Marlow was born to Bernice (née Berney) and Arthur Schafler in the
Bronx, New York. He was raised in
Long Island,
New York. Marlow had several accidents in his youth, resulting in broken noses, fractured ankles, torn ligaments, and a fractured skull from a diving accident. Following his school years, he joined the Army, but due to his fractured skull, the Army felt he was unsuitable for duty. Owing to his love of music, especially singing, he spent a lot of time with his aunt, who worked as a secretary for the president of
Chappell & Company, later known as
Warner/Chappell Music. He got to meet up-and-coming artists and established celebrities of the time, including
Tommy Dorsey,
Harry James,
Oscar Levant,
Rudy Vallee and
Red Nichols. Marlow started his career singing in local cafes across the country. He also worked several odd jobs, from hauling cement to driving a cab. After becoming a featured vocalist at New York's Basin Street, he began singing in major clubs. When he finally landed an appointment with a casting director, he started down the road of acting. He joined the
Screen Actors Guild in 1959. Due to his tough, chiseled features, he was usually cast as a bad guy gangster in television shows, including "
This Man Dawson", "
The Lawless Years", "
Border Patrol", "
Death Valley Days", "
Bonanza" and many others. He became good friends with the stars of those shows. ==A Taste Of Honey==