Skip to content
MovieCove
Marlene Clark

Marlene Clark

Actor · Died May 18, 2023, aged 73 · New York City, New York, U.S.

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.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 19, 1949
Died
May 18, 2023 (aged 73)
From
New York City, New York, U.S.
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 33 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 28% in 30 days

What are Marlene Clark's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
25%
Morality
24%
Society
15%
Bonds
11%
Power
10%
Self
10%
Ideas
4%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 0 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 4
Hero
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Thrilling
4
Dread
3
Contemplative
3
Absurd
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Marlene Clark's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Marlene Clark's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

33 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Head of the Class(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Merriman

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Rachel Pierson

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Cassie & Co. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Secretary

  • Flamingo Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bunco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Nickey

  • The Baron(1977)

    as Caroline

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • What's Happening!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Secretary

  • Lord Shango(1975)

    as Jenny

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Switchblade Sisters(1975)

    as Muff

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Newman's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Edie

  • The Beast Must Die(1974)

    as Caroline Newcliffe

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Black Mamba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as The Witch

  • Enter the Dragon(1973)

    as Secretary

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Blood Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Ganja Meda

  • Ganja & Hess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Ganja Meda

  • Incident on a Dark Street(1973)

    as Rose

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Teresa Clements

  • Slaughter(1972)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Son of Blob(1972)

    as Mariane Hargis

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Night of the Cobra Woman(1972)

    as Lena Aruza

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 6 episodes · as Janet Lawson

  • Clay Pigeon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Saddle

  • The Immortal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Carver

  • Lost Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • The Landlord(1970)

    as Marlene

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Stop! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Marlene

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Sabrina Crawford

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorine

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Putney Swope(1969)

    as Stewardess (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Midnight Cowboy(1969)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Judy · as Ruthie Rush

  • For Love of Ivy(1968)

    as Radio Phone Girl

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Liza Walter

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 33 titles from 1959 to 1986; peak year 1973.

Biggest box office

Switchblade Sisters (1975)

$51K worldwide

Highest rated

Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

Slaughter (1972)

Film career

19591986

Peak 1973 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1970Screen debut· The Landlord

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting33 of 33: 33 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s23 · acting1980s4 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Marlene Clark's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned2
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The Baron (1977)

60th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 65, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Marlene Clark work with?

People who share at least 2 of Marlene Clark's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Calvin Lockhart shares the most, 2.

Actors

Mixed roles