Marlene Clark (born December 19, 1949) is an American actress, animator and fashion model. Clark is perhaps best known for her portrayals of Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film ''

Ganja & Hess ''Ganja & Hess'' is a 1973 American blaxploitation horror film written and directed by Bill Gunn and starring Marlene Clark and Duane Jones. The film follows the exploits of anthropologist Dr. Hess Green (Jones), who becomes a vampire after h ...

'' and Janet Lawson, Lamont's girlfriend in the sitcom ''

Sanford and Son ''Sanford and Son'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the British sitcom ''Steptoe and Son'', which initially aired on BBC One in the United ...

'' from its fifth season in 1975 until the series conclusion in 1977.

Early life

Born on December 19, 1949, in New York City or Los Angeles (sources differ), Clark was raised in the

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street (Manhattan), 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and 110th Street (Manhattan), ...

section of New York. before her career in acting, Clark was a fashion model.

Career

Of the films Clark appeared in during the 1960s include ''

For Love of Ivy ''For Love of Ivy'' is a 1968 romantic comedy film directed by Daniel Mann. The film stars Sidney Poitier, Abbey Lincoln, Beau Bridges, Nan Martin, Lauri Peters, and Carroll O'Connor. The story was written by Poitier with screenwriter Robert Alan ...

'' (1968), starring

Sidney Poitier Sidney Poitier ( ; February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was an American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He received two competitive ...

, and ''

Putney Swope ''Putney Swope'' is a 1969 American satirical comedy film written and directed by Robert Downey Sr., and starring Arnold Johnson as the title character, a black advertising executive. The film satirizes the advertising world, the portrayal of r ...

'' (1969), which was directed by Robert Downey Sr. Clark appeared in

Hal Ashby William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an American film director and editor associated with the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking. Before his career as a director Ashby edited films for Norman Jewison, notably ''The Russ ...

's directorial debut ''

The Landlord ''The Landlord'' is a 1970 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby, adapted by Bill Gunn from the 1966 novel by Kristin Hunter. The film stars Beau Bridges in the lead role of a privileged and ignorant white man who selfishly becomes ...

'' (1970). Bill Gunn, who wrote the screenplay of ''The Landlord'', then cast her in his unreleased film, ''Stop'' (1970). Clark also appeared opposite

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...

and

Stella Stevens Stella Stevens (born Estelle Eggleston; October 1, 1938) is a American former actress. She began her acting career in 1959 and starred in such popular films as '' Girls! Girls! Girls!'' (1962), '' The Nutty Professor'' (1963), ''The Courtship of ...

in '' Slaughter'' (1972). The same year, Clark was also in ''

Night of the Cobra Woman ''Night of the Cobra Woman'' is a 1972 American horror film starring Joy Bang, Marlene Clark, and Roger Garrett. It was co-produced by New World Pictures and shot in the Philippines. Roger Corman expressed great disappointment in the final produ ...

'' (1972). Clark collaborated with Gunn again when he cast her and

Duane Jones Duane L. Jones (April 11, 1937July 22, 1988) was an American actor and theatre director, best known for his lead role as Ben in the 1968 horror film ''Night of the Living Dead''. He was later director of the Maguire Theater at the State Universi ...

in the 1973 horror film ''

''. A.H. Weiler of ''The New York Times'' wrote in his review of the film, "Miss Clark is an arresting presence as the enamored Ganja. Also, she occasionally invests an unbelievable character with style and humor." That same year, Clark also appeared in the

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (; born Lee Jun-fan, ; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist and actor. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that ...

film ''

Enter the Dragon ''Enter the Dragon'' ( zh, t=龍爭虎鬥) is a 1973 martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse and written by Michael Allin. The film stars Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly. It was Lee's final completed film appearance before his death o ...

'' (1973), in which she portrayed a secretary. Clark was also in ''

Black Mamba The black mamba (''Dendroaspis polylepis'') is a species of highly venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. It is native to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. First formally described by Albert Günther in 1864, it is the second-longest ...

'' (1974). The same year, she appeared opposite

Calvin Lockhart Calvin Lockhart (born Bert McClossy Cooper; October 18, 1934March 29, 2007) was a Bahamian–American stage and film actor. Lockhart was perhaps best known for his roles as Reverend Deke O'Malley in the 1970 film ''Cotton Comes to Harlem'' and ...

Michael Gambon Sir Michael John Gambon (; born 19 October 1940) is an Irish-English actor. Regarded as one of Ireland and Britain's most distinguished actors, he is known for his work on stage and screen. Gambon started his acting career with Laurence Olivi ...

and

Peter Cushing Peter Wilton Cushing (26 May 1913 – 11 August 1994) was an English actor. His acting career spanned over six decades and included appearances in more than 100 films, as well as many television, stage, and radio roles. He achieved recognition ...

in '' The Beast Must Die'' (1974). In 1975, Clark was in ''

Switchblade Sisters ''Switchblade Sisters'' is a 1975 American exploitation action film detailing the lives of high school-aged female gang members. It was directed by Jack Hill and stars Joanne Nail, Robbie Lee and Monica Gayle. The film is also known as ''The Jeze ...

''. Other films Clark appeared in during the 1970s included '' Clay Pigeon'' (1971), ''

Beware! The Blob ''Beware! The Blob'' (also known as ''Beware the Blob'', ''Son of Blob'', ''The Blob II'' or ''The Blob Returns'') is a 1972 American independent science fiction comedy horror film directed by Larry Hagman. It is a sequel to ''The Blob'' (1958). ...

'' (1972) and ''

Newman's Law ''Newman's Law'' is a 1974 American crime film directed by Richard T. Heffron and starring George Peppard. Plot Vince Newman, a no-nonsense cop, decides to investigate on his own when tipped off that colleagues in the police department are invol ...

'' (1974). On television, Clark portrayed Janet Lawson, the fiancé of Lamont Sanford in the 1970s sitcom ''Sanford and Son''.

Personal life

In 1968, Clark married

Billy Dee Williams William December Williams Jr. (born April 6, 1937) is an American actor. He appeared as Lando Calrissian in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, first in the early 1980s for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983), and thirt ...

in Hawaii. She was the stepmother of his son Corey, from his first marriage. Their marriage lasted only three years, and they officially divorced in 1971. In a 2000 interview, Clark has said she was almost raped while filming a scene for ''

''.

Partial filmography

*''

'' (1968) – Radio Phone Girl *''

Midnight Cowboy ''Midnight Cowboy'' is a 1969 American drama (film and television), drama film, based on the 1965 Midnight Cowboy (novel), novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. The film was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars ...

'' (1969) – Girl at Party (uncredited) *''

'' (1969) – (uncredited) *''Stop'' (1970) – Marlene *''

'' (1970) – Marlene *'' Clay Pigeon'' (1971) – Saddle *''

'' (1972) – Lena Aruza *''

'' (1972) – Mariane Hargis *'' Slaughter'' (1972) – Kim *''Incident on a Dark Street'' (1973) – Rose *''

'' (1973) – Ganja Meda *''

'' (1973) – Secretary *'' The Beast Must Die'' (1974) – Caroline Newcliffe *''

'' (1974) – Edie *''

'' (1974) – The Witch *''Lord Shango'' (1975) – Jenny *''

'' (1975) – Muff *''The Baron'' (1977) – Caroline

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Marlene 1949 births Actresses from New York City American film actresses American television actresses 20th-century American actresses African-American actresses Living people Actresses from Los Angeles 20th-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women