John Marley was a veteran character actor who gained recognition in the late 1960s, despite already being in his 50s. Born Mortimer Marlieb on October 17, 1907, in Harlem, Manhattan, New York, he was the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants.
Marley's early career was marked by minor roles in Broadway plays and atmospheric bits in post-war films. He then began to move up into featured roles, often playing ethnic characters. He appeared in numerous TV anthologies and films, including urban dramas and social issues.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Marley found stronger roles on Broadway and in television, including guest parts on popular shows. He became a steady presence on TV, appearing in a wide range of shows, and also continued to work in film, often playing characters on the wrong side of the law.
Marley's breakthrough role came in John Cassavetes' independent film Faces (1968),for which he won the Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actor. This led to more prominent roles, including Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his performances in Love Story (1970) and The Godfather (1972).
The success of these films made Marley a Hollywood fixture, and he continued to work steadily in film and television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He appeared in a wide range of projects, including dramas, comedies, and adventure films. Marley's final film, On the Edge (1985),was released posthumously.
John Marley died on May 22, 1984, at the age of 76, following open-heart surgery. He was survived by his second wife, Stanja Lowe, and his four children.
