biography
Born in Neffs, Ohio, on June 4, 1927, beefy actor Kenneth Donovan Clark acted in a number of low-budget films during the 1950s and
1960s. After serving in the Navy in the mid 1940s, Clark worked at a number of jobs following the war including coal mining. Leaving that
life behind, he embarked on a film career in Hollywood in the 1950s, signing with 20th Century
Fox and appearing in a string of popular films. Clark had also been a physique model in the 1950s. In 1956, his busiest year, Clark
appeared in five films, mostly westerns for Fox, but his biggest picture for the studio was musical the South Pacific (1958; with Rossano Brazzi.
Mitzi Gaynor, and Ray Walston). While he made a big splash in that film, as with most other studios Fox dropped many of its
contract players, including Clark. He then went into low-budget sci-fi films, such as Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959; with
Yvette Vickers and Bruno VeSota) and 12 to the Moon (1960; with Tom Conway, Anthony Dexter,
and Francis X. Bushman. He also did quite a bit of television work in the late 1950s, even shooting a television pilot, titled
Brock Callahan. Unfortunately, the series was not picked up for broadcast. 
LEFT: Late 1950s portrait of Ken Clark (thanks to Michael Barnum). RIGHT: Mid 1960s Italian magazine cover |
the films of ken clarkOn the Threshold of Space (1956)  
LEFT: From Ken Clark's second film, the 20th Century Fox science fiction/drama On the Threshold of Space. CENTER: With Virginia Leith. RIGHT: With Warren Stevens, Barry Coe, Guy Madison, and Martin MilnerSouth Pacific (1958)  
From the 20th Century Fox musical South Pacific. LEFT and CENTER: With Ray Walston. RIGHT: Clark as StewpotAttack of the Giant Leeches (1959)   
From Roger Corman's infamous Attack of the Giant Leeches, released by American International. LEFT: With Jan Shepard (thanks to Michael Barnum). CENTER A and B: Clark as Steve Benton. RIGHT: Clark mines the swamp to get rid of the giant leeches12 to the Moon (1960)  
Images from Columbia's sci-fi release 12 to the Moon. LEFT: Clark as Captain John Anderson. CENTER A: With Michi Kobi (thanks to Michael Barnum). CENTER B: Lobby card. RIGHT: Clark and crew land on the moonHercules Against the Mongols (1963)
Clark portrays antagonist Sayan in Hercules Against the MongolsThe Road to Fort Alamo (1964)
From Mario Bava's western The Road to Fort Alamo with Jany ClairSecret Agent FX-18 (1964) 
From Agent Secret FX-18None But the Lonely Spy (1964)
From None But the Lonely Spy featuring Bella CortezFrom The Orient With Fury (1965) 
LEFT: With Margaret Lee in the Euro spy thriller From The Orient With Fury. RIGHT: Clark as agent Dick MalloyAgent 077--Mission Bloody Mary (1965)  
Clark as agent Dick Malloy in the spy thriller Agent 077--Mission Bloody MarySpecial Mission Lady Chaplin (1966)
As Dick Malloy in the spy thriller Special Mission Lady ChaplinTiffany Memorandum (1967)
AS Dick Hallam in the spy thriller Tiffany MemorandumDesert Commandos (1967)
From the World War II era adventure Desert Commandoslater yearsLeaving Hollywood behind for the greener pastures of European films, Clark became very popular in spy thrillers and spaghetti westerns in the 1960s, remaining in Italy to act in films and television programs. He acted in several peplums, including Hercules Against the Mongols (1963; with Mark Forest) and Hercules the Invincible (1964; with Dan Vadis) and Eurospy thrillers, such as From the Orient with Fury (1965; with Margaret Lee) and Special Mission Lady Chaplin (1966; with Jacques Bergerac, Helga Line, and Daniela Bianchi). However, by the time he was in his early 40s, Clark's acting career was over.Ken Clark passed away from a heart attack in Rome on June 1, 2009, at the age of 81. Clark had just wrapped shooting on an Italian television show at the time of his death. It is unknown if Clark left any survivors; he was married to a childhood sweetheart in the 1940s and had three children, later divorcing. In 1962 and 1963, Clark was romantically linked to actress Shelley Winters. |
filmographyFILM
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