Marlene Clark

Born on December 19, 1937, in New York City, or Los Angeles (sources differ), Clark was raised in the Harlem section of New York. Before her career in acting, Clark was a fashion model. Of the films Clark appeared in during the 1960s include For Love of Ivy (1968), starring Sidney Poitier, and Putney Swope (1969), which was directed by Robert Downey Sr. Clark appeared in Hal Ashby's directorial debut The Landlord (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 and Stella Stevens in Slaughter (1972). The same year, Clark was also in Night of the Cobra Woman (1972).

Clark collaborated with Gunn again when he cast her and Duane Jones in the 1973 horror film Ganja & Hess. 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 film Enter the Dragon (1973), in which she portrayed a secretary.

Clark was also in Black Mamba (1974). The same year, she appeared opposite Calvin Lockhart, Michael Gambon and Peter Cushing in The Beast Must Die (1974). In 1975, Clark was in Switchblade Sisters. Other films Clark appeared in during the 1970s included Clay Pigeon (1971), Beware! The Blob (1972) and Newman's Law (1974). On television, Clark portrayed Janet Lawson, the fiancée of Lamont Sanford in the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son.