Whatever Happened To Marcia Clark?
Marcia Clark has had a long and successful career as an attorney, author, and producer. However, she is best known for her role as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office in the 1994 trial of Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
Amid the trial, which was televised and gained international attention, Clark was criticized for everything from her hairstyle and clothing to her demeanor and personality. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clark received even more criticism following the conclusion of the trial, as she was blamed for Simpson's acquittal.
In addition to the fallout from the Simpson trial, Clark was struggling through an intense custody battle with her second husband, who was seeking primary custody of their two young sons. She was also humiliated by topless photos, which were published by the National Enquirer in the midst of Simpson's trial.
During a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Clark admitted the entire experience was "an endless study in torture and pain every single day." The immense amount of pressure and stress prompted Clark to resign from the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, where she had worked for 13 years. "I couldn't even think of going back there. The misery was so profound ... the ugliness I had been through," Clark told The Hollywood Reporter. "When my overtime and vacation time ran out, I had my office packed up. I never went back."
A criminal defense attorney
During her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Marcia Clark said she worked on thousands of cases prior to the Simpson trial and her subsequent resignation. She said the realization that her career was over sent her into "some form of depression." She said, "that's who I was, a prosecutor. I really loved it. But I couldn't do it — I was afraid to do it, even, because I was afraid I'd go into court and juries would either hate me or be unfairly sympathetic."
Clark said she sought the help of a therapist, who she saw periodically. However, she was never prescribed medication.
Prior to joining the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, Clark worked as a criminal defense attorney for the Los Angeles firm Brodey and Price. However, as reported by JRank, Clark struggled with the reality of representing defendants charged with a violent crime. One case in particular, in which the defendant was accused of stabbing a woman to death, was specifically difficult for Clark.
JRank reports Clark's work on the case led to an acquittal, and the accused killer was freed. However, although she won the case, she struggled emotionally with the result. When she discussed her misgivings with her employer, he suggested she apply for the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, where she was hired in 1981.
Clark became known as a conscientious and skilled prosecutor, who had specific success prosecuting accused murderers.
A career in law after a personal tragedy
As reported by JRank, Marcia Clark gained nationwide attention for her successful prosecution of Robert Juno Bardo, who was accused in the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer. Bardo was just one of 19 accused killers who Clark secured convictions against within a period of 10 years.
Despite her record of successful prosecutions, Clark feels partially responsible for Simpson's acquittal. During a 2016 interview with Today, she was asked whether she blamed herself for the outcome of the trial. "You know, I always do. I do," she responded.
In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Marcia Clark revealed her interest in the justice system was sparked by tragedy. At the age of 17, Clark and some female friends were vacationing at a resort in Eilat, Israel. Although her friends planned to go to a café, Clark went back to the hut they were renting, as she was tired.
Clark said she woke up to find an older man, who she estimated to have been "around 27" sitting on her bed. Although she was unsure how he entered the locked hut, she later learned he had access to a master key. In her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Clark said she had met the man earlier that same evening.
Marcia Clark is now an author
Although she had a bad feeling about him, and his forward nature, the man insisted he simply "wanted to make sure [she was] OK," and eventually convinced Clark to accompany him to the café where her friends were. Unfortunately, according to The Hollywood Reporter, they never made it to the café. Instead, he suggested going back to his room, where they could be alone and get to know each other better. Clark said the man was initially very charming. However, when she attempted to leave his room, he would not let her leave. Clark said she was violently raped. In addition to tearing her clothing, the man left her "bruised and hurt."
Prior to the attack, Clark aspired to become an actress. However, The Hollywood Reporter reports the incident "propelled her away from her dream of becoming an actress and into the law."
Although she eventually left the Los Angeles District Attorney's office and closed her own practice, Clark wanted to continue working. However, she changed her focus.
Shortly after the conclusion of the trial, she wrote a book, titled "Without a Doubt," about her struggles amid the Simpson trial and the aftermath. She also went on to write two fiction series, the "Samantha Brinkman Series" and the "Rachel Knight Series," which both feature strong female attorneys. Marcia Clark Books reports she also published two ebooks, titled "Trouble in Paradise" and "If I'm Dead."
A successful career in television
As reported by Marcia Clark Books, NBC purchased a pilot script for her book "Blood Defense," which was part of the "Samantha Brinkman Series." During her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Clark said writing helped her in "finding a new direction and also finding a way to tell the truth." She said, "There's nothing like writing fiction to tell the truth."
According to IMDb, Clark was a voice actress in the television series "Animals," and appeared in the television series "Pretty Little Liars." She is also credited as a writer and the executive producer for the 2019 FX television series, "The Fix." In the years following the Simpson trial she also appeared on numerous talk, variety, and game shows, including, "Hollywood Squares," "Larry King Live," "The View," and "Good Morning America."
As reported by IMDb, she has also provided legal commentary on a number of television and radio news programs and podcasts. She also starred in a 2018 series titled, "Marcia Clark Investigates the First 48," in which she explores a number of high-profile homicide cases.
Following her second divorce, Marcia Clark has remained single. "I just think I'm at a place in my life where I'm pretty occupied with what I'm doing, and I'm really into it, and that's good for me," she told The Hollywood Reporter.
Marcia saw O.J. Simpson one time after the trial
Marcia Clark says she is still what she would describe as a "workaholic." In addition to writing and her work in television and radio, she periodically works on appeals for the indigent. According to Clark, she has not taken a vacation in years. However, she is perfectly content with her ongoing projects.
Although she was raised Jewish, Clark said she explored Scientology in the late 1970s. During her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said she "never got past the very low levels" and left by 1980. Although she calls L. Ron Hubbard's writing "bad" and described it as "amateur hour," she acknowledged some of the concepts, which include "the greatest hits of the best of medication and all the best of psychology" can be beneficial.
Clark said she is quite spiritual, but does not currently adhere to any particular religion. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she has found peace in meditation and is intrigued by the concepts taught in Buddhism and Hinduism. Clark said she has lost contact with most of the people involved in the Simpson trial, and has only stepped foot into the courtroom where the trial took place one time since its conclusion.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Clark said she has seen Simpson one time since the trial, which was when she covered his armed robbery trial for "Entertainment Tonight." Clark said they barely acknowledged each other's presence.