Shirley Clarke
Clarke's career as a director, editor producer, actress and writer included such films as "Portrait of Jason," "The Cool World" and "Robert Frost: A Lover's Quarrel with the World." Clarke was an innovator of the cinema verite genre whose work, combining non-performers with professional actors, influenced commercial filmmakers in Europe and the U.S. as well as today's musicvideo artists.
Her unblinking look at the world of heroin addicts, "The Connection" (1961), was briefly banned by New York state censors.
Hollywood's futile attempts to bring Clarke into the mainstream are depicted in Agnes Varda's 1969 feature, "Lion's Love." While continuing her moviemaking on videotape, Clarke taught film courses at the University of Southern California.
For the live-action short "Skyscraper," she shared a 1959 Academy Award nomination with Irving Jacoby and Willard Van Dyke.
She is survived by her daughter, video artist Wendy Clarke, and sisters Elaine Dundy and Betty Lorwin.
Her family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave., NYC 10003.
