Candace June Clark (born June 20, 1947) See also: is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Debbie Dunham in the 1973 film American Graffiti, for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 46th Academy Awards, and her role as Mary-Lou in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Early life Clark was born in Norman, Oklahoma, to Ella (née Padberg) and Thomas Clark, a chef. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and attended Green B. Trimble Technical High School.
Career Clark's first acting role was the role of Andrea Martin in "The Witch of Whitman High", season 3 episode 21 of the television series Room 222 in 1972, then as the character of Faye Murdock in John Huston's film Fat City (1972). She also starred or acted in American Graffiti (1973), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), The Big Sleep (1978), More American Graffiti (1979), Q (1982), Blue Thunder (1983), Amityville 3-D (1983), Cat's Eye (1985) and At Close Range (1986) and played the role of Francine Hewitt in The Blob (1988). She appeared in a very small role as Buffy Summers (Kristy Swanson)'s mom Joyce in Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992). She appeared in the 2009 film The Informant! as the mother of Mark Whitacre, played by Matt Damon. In 2011, Clark went to Berlin to work on the play Images of Louise Brooks directed by Sven Mundt.
Along with her film work, Clark also has made guest appearances on television series, including The Dating Game, Magnum, P.I., Banacek, Simon & Simon, Matlock, Baywatch Nights, Criminal Minds and Twin Peaks: The Return. Clark appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on January 20, 2017."TV Guidance Counselor Episode 202: Candy Clark". LibSyn.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023. Her 2025 memoir, Tight Heads, features her Polaroid photographs capturing her time during the New Hollywood era.
Personal life Clark dated Jeff Bridges for several years after they met on the set of Fat City in 1972. She was married to Marjoe Gortner from 1978 to 1979.. See also: She married Jeff Wald in 1987 and divorced him in 1988.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1972Fat CityFaye Murdock1973American GraffitiDebbie DunhamNominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress1976I Will, I Will... for NowSally BinghamMary-Lou1977Handle with CarePam "Electra" Armbruster1978Camilla Sternwood1979When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?CherylMore American GraffitiDebbie DunhamStarcrashStella StarEnglish version, voice1982National Lampoon's Movie MadnessSusan CooperQJoan1983Blue ThunderKateAmityville 3-DMelanie1984Hambone and HillieNancy Rollins1985Cat's EyeSally Ann Cressner1986At Close RangeMary Sue Whitewood1988Fran HewittBlind CurveMimi1991Cool as IceGrace Winslow1992Deuce CoupeJean FitzpatrickOriginal IntentJessica CameronBuffy the Vampire Slayer Joyce Summers1997Niagara, NiagaraSally2000Cherry FallsMarge Marken2002Tina2007ZodiacCarol Fisher2008Dog TagsDeb Merritt2009The Informant!Mrs. WhitacreCry of the MummyJane TorquemadaShort2011Bob's New SuitAunt Tootie2016Cold MoonEvelyn Larkin20185 WeddingsClaudia BurrellTwo GirlsAdult IdaVoice2019Five Old Comedy Writers Talking Sh*tActressShort2023Amends of the FatherMichele Kantino
Television Year Title Role Notes1972Room 222Andrea MartinEpisode: "The Witch of Whitman High"1973Julie PotterEpisode: "The Case of the Prodigal Prophet"BanacekGretelEpisode: "No Stone Unturned"1973–1974InsightGinny2 episodes1974The New Dick Van Dyke ShowPamela SherryEpisode: "The Hickey"1976James DeanChris WhiteTV film1979Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and GrillSharee1980Where the Ladies GoCharleneRodeo GirlJ.R. Patterson1982Faerie Tale TheatreQueen GwynnethEpisode: "The Tale of the Frog Prince"Johnny BelindaJulie SaylesTV film1983Cocaine and Blue EyesRuthann Gideon1984I Gave at the OfficeJulie1985–1986Magnum, P.I.Leslie "Scooter" Emory2 episodes1986Simon & SimonCottonEpisode: "Act Five"Popeye DoyleCorinne EvansTV filmStarmanShannon McGovernEpisode: "Like Father, Like Son"HunterJody StoneEpisode: "Crime of Passion"1987Cheryl BarnesEpisode: "Secret Ingredient"BrothersCandyEpisode: "There's a Lid for Every Pot"MatlockKitty CarrollEpisode: "The Country Boy"1988St. ElsewhereHarryEpisode: "Their Town"1990Father Dowling MysteriesIris BlackmanEpisode: "The Passionate Painter Mystery"1992MarleneTV film1995Eileen CatesEpisode: "Ex-Corpus Delicti"Baywatch NightsJulie YoungEpisode: "Just a Gigolo"2006Mystery Woman: RedemptionKathy StarkwellTV film2012–2025Criminal MindsSandy Jareau4 episodes2013On CinemaHerselfEpisode: "The First Annual On Cinema Oscar Special"2016Roadside StarsGrandma LambertTV film2017Twin PeaksDoris Truman2 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Production Result 1973 Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress American Graffiti
References
External links
AllMovie.com