Marlene Clark

Marlene Clark (born December 19, 1949) 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. Before she started acting, Clark was a fashion model.

Career

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). That same year, Clark was also in Night of the Cobra Woman (1972).

She 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 martial arts film Enter the Dragon (1973), in which she portrayed a secretary.

Clark was also in Black Mamba (1974). That 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).

Television work

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

Personal life

In 1968, Clark married Billy Dee Williams 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 claimed she was almost raped while filming a scene in one of her movies.

Selected filmography

• For Love of Ivy (1968)
• Midnight Cowboy (1969)
• Putney Swope (1969)
• The Landlord (1970)
• Clay Pigeon (1971)
• Night of the Cobra Woman (1972)
• Beware! The Blob (1972)
• Slaughter (1972)
• Ganja & Hess (1973)
• Enter the Dragon (1973)
• The Beast Must Die (1974)
• Newman's Law (1974)
• Black Mamba (1974)
• Switchblade Sisters (1975)