Marla Maples was an actress who made a name for herself during a successful Hollywood career. Marla began gaining recognition in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with memorable appearances on popular TV series such as Designing Women (1986–1993), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996), and Something Wilder (NBC, 1994–95). Around that time, Marla also stepped into the world of film, taking on roles in Emilio Estevez’s thriller Maximum Overdrive (1986) and the comedic hit The Secret of My Success (1987).
As her career progressed through the ‘90s, Marla continued to build momentum, appearing on the UPN series Clueless (1996–1999). She balanced her television work with roles in major motion pictures—like the high-stakes action film Executive Decision (1996) starring Kurt Russell and the lighthearted comedy For Richer or Poorer (1997) alongside Tim Allen. It’s worth noting that Marla remained active in both mediums, once again lending her talent to Clueless during its run.
Throughout the late ‘90s and into the early 2000s, Marla took on more dramatic roles, including performances in the critically noted Happiness (1998) with Jane Adams and Black and White (2000) featuring Robert Downey Jr. In addition, she appeared in several made-for-TV movies, such as The Christmas List (Family Channel Studios, 1997–98) and Two of Hearts (Fox Family Channel, 1998–99), showcasing her versatility across genres.
In more recent years, Marla returned to the screen with a role on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie (2013–2017), proving her enduring presence in entertainment. Outside of her acting career, Marla is perhaps widely known for her marriage to Donald Trump, with whom she shares one child. All in all, Marla has navigated both the spotlight and personal life with grace, leaving a lasting impression through her body of work.
When it comes to Marla Maples’s career in film and music, there’s a clear standout in terms of critical reception. Marla Maples’s most acclaimed work is undoubtedly Happiness (1998), which earned her the highest ratings throughout her artistic journey. On the other end of the spectrum, Marla Maples’s project that received the least favorable reviews was Maximum Overdrive (1986). While opinions may vary, these two titles mark the peak and the low point in Marla Maples’s body of work based on audience and critic ratings.