Marlene Clark was born in Harlem on December 19, 1937, and became interested in acting during college. She and her husband at the time, Billy Dee Williams, moved to Los Angeles, where she began her career as a model before acting in film and television. "Most of the movies I starred in didn't come out when they were supposed to or never came out at all," Clark once said. "So you miss out on all that publicity that can lead to other jobs."
Among her numerous roles, Clark starred in the cult horror film "Ganja & Hess" about a widow who is turned into a vampire, and she later shared the screen with film legend Sidney Poitier in her feature film debut, "For Love of Ivy." She's arguably best remembered as Lamont's fiancé, Janet Lawson, in six episodes of "Sanford and Son."
Clark quit acting in the '80s, and went on to open her own boutique on Melrose in LA before managing a restaurant in Venice Beach. Clark died on May 18, 2023; she was 85. Her friend Tamara Lynch announced Clark's death with the statement, "She leaves behind friends and family that will forever be grateful for her grace, love, and beautiful heart. Marlene was one of our finest examples of Black beauty."
Demond Wilson, who played Lamont, paid tribute to Clark on Twitter, writing, "RIP beautiful actress Marlene Clark... It was a delight to work with you."
