His acting career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army Air Corps in the 8th Air Force. While in the service, he was given a small role in the United States Army Air Forces play and film "Winged Victory". After the war ended in 1945, Malden resumed his acting career, playing yet another small supporting role in the Maxwell Anderson play "Truckline Cafe", with a then-unknown Marlon Brando. He was given a co-starring role in the Arthur Miller play "All My Sons" with the help of director Elia Kazan. With that success, he then crossed over into steady film work.