Mae Clarke (August 16, 1910 - April 29, 1992) was an American film actress.

Mae Clarke was born Violet Mary Klotz in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She started her career as a dancer and subsequently starred in many films for Universal Studios, including the original screen version of The Front Page (1931) and the first sound version of Frankenstein (1931) with Boris Karloff. Clarke played the role of Dr. Frankenstein's fiancee in Frankenstein, who was attacked by the Monster (Karloff) on her wedding day. The Public Enemy, released that same year, contained one of cinema's most famous (and frequently parodied) scenes, in which James Cagney pushed a half grapefruit into Clarke's face, then went out and picked up Jean Harlow. The film was so stunningly popular that it ran 24 hours a day at a theatre in Times Square upon its initial release, and Clarke's ex-husband had the grapefruit scene timed and would frequently buy a ticket, enter the theatre to enjoy that sequence, and leave (reference citation: a story told in James Cagney's autobiography, Cagney by Cagney).

She may be best known for her leading role, as "Myra Deauville", in the 1931 pre-Code version of Waterloo Bridge. In the film, she portrays a young American woman who is forced by circumstance into a life of prostitution in World War I London. Both the film and Clarke's performance were very well received by the critics. The movie also featured a young Bette Davis in a small role, and British actress Ethel Griffies as Myra's heartless landlady. The story was glamorized in the 1940 Vivien Leigh remake, and again in the 1956 film Gaby starring Leslie Caron.

Another fine performance was in the modest pre-code Universal film Night World (1932), which also featured Lew Ayres, Boris Karloff, and Hedda Hopper.

By the mid-1930s though, Clarke was no longer a leading lady and was only featured in small or bit parts through the 1960s.

Immortal as the recipient of James Cagney's classic grapefruit-in-the-face in Public Enemy, The (1931).

She was the model for Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953).

Interred at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California, USA, section C, lot #2424.

First husband was Fanny Brice's brother, Lewis.

In her late seventies or so, she worked in the "Court of Miracles" show at the Universal Studios Tour in Hollywood, not far from where she had filmed her role as Dr. Frankenstein's wife in 1931.