- Attended the real High School of Performing Arts depicted in the TV series Fame.
- Best known for her stage and film triumphs opposite James Earl Jones as the prostitute Clara Kerr who becomes his wife for a spell in The Great White Hope (1970). For her theater performance, Marlene was honored with the Clarence Derwent, Theatre World and NAACP Image awards.
- Played Victoria Butterfield, the last maid to stand her ground to Bea Arthur's feminist posturings during the final season (1977-1978) of the highly popular Maude (1972) sitcom. She followed in the servile footsteps of Esther Rolle and Hermione Baddeley.
- Was quite startling as the in-your-face political revolutionary Laureen Hobbes in the Oscar-winning film satire Network (1976).
- African-American actress born and raised in New York City, primarily in parts with strong, social themes.
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