[2] Marden was born in Cleveland, Ohio,[3] the daughter of Lenore (Stein) and Ralph Baruch.

[5] Marden gained early acting experience in stock theater companies in Cleveland.

She also directed musicals in some small towns in Ohio before moving to California and joining the Pasadena Playhouse.

[9] On radio, Marden had the role of Patricia Jordan on The Story of Bess Johnson[10] and was on the American Drama School of the Air.

[11] On August 12, 1956, Marden married actor Wendell Holmes in Santa Monica, California.