Lovely, sultry, and charismatic Marlene Clark was born December 19,
1937, in New York City (some sources list it as Los Angeles, California). Her father was a bus driver and her
mother worked in a factory. Marlene grew up in New York City's Harlem
area, and went to junior college in Tennessee. She was a speech major
at the City College of New York. She first started acting in plays in
college. She was working as a fashion model before making her film
debut with a small part in
For Love of Ivy (1968). Marlene
has had minor uncredited bit roles in
Midnight Cowboy (1969) and
Putney Swope (1969). She gave an
outstanding performance as the enticing but dangerous Ganja in
Ganja & Hess (1973). Other memorable
parts include pesky government agent Kim in
Slaughter (1972). the ill-fated Mariane
Hargis in
Son of Blob (1972), the
very sexy titular reptilian demonic seductress in
Night of the Cobra Woman (1972),
the foxy Caroline in
The Beast Must Die (1974) and
the affluent Caroline in
The Baron (1977). She had a recurring
role as Lamont Sanford's fiancé Janet Lawson on the hit sitcom
Sanford and Son (1972). In
addition, she made guest appearances on episodes of such TV shows
as
Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969),
Bonanza (1959),
The Mod Squad (1968),
Highway to Heaven (1984)
and
Head of the Class (1986).
Clark was married to
Billy Dee Williams from 1968 to 1971.
She died at age 85 on May 18, 2023.
Head of the Class(1986)as Mrs. Merriman
Highway to Heaven(1984)as Rachel Pierson
Flamingo Road(1980)as Sandy
Cassie & Co.(1982)as Secretary
Barnaby Jones(1973)as Bank Clerk
General Hospital(1963)
Machete Maidens Unleashed!(2010)
My Final Girl: Black Women in American Horror(2016)
The Richard Pryor Show(1977)as Self - Audience Member
TCM Remembers 2023(2023)as Self - Actress
