Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Migrated podcast image for: Outlook

Outlook

Factual: Life Stories

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Outlook: Duty-bound: My secret life as Officer Clemmons

Magazines & Reviews

Clemmons with Fred Rogers

09/01/2023 GMT

Duty-bound: My secret life as Officer Clemmons

BBC World Service - Outlook, Duty-bound: My secret life as Officer Clemmons

Becoming one of the first African American actors on children's TV came with an ultimatum

When Francois Clemmons was a TV star in the 1960s, he made the tough decision to sacrifice his sexuality so that he could continue as a role model for African American children.

Francois Clemmons is a singer and founder of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble in America, but he became famous as an actor when he played the role of Officer Clemmons in the hit children’s TV programme 'Mister Rogers Neighborhood'. He joined the show in 1968, and was an important role model for young African American children, but then he had to make a difficult decision. As a gay man he was told that his sexuality was not compatible with his TV role, so he had to choose between his sexuality and his TV career. Although he chose the latter, he was able to be open about his sexuality years later. He tells Jo Fidgen how much the show meant to him over the years and how forming his spiritual ensemble was a dream come true for him.

He's written a book called Officer Clemmons: A Memoir. This interview was first broadcast in 2020

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter:  Jo Fidgen

(Photo: Clemmons with Fred Rogers. Credit: The Fred Rogers Company)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Outlook

Duty-bound: My secret life as Officer Clemmons

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service