Marcia Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcia Clark
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Clark at the 2011 Texas Book Festival
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Marcia Rachel Kleks
August 31, 1953 |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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| Children | 2 |
Marcia Rachel Clark (born August 31, 1953) is an American lawyer, writer, and television personality. She is best known for her work as a prosecutor, especially during a very famous trial in 1995.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marcia Clark was born Marcia Rachel Kleks on August 31, 1953. Her father was a chemist for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which meant her family moved often. They lived in several states, including California, New York, Michigan, and Maryland.
Marcia went to Susan E. Wagner High School in New York City. She then studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating in 1976 with a degree in political science. After that, she earned a law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from Southwestern University School of Law.
Career as a Lawyer
Marcia Clark became a licensed lawyer in California in 1979. She started her career working for private law firms and also as a public defender. A public defender is a lawyer who represents people who cannot afford to hire their own attorney.
In 1981, she became a prosecutor. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government to try and prove that someone accused of a crime is guilty. She worked as a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County, California.
Famous Trials and Public Attention
Marcia Clark became widely known for her role as the lead prosecutor in a very famous trial in 1995. This trial involved O. J. Simpson, a former football star.
Before the Simpson trial, Clark also worked on another important case in 1991. She prosecuted Robert John Bardo for the death of television star Rebecca Schaeffer.
During the Simpson trial, Marcia Clark received a lot of attention from the media. She described this attention as "terrifying." She even changed her hairstyle based on advice to appear "softer" to the public.
After the Courtroom: Writing and TV
After the Simpson trial, Marcia Clark left her job as a prosecutor. She then started a new career as a writer and television commentator.
Becoming an Author
Marcia Clark co-wrote a book about the Simpson trial called Without a Doubt. This book shared her experiences and thoughts on the case.
She has also written several mystery novels. Her "Rachel Knight" series features a prosecutor in Los Angeles. Titles in this series include Guilt By Association (2011), Guilt By Degrees (2012), Killer Ambition (2013), and The Competition (2014). One of her books, Guilt by Association, was even made into a TV pilot.
Clark also writes the "Samantha Brinkman" series, which is about a female defense attorney. This series includes Blood Defense (2016), Moral Defense (2016), and Snap Judgment (2017). She has said that she didn't expect to become an author, but she always loved telling stories, which is important for lawyers. She enjoyed reading mystery books like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys when she was a child.
Television Appearances
Marcia Clark has appeared on many television shows. She worked as a special correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, covering high-profile trials and events. She also provided commentary for news channels like Headline News and CNN on legal cases.
In 2013, she acted in an episode of the TV series Pretty Little Liars, playing an attorney named Sidney Barnes.
She also appeared in the 2016 documentary miniseries O.J.: Made in America. In the same year, actress Sarah Paulson played Marcia Clark in the TV series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Paulson won awards for her performance, and Clark even attended the Emmy Awards with her.
In 2019, Clark was a special guest diner on the reality cooking show Hell's Kitchen. More recently, in 2024, she appeared on comedian John Mulaney’s live comedy special John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA.
Personal Life
Marcia Clark was married twice. Her first marriage was to Gabriel Horowitz in 1976, and they divorced in 1980. In 1980, she married Gordon Clark, a computer programmer. They had two sons together before divorcing in 1995.
Clark was raised Jewish, and her first wedding was a Conservative Jewish ceremony. She no longer considers herself religious. She lives in Calabasas, California.
See also
In Spanish: Marcia Clark para niños
