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.Obituary Variety, May 30, 1984. He is interred at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey.Resting Places

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1942 Native Land Thug With Crowbar Uncredited1947 Kiss of Death Prisoner in Spinning Mill 1948 The Naked City Managing Editor 1950 Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town Second Cab Driver 1951 The Mob Tony 1952 My Six Convicts Knotty Johnson 1953 The Joe Louis Story Mannie Seamon 1955 The Square Jungle Tommy Dillon, referee 1956 Time Table Bobik 1958 I Want to Live! Father Devers 1960 Pay or Die D. Caputo, ragman Sea Hunt Season 3, Episode 31 1961 Sea Hunt Season 4, Episode 281962 The Twilight Zone Mr. Cox Season 3 Episode 21: "Kick the Can"1963 A Child Is Waiting Holland The Wheeler Dealers Achilles Dimitros America, America Garabet The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mr. Mike Chambers Season 1 Episode 26: "An Out for Oscar"The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Detective Ed Singer Season 1 Episode 32: "Death of a Cop"The Twilight Zone Jason Season 5 Episode 7: "The Old Man in the Cave"1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Tony Hardeman Season 2 Episode 30: "The Second Verdict"1965 Nightmare in the Sun Hogan, gas station owner Cat Ballou Frankie Ballou The Lollipop Cover George 1967 The Wild Wild West King Stefan IX Episode: "The Night of the Wolf"1968 Faces Richard Forst In Enemy Country Rausch 1969 Hawaii Five-O Sam Kalakua Episode : "The Big Kahuna" (S1, E23)1970 A Man Called Sledge Old Man Love Story Phil Cavalleri nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Hawaii Five-O Dr. Gregorios Lemira "The Second Shot"1971 Clay Pigeon Police Captain The Sheriff Kinsella In Broad Daylight Bergman ABC Movie of the Week1972 The Dead Are Alive Nikos Samarakis The Godfather Jack Woltz 1973 Jory Roy Starr Blade Tommy Blade The Alpha Caper Lee Saunders ABC Movie of the Week1974 Deathdream Charles Brooks 1975 Framed Sal Viccarrone Kolchak: The Night Stalker Captain Maurice Molnar Episode: "Primal Scream"1976 W.C. Fields and Me Studio Head Bannerman 1977 The Car Sheriff Everett Peck Hawaii Five-O Noah "Tread the King's Shadow" Vengeance Jesus The Greatest Dr. Ferdie Pacheco The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover Dave Hindley 1978 Greatest Heroes of the Bible Moses It Lives Again Mr. Mallory Hooper Max Berns 1979The Incredible Hulk D.W. Banner Season 3 Episode 8: "Homecoming"1980 Tribute Lou Daniels 1981 Threshold Edgar Fine The Amateur Molton SCTV Leonard Bernstein parody of his role in The Godfather but with his character as Leonard Bernstein instead of Jack Woltz1982 Mother Lode Elijah 1983 Utilities Roy Blue 1983 Hardcastle and McCormick Joe Cadillac, "retired" Mafia boss Season 1 Episode 3: "Man in a Glass House"1984 The Glitter Dome Captain Woofer 1986 On the Edge Elmo Glidden Released posthumously (final film role)

Awards and nominations Year Award CategoryWork Result1968Venice Film FestivalBest ActorFaces1971 Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Love Story1971Golden Globe AwardBest Supporting Actor Love Story1981Genie AwardBest Supporting ActorTribute

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