John Marley (born Mortimer Leon Marlieb; October 17, 1907 – May 22, 1984) was an American actor and theatre director. 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). 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).

Early years

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

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. 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), and Johnny Doodle (1942). 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.

Personal life and death

Marley was twice married. He and his first wife, the actress Stanja Lowe, had three children. In 1984, Marley died at age 76 following open-heart surgery. He is interred at Cedar Park Cemetery in Emerson, New Jersey.

Filmography

Awards and nominations