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

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 United States Army Signal Corps during World War II.[1]

Career

Film and television

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

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

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

Year Title Role Notes
1942Native LandThug With CrowbarUncredited
1947Kiss of DeathPrisoner in Spinning Mill
1948The Naked CityManaging Editor
1950Ma and Pa Kettle Go to TownSecond Cab Driver
1951The MobTony
1952My Six ConvictsKnotty Johnson
1953The Joe Louis StoryMannie Seamon
1955The Square JungleTommy Dillon, referee
1956Time TableBobik
1958I Want to Live!Father Devers
1960Pay or DieD. Caputo, ragman
Sea HuntSeason 3, Episode 31
1961Sea HuntSeason 4, Episode 28
1962The Twilight Zone - Kick the CanMr. Cox
1963A Child Is WaitingHolland
The Wheeler DealersAchilles Dimitros
America, AmericaGarabet
1964The Twilight Zone - The Old Man in the CaveJason
1965Nightmare in the SunHogan, gas station owner
Cat BallouFrankie Ballou
The Lollipop CoverGeorge
1967The Wild Wild WestKing Stefan IXEpisode: "The Night of the Wolf"
1968FacesRichard Forst
In Enemy CountryRausch
1970A Man Called SledgeOld Man
Love StoryPhil Cavallerinominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Hawaii Five-ODr. Gregorios Lemira"The Second Shot"
1971Clay PigeonPolice Captain
1972The Dead Are AliveNikos Samarakis
The GodfatherJack Woltz
1973JoryRoy Starr
BladeTommy Blade
1974DeathdreamCharles Brooks
1975FramedSal Viccarrone
Kolchak: The Night StalkerCaptain Maurice MolnarEpisode: "Primal Scream"
1976W.C. Fields and MeStudio Head Bannerman
1977The CarSheriff Everett Peck
Hawaii Five-ONoah"Tread the King's Shadow"
VengeanceJesus
The GreatestDr. Ferdie Pacheco
The Private Files of J. Edgar HooverDave Hindley
1978Greatest Heroes of the BibleMoses
It Lives AgainMr. Mallory
HooperMax Berns
1980TributeLou Daniels
1981ThresholdEdgar Fine
The AmateurMolton
SCTVLeonard Bernsteinparody of his role in The Godfather but with his character as Leonard Bernstein instead of Jack Woltz
1982Mother LodeElijah
1983UtilitiesRoy Blue
1986On the EdgeElmo Glidden

Awards and nominations

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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". Carnival of Venice. 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.
  13. ↑ "John Marley". Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
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