Marlene Clark

Marlene Clark
Born (1949-12-19) December 19, 1949
New York City, New York, U.S.[1]
Occupation Actress
Years active 1968–1988
Spouse(s) Billy Dee Williams (1968–1971, divorced)

Marlene Clark (born December 19, 1949)[1] is an American actress best known for portraying Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film Ganja & Hess and Janet Lawson in the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son.

Early life

Clark was born on December 19, 1949 in New York City.[1] Before she started acting, Clark was a fashion model.[1][2]

Career

Of the films Clark appeared in during the 1960s include For Love of Ivy (1968),[3] starring Sidney Poitier, and Putney Swope (1969), which was directed by Robert Downey, Sr.[1][4]

Clark appeared in Hal Ashby's directorial debut The Landlord (1970).[1] Bill Gunn, who wrote the screenplay of The Landlord,[5] then cast her in his unreleased film, Stop (1970).[4][6]

Clark also appeared opposite Jim Brown and Stella Stevens in Slaughter (1972).[1][7] That same year, Clark was also in Night of the Cobra Woman (1972).[1][4]

She collaborated with Gunn again when he cast her and Duane Jones in the 1973 horror film Ganja & Hess.[1][4] 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."[8]

That same year, Clark also appeared in the Bruce Lee martial arts film Enter the Dragon (1973), in which she portrayed a secretary.[4][9]

Clark was also in Black Mamba (1974).[1][10] That same year, she appeared opposite Calvin Lockhart, Michael Gambon and Peter Cushing in The Beast Must Die (1974).[1][4][11]

In 1975, Clark was in Switchblade Sisters.[4] Other films Clark appeared in during the 1970s included Clay Pigeon (1971), Beware! The Blob (1972) and Newman's Law (1974).[12]

Television work

On television, she portrayed Janet Lawson, the fiancé of Lamont Sanford (Demond Wilson) in the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son.[13][14][15]

Personal life

In 1968, Clark married Billy Dee Williams[16][17] in Hawaii.[2][10] She was the stepmother of his son Corey, from his first marriage.[18] Their marriage lasted only three years and they officially divorced in 1971.[10][19]

In a 2000 interview, Clark claimed she was almost raped while filming a scene in one of her movies.[4][20]

Selected filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 9780786458042.
  2. 1 2 Pierce, Ponchitta (April 1974). "A Look Into The Private Life of Billy Dee Williams". Ebony. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Hollywood.com
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Obenson, Tambay A. (24 July 2014). "A Trip Down Memory Lane w/ 1970s Actress Marlene Clark ('Ganja & Hess')". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  5. ↑ Fujiwara, Chris. "GANJA AND HESS". Tcm.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Sergio (4 April 2014). "Bill Gunn's Controversial And Rarely Seen Film 'Stop' To Finally See The Light Of Day (Once Some Minor Problems Are Cleared)". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  7. ↑ Mason, B.J. (December 1972). "The New Films: Culture or Con Game?". Ebony. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  8. ↑ Weiler, A.H. (21 April 1973). "Screen: Gunn's 'Ganja & Hess' Opens:The Cast". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Lang. "ENTER THE DRAGON". Tcm.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Goldweber, David Elroy (2014). Claws & Saucers: Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy Film 1902-1982: A Complete Guide. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN 9781312288034.
  11. ↑ Zimmerman, Steve (2009). Food in the Movies, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9780786455690.
  12. ↑ "Marlene Clark". Tcm.com. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  13. ↑ Gitlin, Martin (2013). The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810887251.
  14. ↑ "Television: Ali Entertains Coopman, Public In Title Bout". Jet. 26 February 1976. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  15. ↑ Matthews, David (2007). "Ace of Spades: A Memoir". Macmillan. ISBN 9781429905039.
  16. ↑ Sanders, Charles L. (June 1983). "Billy Dee Williams: The Serious Side of a Sex Symbol". Ebony. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  17. ↑ Gates, Jr., Henry Louis; Appiah, Kwame Anthony (2005). Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African-American Experience 5-Volume Set. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195170559.
  18. ↑ "At Home With Billy Dee". Jet. 18 January 1979. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  19. ↑ Armstrong, Lois (7 July 1980). "Out of this World". People. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  20. ↑ "An Interview With 70s Exploitation Actress Marlene Clark". 27 January 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2015.


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