You may know Clarke Peters from “The Wire” or the recent premiere of “His Dark Materials,” in which he plays the master of Jordan College. His journey to the screen started with being a street busker in France since he describes music as the sacrament of life. Still, he does not take his gift of acting and singing for granted, believing he is blessed. Indeed he is to be over 60 and getting a chance to be cast in a series aired in major channels such as HBO and BBC. Well, let’s take a look at some facts regarding the actor’s professional and personal lives.
1. His regret for playing a pimp
It is the pride of every parent to see their child prosper. Therefore when Clarke’s mother realized that he was to be in “Mona Lisa,” she could not wait to tell her friends so they could watch it in New Jersey. To her surprise, her son was playing a pimp and making matters worse, there was a porn scene. His mother was so disappointed that she called to tell Clarke she did not bring him up to act in such movies. Clarke also felt guilty and felt that no black actor should be in such roles and hoped that the next ones he got would portray integrity.
2. His opinion on Trump’s presidency
President Donald Trump has ruffled a few feathers, and Clarke Peters does not hide his dislike for the political leader. Consequently, when Clarke’s brother called to inform him that Trump had entered the White House, he could only wish the president well. Clarke told The Guardian, Trump being the president is a test on how much we can tolerate as well as our love for each other. He believes we are in for a very rough ride, and our values will also be tested; hence, Clarke advises we hold on to our principles.
3. His take on colorblind casting
Colorblind casting has enabled many talented actors to make their mark in the film industry since their race is not considered. However, Clarke believes that sometimes, the race of a person should be a priority, especially in making historical films. For instance, he does not opine that Winston Churchill should ever be played by an Indian or black person regardless of how talented they are. Still, some casting directors do not share the opinion, as evidenced by Dev Patel being cast in “The Personal History of David Copperfield.”
4. He is very trusting
Clarke admitted in one interview that he is naturally trusting. However, as most musicians warn, most people take his trusting nature as a weakness. He added that he is patient, and to some, patience is a sign of fear. Unfortunately, this is a lesson that he has come to learn in his adulthood because were he to advise his younger self, he would tell himself that not everyone who is smiling at you is wishing the best for you.
5. His first show was in high school
Clarke always knew that he would end up in the film industry though he also wanted to be a baseball player at one point. Therefore in high school, he joined the drama club and got to be in his first production. Among his childhood friends were John Travolta and Ernie Isley, and they would go ice-skating together. Funny enough, John Travolta’s mother was the director of the play, My Fair Lady, in which Clarke was cast as an urchin.
6. Why his marriage with his second wife failed
Relationships are mostly trial and error until you find someone ready to be your ride or die. Unfortunately, most partners are fair-weather friends, and when tragedy strikes, the chances of them sticking around are slim. Clarke has been married thrice; his first marriage to Janine resulted in two children. His second marriage was to Joanne, and it also led to the birth of his two sons. One of his sons, Guppy, died at four years old from a kidney tumor. The heartache was so much for the couple, and instead of bringing them together, they drifted apart.
7. How Penny turned from being his friend to his third wife
After the death of his son, Clarke was going through a rough patch in his life. He had separated from his wife, Joanne, and two years after Guppy’s demise, he still was struggling to come to terms with reality. Luckily for him, he had a longtime friend, Penny, who stood with him in the difficult times. At one moment, as they drove together, Clarke was overcome with grief at a traffic light, and Penny embraced him. That proved to be the turning point of their relationship from platonic to romantic, and today they have a son, Max.
8. His love for the arts
Besides being an actor, Clarke is also a great musician. The passion for music dates back to when he was four, after his father bought a tape recorder. Clarke sang Fat Wallers song into the tape recorder, and it is one of his most memorable moments. It is, therefore, no surprise that he stumbled into music, later on, to provide back up for Rolling Stones, David Essex, and Heatwave. He also was the creative mind behind the musical “Five Guys Named Moe,” which he not only starred in but also was the writer.
9. His religion
Clarke practices Brahma Kumaris and among the many beliefs of the system is celibacy, in and out of marriage. According to Clarke, the lack of sex enables him to meditate since there is a varied energy level during sex and abstinence. While most women would complain about the lack of intimacy, his wife, Penny, does not mind. Besides the abstinence, those who believe in Brahma Kumaris also eat food prepared only by themselves or those who share their beliefs.
10. The series that made him famous
After starting his acting career in high school, Clarke became an all-rounded actor who was ready to take any role. According to The Big Issue, Clarke avoided being pigeon-holed. He had been in many productions, but it is not until he starred in “The Wire” as detective Lester Freamon that his star began to shine. Unfortunately, it started working against him because every time he auditioned, the casting directors expected him to be Lester Freamon as opposed to Clarke Peters.
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