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John Marley

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This article is about the American actor. For the mining engineer and geologist, see John Marley (mining engineer).
John Marley
Black-and-white close-up photo of the face of a smiling man with light hair, thick dark eyebrows, and visible stubble.
Marley from a poster promoting Faces (1968)
Born
Mortimer Leon Marlieb

(1907-10-17)October 17, 1907
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 22, 1984(1984-05-22) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeCedar Park Cemetery
Alma materCity College of New York
OccupationActor
Years active1947–1984
Spouses
  • Stanja Lowe
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1951; div. 1971)​
  • Sandra Marley
    ​
    (m. 1975)​
Children4[1]

John Marley (born Mortimer Leon Marlieb;[2][3] October 17, 1907 – May 22, 1984) was an American actor and theatre director.[4] He won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 29th Venice International Film Festival for his performance in John Cassavetes' Faces (1968), and was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role in Love Story (1970).[5] He was also known to film audiences for his role as Jack Woltz—the defiant film mogul who awakens to find the severed head of his prized thoroughbred horse in his bed—in The Godfather (1972).[5]

Early years

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Marley was born in Harlem in New York City to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents.[6] He dropped out of the City College of New York, turning to a career in acting.[1] He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II.[1]

Career

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Film and television

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Marley was a prolific actor, appearing in nearly 250 films and television series during a career spanning over 45 years. He had roles in TV series that included The Web, Peter Gunn, Johnny Staccato, Bourbon Street Beat, Perry Mason, Rawhide, The Untouchables, Sea Hunt, 77 Sunset Strip, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Dr. Kildare, The Outer Limits, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, Mannix, Bonanza, Ironside, The Name of the Game, The F.B.I., Cannon, McCloud, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Baretta, Barnaby Jones, and Hawaii Five-0.

He was cast as George Campbell in the 1961 episode "Jerkwater" of the series The Rebel, starring Nick Adams.

In 1962 he played the role of murderer Matthew Owen in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Angry Astronaut." He also showed his acting prowess in a supporting but important role of Charlie Rondell in an episode of The Virginian (1968), titled "The Crooked Path."

Marley also played in two other movies where he attained notoriety. One was the cult movie The Car, where he played a sheriff of a small town that was victimized by a mysterious, black automobile.

The second movie was titled Framed, where he played mob boss Sal Viccarone, who befriended a gambler while they were both in prison.

One of Marley's more notable roles, albeit short, was that of film producer Jack Woltz in The Godfather. Marley later spoofed that role in an episode of SCTV Network. He played Max Berns, a film producer who was a caring father figure to Burt Reynolds in the stuntman tribute Hooper.[7]

In the late 1970s, he appeared in the third season of the popular television series The Incredible Hulk as D.W. Banner, the father of David Banner in the episode titled "Homecoming".

Stage

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Marley's Broadway credits include The Investigation (1966), Sing Till Tomorrow (1953), The Strong Are Lonely (1953), Skipper Next to God (1947),[8] and Johnny Doodle (1942).[1] Elsewhere on stage, Marley appeared in the world premiere production of Edna St. Vincent Millay's poetry drama, Conversation At Midnight in 1961 in Los Angeles, in an ensemble cast which included James Coburn, Jack Albertson and Eduard Franz. The production was directed by Robert Gist and produced by Worley Thorne and Susan Davis.

He also directed Little Theater productions in several cities.[4]

Personal life and death

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Marley was twice married. He and his first wife, the actress Stanja Lowe, had three children.[4]

In 1984, Marley died at age 76 following open-heart surgery.[9] He is interred at Cedar Park Cemetery in Emerson, New Jersey.[10]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1942 Native Land Thug With Crowbar Uncredited
1947 Kiss of Death Prisoner in Spinning Mill
1948 The Naked City Managing Editor
1950 Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town Second Cab Driver
1951 The Mob Tony
1952 My Six Convicts Knotty Johnson
1953 The Joe Louis Story Mannie Seamon
1955 The Square Jungle Tommy Dillon, referee
1956 Time Table Bobik
1958 I Want to Live! Father Devers
1960 Pay or Die D. Caputo, ragman
Sea Hunt Season 3, Episode 31
1961 Sea Hunt Season 4, Episode 28
1962 The Twilight Zone - Kick the Can Mr. Cox
1963 A Child Is Waiting Holland
The Wheeler Dealers Achilles Dimitros
America, America Garabet
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mr. Mike Chambers Season 1 Episode 26: "An Out for Oscar"
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Detective Ed Singer Season 1 Episode 32: "Death of a Cop"
1964 The Twilight Zone - The Old Man in the Cave Jason
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Tony Hardeman Season 2 Episode 30: "The Second Verdict"
1965 Nightmare in the Sun Hogan, gas station owner
Cat Ballou Frankie Ballou
The Lollipop Cover George
1967 The Wild Wild West King Stefan IX Episode: "The Night of the Wolf"
1968 Faces Richard Forst
In Enemy Country Rausch
1970 A Man Called Sledge Old Man
Love Story Phil Cavalleri nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Hawaii Five-O Dr. Gregorios Lemira "The Second Shot"
1971 Clay Pigeon Police Captain
The Sheriff Kinsella
1972 The Dead Are Alive Nikos Samarakis
The Godfather Jack Woltz
1973 Jory Roy Starr
Blade Tommy Blade
1974 Deathdream Charles Brooks
1975 Framed Sal Viccarrone
Kolchak: The Night Stalker Captain Maurice Molnar Episode: "Primal Scream"
1976 W.C. Fields and Me Studio Head Bannerman
1977 The Car Sheriff Everett Peck
Hawaii Five-O Noah "Tread the King's Shadow"
Vengeance Jesus
The Greatest Dr. Ferdie Pacheco
The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover Dave Hindley
1978 Greatest Heroes of the Bible Moses
It Lives Again Mr. Mallory
Hooper Max Berns
1979 The Incredible Hulk D.W. Banner Season 3 Episode 8: "Homecoming"
1980 Tribute Lou Daniels
1981 Threshold Edgar Fine
The Amateur Molton
SCTV Leonard Bernstein parody of his role in The Godfather but with his character as Leonard Bernstein instead of Jack Woltz
1982 Mother Lode Elijah
1983 Utilities Roy Blue
1983 Hardcastle and McCormick Joe Cadillac, "retired" Mafia boss Season 1 Episode 3: "Man in a Glass House"
1986 On the Edge Elmo Glidden

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
1968 Venice Film Festival Best Actor Faces[11] Won
1971 Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Love Story[12] Nominated
1971 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor Love Story[13] Nominated
1981 Genie Award Best Supporting Actor Tribute Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Pareles, Jon (May 24, 1984). "John Marley, Actor, An Oscar Nominee and Venice Winner". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Marley, John". American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. February 2000. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Mortimer Marlieb". www.myheritage.com. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  4. ^ a b c Corday, Barbara (January 12, 1971). "They're Saying His Name in Same Breath With 'Oscar'". Valley News. California, Van Nuys. p. 22. Retrieved August 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (May 24, 1984). "JOHN MARLEY, ACTOR, AN OSCAR NOMINEE AND VENICE WINNER". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "Marley, John". American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press. February 2000. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  7. ^ Pareles, Jon (May 24, 1984). "JOHN MARLEY, ACTOR, AN OSCAR NOMINEE AND VENICE WINNER". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "("John Marley" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  9. ^ Obituary Variety, May 30, 1984.
  10. ^ Resting Places
  11. ^ "Volpi Cup for Best Actor". Portale di Venezia. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  12. ^ "("John Marley" search results)". Academy Awards Database. Retrieved 26 August 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "John Marley". Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
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