John Marley

Veteran character actor 'John Marley' (qv) was one of those familiar but nameless faces that television and filmgoers did not take a shine to until the late 1960s, when he had already hit middle age. Quite distinctive with his dour, craggy face, dark bushy brows and upswept silvery hair, John started life in Harlem, Manhattan, New York as Mortimer Marlieb on October 17, 1907. The son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, he was a City of New York College dropout heading for trouble when he avoided his omnipresent gangland trappings by joining a theater group.His young, lackluster career was interrupted after joining the Army Signal Corps during World War II. Upon his return to civilian life, he pursued his acting interest and earned minor roles in the Broadway plays "Skipper Next to God" (1948), "An Enemy of the People" (1950), "Gramercy Ghost" (1951) and "Dinosaur Wharf" (1951). Looking for on-camera work at the same time, Marley obtained atmospheric bits (crooks, reporters, cabbies, etc.) in such post-war films as _Kiss of Death (1947)_ (qv), _The Naked City (1948)_ (qv), _Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950)_ (qv) and _Guilty Bystander (1950)_ (qv).In the mid-1950s, Marley started slowly moving up into featured roles that were often ethnic (Greek, Italian) in origin. He appeared in a number of TV anthologies such as "Colgate Theatre," "Philco Television Playhouse," "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Omnibus," "Goodyear Playhouse," "The Alcoa Hour" and "Robert Montgomery Presents." As for film work, he seemed best suited for urban drama, earning roles in _The Mob (1951)_ (qv), _My Six Convicts (1952)_ (qv), _The Joe Louis Story (1953)_ (qv), _The Square Jungle (1955)_ (qv) and _I Want to Live! (1958)_ (qv).Finding stronger roles on Broadway with "The Strong Are Lonely" (1953), "Sing Till Tomorrow," Marley went on to appear in "Compulsion" (1957) and "The Investigation" (1966). In the late 1950s he became a steady, sobering presence playing both sides of the legal fence with guest parts on "The Red Skelton Show," "The Jackie Gleason Show," "The Phil Silvers," "Cheyenne," "Peter Gunn," "Rawhide," "Maverick," "Hawaiian Eye," "The Untouchables," "Sea Hunt," "Perry Mason," "Dr. Kildare," "The Twilight Zone," "Gunsmoke," "The Wild, Wild West" and "Peyton Place." He was an infrequent player, however, on films -- _Pay or Die! (1960)_ (qv), _A Child Is Waiting (1963)_ (qv), _The Wheeler Dealers (1963)_ (qv), _America America (1963)_ (qv) and as 'Jane Fonda' (qv)'s father in the comedy western _Cat Ballou (1965)_ (qv).A stage director on the side, Marley finally earned acclaim for his starring role as a middle-aged husband who leaves his long-time wife 'Lynn Carlin' (qv) for another woman 'Gena Rowlands' (qv) in 'John Cassavetes' (qv)' stark, improvisational indie _Faces (1968)_ (qv). HIs intense, sterling work in the social drama earned him the Venice Film Festival Award for "Best Actor." Thereafter he became more in demand, earning Oscar and Golden Globe support nominations as 'Ali MacGraw' (qv)'s mournful, blue-collar dad in the box-office smash _Love Story (1970)_ (qv) and cult fame as the mouthy movie titan who becomes unexpected bedmates with a horse's head after refusing Mafia Don 'Marlon Brando' (qv)'s offer in the Oscar-winning epic _The Godfather (1972)_ (qv). Thanks to those two pictures alone, Marley, now in his mid-60s, would become a sturdy Hollywood fixture, although none of his subsequent roles would measure up to the importance or fame of the last three pictures mentioned.Marley was seen frequently on '70s and '80s TV, including "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," "Hawaii Five-O," "SCTV Network," "The Incredible Hulk" and "Hardcastle McCormick," and also played Moses in the TV biblical series _Greatest Heroes of the Bible (1978)_ (qv). On film, he found work as a sheriff who becomes victim to the murderous title vehicle in _The Car (1977)_ (qv); a doctor in _The Paris Hat (1908)_ (qv)'s life's drama _The Greatest (1977)_ (qv); a father figure producer to aging stuntman 'Burt Reynolds' (qv) in _Hooper (1978)_ (qv); a business partner to 'Jack Lemmon' (qv)'s talent agent in _Tribute (1980)_ (qv), for which he won a Canadian "Genie" Award; a blackmailing journalist in the crime thriller _The Amateur (1981)_ (qv); and an wilderness dweller in the adventure drama _Mother Lode (1982)_ (qv). Marley's last film, the marathon sporting drama _On the Edge (1985)_ (qv), was released posthumously.John died on May 22, 1984, following open-heart surgery at age 76. He was survived by second wife, script supervisor _A Country Practice: Every Move You Make: Part 2 (1992)_ (qv) and his four children, three of them by first wife, TV actress _Bewitched: Allergic to Macedonian Dodo Birds (1967)_ (qv).::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]