Before Sanford and Son became a hit, NBC shot a pilot with a slightly different cast. One of the biggest changes? A strong, no-nonsense love interest for Fred Sanford — played by a rising Black actress who was being groomed for stardom.
And then she disappeared.
Her name was Marlene Clark. She was stylish, bold, and had electric chemistry with Redd Foxx. Test audiences loved her. NBC initially planned to expand her role — even giving her character a backstory and potential spinoff.
But when Sanford and Son premiered, she was gone.
Why?
Insiders say producers worried that a strong female presence would overshadow Fred Sanford’s character. “They thought it softened the edge,” said a writer. “They wanted Fred to stay single, grumpy, and ‘free.’”
Redd Foxx reportedly objected. He wanted Clark to stay. He believed the show needed balance. But executives refused. Clark was cut, and her character was written out after just one episode.
To this day, her footage remains buried in NBC archives. No DVD release. No reruns. Just a ghost of a storyline fans never got to see.
And for Clark, it was a career setback she never fully recovered from.
The woman who was almost Fred Sanford’s match was quietly erased — and Sanford and Son became a bachelor comedy instead of the deeper, richer story it could’ve been.
