If you love to read books, chances are you love to talk about them too. But have you ever wondered about whether your favorite celebrities or public figures love to read as well? If you might share a favorite book or preferred genre with them? Well, I sure have! So, I’m on a mission to find book lovers (book nerds, if you will!) in unexpected places. In this interview series, I’ll be talking with people you recognize but don’t necessarily associate with books — musicians, actors and actresses, athletes, and more. We will be discussing all of their current projects you want to hear about, of course, but we will also be digging into their unique reading and writing lives!
In this interview, I talk with Dr. François Clemmons. You know him best for playing the iconic character of Officer Clemmons on Mister Rogers Neighborhood! As Dr. Clemmons prepared to release his first book, a memoir entitled Officer Clemmons, I had the opportunity to chat with him about a little bit of everything … from very openly discussing his experiences navigating his personal life and his role in Mister Rogers Neighborhood with respect to his sexual orientation and race, to sharing stories about his childhood and literary influences. We laugh, we cry, and everything in between. My cheeks have never hurt like this after an interview from smiling so broadly … so, trust me, this is one you don’t want to miss!
Listen below via Spotify or click here to view other available listening platforms!
- 2:09 – Dr. Clemmons discusses what he may have done differently, looking back on his life
- 4:17 – Dr. Clemmons talks about navigating his sexual orientation & race in both his personal life & his role as Officer Clemmons, as well as building a relationship with Fred Rogers
- 18:12 – The influence of family (& destiny!) on who Dr. Clemmons grew up to be
- 26:20 – Dr. Clemmons discusses the process of writing his memoir & his natural storytelling ability/influences
- 34:51 – Why Dr. Clemmons wants to share such a personal story with the world & his unique perspective on Fred Rogers
- 45:35 – Dr. Clemmons sings!
- 45:55 – What Dr. Clemmons learned from his mother, reading, & other life experiences
- 52:00 – How Fred Rogers taught Dr. Clemmons the power of unconditional love
- 53:00 – Dr. Clemmons discusses teaching at Middlebury College & other accomplishments
- 59:23 – Dr. Clemmons shares a few more literary influences
Books & writers mentioned:
- The Bible
- The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- Rin Tin Tin books
- The “Romantic poets” (Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats)
- Maya Angelou
- Biographies of W.E.B. DuBois, Frederick Douglas, Alexander Twilight, George Washington Carver
- The Fire Next Time & Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
- “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes
- Lucille Clifton
- Gwendolyn Brooks
- The King Must Die and Alexander the Great trilogy by Mary Renault
You can find Dr. Clemmons at his website.
