Fled East Germany in 1960 to live in Stuttgart and work as an electronics engineer. Soon after, she entered a beauty contest on a whim and ended up winning the title of Miss Germany. That led to being crowned Miss Universe in 1961. She married actor Ty Hardin in 1962, but the marriage only lasted 3 years. In 1969, she married Iraqi-born filmmaker Howard Avedis. Their partnership resulted in numerous drive-in hits and cult classics, including The Stepmother (1972), The Teacher (1974) and Mortuary (1983). Marlene always produced, sometimes wrote and usually appeared in supporting roles in these productions.
The Fifth Floor
1978
The Teacher
1974
The Stepmother
1972
Mortuary
1982
Scorchy
1976
They're Playing with Fire
1984
Dr. Minx
1975
Separate Ways
1981
Kidnapped
1988
Texas Detour
1978
Destiny
1968
The Specialist
1975
The Red Plain
1968
Farewell, Lebanon
1968