Marlene Warfield, born on June 19, 1940, in Queens, New York, is an American actress known for her powerful performances on stage and screen.

She attended the High School of Performing Arts, which was later depicted in the TV series "Fame." She made her Broadway debut in 1968 with the play "Janie Jones" at the New Theatre in London, winning the Clarence Derwent Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance.

She also received a Theatre World Award for her role as Clara in the play "The Great White Hope," which she reprised in the 1970 film adaptation.

Her film credits include the Oscar-winning satire "Network" (1976), where she portrayed the underground revolutionary Laureen Hobbs, and "Across 110th Street" (1972). She also appeared in "How I Got Into College" (1989) and "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling" (1986).

On television, she is best known for her role as Victoria Butterfield on the sitcom "Maude" (1977-1978) and guest appearances on shows like "Lou Grant," "The Jeffersons," "Hill Street Blues," and "ER."

Marlene Warfield has been involved in teaching and mentoring aspiring actors. She has taught at various institutions, including Wesleyan University, Johns Hopkins University, UCLA Extension, and the University of Tel Aviv.