'Sanford and Son' Actress Marlene Clark Dies At 85

Marlene Clark died on May 18 at the age of 85.
She was known for playing Janet Lawson in ‘Sanford and Son’ and broke barriers with her work.
No official cause of death has yet been released.

On May 18, actress Marlene Clark died. News of her passing comes from Clark’s friend, friend Tamara Lynch. By time of writing, no cause of death has been announced, but Lynch did say that Clark passed away at her Los Angeles home.

Clark is best known for playing Lamont’s girlfriend, Janet Lawson, in the groundbreaking sitcom Sanford and Son, and for her role as Ganja Meda in the 1973 horror film Ganja & Hess. Her talent and captivating performances helped break barriers for African American actresses during a time of limited opportunities Already, her colleagues from the film and television world are mourning this loss.

Actress Marlene Clark led a trailblazing career

NIGHT OF THE COBRA WOMAN, Marlene Clark, 1972 / Everett Collection

New York native Marlene Clark was born on December 19, 1937, and started off as a model before landing her film debut next to the legendary Sidney Poitier in For Love of Ivy. As for television, she began that branch of her career with a 1970 episode of The Bill Cosby Show. Other television credits would include Richard Pryor Show, Bonanza, The Mod Squad, and many more.

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In the world of film, Clark is also celebrated for her work in Night of the Cobra Woman and Putney Swope, which was directed by Robert Downey Sr. She also collaborated multiple times with Bill Gunn in The Landlord, Stop, and Ganja & Hess.

Clark left a lasting impression for countless others

“If you knew Marlene,” Clark’s friend Lynch said to People, “you knew that the one thing that she had was grit. She was a very small-statured woman, really thin. She almost looked like a Black Polynesian, she was just so exotic. Then she had this deep, cavernous voice. When she spoke, it was such a command of attention.” Lynch also applauded Clark’s impact on the entertainment world, remaining a face that maybe isn’t as recognizable as some but still carving the way for future actors.

“She’s one of the people who get lost in the cracks,” said Lynch, “She’s part of the people who kicked down these doors, and there was no predecessor to what she was doing. Everything was blind. So everything she’s doing is the first. So she’s being in these films with these Black filmmakers and these Black actors and these Black writers and creating this movement.”

RIP beautiful actress Marlene Clark. . . It was a delight to work with you. 12/19/49 – 5/18/23

— Demond Wilson (@Sanfords_Son) May 23, 2023

Demond Wilson, who played Lamont in Sanford & Son, mourned his co-star’s passing. “RIP beautiful actress Marlene Clark,” he posted on Twitter. “It was a delight to work with you.”

Rest in peace, Marlene Clark.