtesy USPS)

Admittedly random, yes, even for a slower news week, but the U.S. Postal Service has released a statement mourning the death yesterday of Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor Karl Malden at age 97.

It turns out that the star of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront" also served on the Postal Service's Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee from 1990 to 2002. He continued with the panel as an emeritus member until his death.

"The Postal Service has had no better friend than Karl," Postmaster General John E. Potter said in a statement. "Whenever we needed him, and whatever the role, Karl always stepped up to the plate for us."

Malden served on the subcommittee responsible for selecting the topics, industries or people worthy of commemoration on a postage stamp. So everything from Bob Hope to The Simpsons to the Purple Heart would have earned his approval.

The current board includes Harvard professor and TheRoot.com editor Henry Louis Gates Jr., Olympic swimming champion Donna De Varona and Joan Mondale, wife of former vice president Walter F. Mondale.