Unusual, dynamic model-turned-actress who followed her film debut in John Huston's "Fat City" (1972) with a memorable, Oscar-nominated performance in George Lucas's seminal coming-of-age film, "American Graffiti" (1973). Clark's subsequent career, however, has not lived up to her fine work of the 1970s in such films as "The Man Who Fell to Earth" (1976) and "When You Coming Back, Red Ryder?" (1978) and her country turns in the TV films, "Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill" (1979) and "Rodeo Girl" (1980). She has appeared mostly in fairly obscure or routine genre fare, from "National Lampoon Goes to the Movies" (1982) to "Stephen King's Cat's Eye" (1985) and several appearances as mothers ("Radioland Murders" 1994, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" 1992).
Family
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Father: Thomas Clark.
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Mother: Ella Clark.
Significant Others
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Companion: Jeff Bridges. involved in the early to mid-1970s; met during the filming of Fat City
Milestones
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1972 Film acting debut, Fat City
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1973 Earned Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination as the platinum-haired Debbie in American Graffiti
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1976 Co-starred in The Man Who Fell to Earth
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1977 Had prominent role in Handle With Care/Citizen s Band
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1979 Reprised her signature role in the sequel More American Graffiti
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1981 Off-Broadway debut, A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking
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1986 Acted in At Close Range
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1988 Appeared in the remake of The Blob
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1992 Portrayed the slayer s mom in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer
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1994 Played small role in Radioland Murders , scripted by Willard Huyck from a story by George Lucas
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Began modeling in NYC
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Grew up in Texas