Marlene Clark

Marlene Clark
Born	(1937-12-19)December 19, 1937 New York City, New York, U.S. or Los Angeles, California, U.S. (sources differ)
Died	May 18, 2023(2023-05-18) (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations	Actress animator fashion model
Years active	1966–1988
Known for	Janet Lawson – Sanford and Son Ganja Meda – Ganja & Hess
Spouse	Billy Dee Williams ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1971)​

Marlene Clark (December 19, 1937 – May 18, 2023) was an American actress, animator and fashion model. Clark was perhaps best known for her portrayals of Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film Ganja & Hess and Janet Lawson, Lamont's girlfriend in the sitcom Sanford and Son from its fifth season in 1975 until the series conclusion in 1977.

Early life

Born on December 19, 1937, in New York City,^[1] or Los Angeles (sources differ), Clark was raised in the Harlem section of New York.^[1] Before her career in 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] The same year, Clark was also in Night of the Cobra Woman (1972).^[1][4]

Clark 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 film Enter the Dragon (1973), in which she portrayed a secretary.^[4][9]

Clark was also in Black Mamba (1974).^[1][10] The 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] On television, Clark portrayed Janet Lawson, the fiancée of Lamont Sanford in the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son.^[13][14][15]

Personal life and death

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 has said she was almost raped while filming a scene for Black Mamba.^[20]

Clark died on May 18, 2023, the same day as her Slaughter co-star, Jim Brown. She was 85.^[21][22][23]

Partial filmography

• For Love of Ivy (1968) – Radio Phone Girl
• Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Girl at Party (uncredited)
• Putney Swope (1969) – (uncredited)
• Stop (1970) – Marlene
• The Landlord (1970) – Marlene
• Clay Pigeon (1971) – Saddle
• Night of the Cobra Woman (1972) – Lena Aruza
• Beware! The Blob (1972) – Mariane Hargis
• Slaughter (1972) – Kim
• Incident on a Dark Street (1973) – Rose
• Ganja & Hess (1973) – Ganja Meda
• Enter the Dragon (1973) – Secretary
• The Beast Must Die (1974) – Caroline Newcliffe
• Newman's Law (1974) – Edie
• Black Mamba (1974) – The Witch
• Lord Shango (1975) – Jenny
• Switchblade Sisters (1975) – Muff
• The Baron (1977) – Caroline

References

1. McCann, Bob (2009). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 9780786458042.
2. Pierce, Ponchitta (April 1974). "A Look into the Private Life of Billy Dee Williams". Ebony. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
3. Hollywood.com
4. Obenson, Tambay A. (July 24, 2014). "A Trip Down Memory Lane w/ 1970s Actress Marlene Clark ('Ganja & Hess')". Retrieved July 16, 2015.
5. Fujiwara, Chris. "GANJA AND HESS". Tcm.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
6. Sergio (April 4, 2014). "Bill Gunn's Controversial And Rarely Seen Film 'Stop' To Finally See The Light Of Day (Once Some Minor Problems Are Cleared)". Retrieved July 16, 2015.
7. Mason, B.J. (December 1972). "The New Films: Culture or Con Game?". Ebony. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
8. Weiler, A.H. (April 21, 1973). "Screen: Gunn's 'Ganja & Hess' Opens:The Cast". The New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
9. Thompson, Lang. "ENTER THE DRAGON". Tcm.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
10. 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 July 17, 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. Johnson Publishing Company. February 26, 1976. Retrieved July 17, 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 July 16, 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. Johnson Publishing Company. January 18, 1979. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
19. Armstrong, Lois (July 7, 1980). "Out of this World". People. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
20. Poggiali, Chris (April 2000). "Slinking Through the Seventies: An Interview with Marlene Clark". Fangoria (191). Retrieved November 16, 2019.
21. "Horror star Marlene Clark, ex-wife of Star Wars's Billy Williams, dies aged 85". Daily Mirror. May 27, 2023.
22. "Marlene Clark, prolific actress in '70s films, TV, dies in Los Angeles". May 27, 2023.
23. "Marlene Clark, Actress in 'Sanford and Son' and 'Ganja & Hess,' Dies at 85". The Hollywood Reporter. May 26, 2023.

External links

• Marlene Clark at IMDb
• Marlene Clark discography at Discogs