#24 - Clayton Prince - The Cosby Show, Hair Spray & The Last Dragon
Today’s guest is Clayton Prince.
Clayton, a native of the Germantown section of Philadelphia was acting in off Broadway shows with the likes of Robert Downey Jr at the age of 17.
Graduating HS, Clayton received a scholarship to study math at Temple University but dropped out when a professor would not let him reschedule a final exam when the time conflicted with an audition he needed to attend.
At that moment, Clayton decided to go all in and purse his dream of becoming an actor.
Clayton gave up his scholarship, dropped out of college and moved to NYC vowing never to return to Philly until he succeeded.
At one point, Clayton was sleeping on the couch in a crack house in Brooklyn and living on $7 a day when his big break came.
Clayton auditioned for and won the role of Lisa Bonnet’s (Denise Huxtable) boyfriend on the second season of The Cosby Show.
Clayton not only got the part but he literally stole the show. He ad libbed the scene and became known as the Reggae singing boyfriend in an episode that not only broke a Neilson ratings record but became the #1 rated Cosby show all time.
Overnight, Clayton went from struggling actor to needing police to help him get out of the NYC subway the day after the episode aired.
Clayton and I discuss the tough road he traveled to make it as an actor. how he and fellow actor Blair Underwood had to sell children’s to support them themselves between acting gigs, and what it was like to star in cult classic movies like The Last Dragon and Hair Spray.
Clayton tells us what it was like growing up with a father coming in out of his life and why he believes parents should let their children find their own way and not have expectations on path their kids need to take.
We also talk how Clayton got into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the lessons he learned in BJJ that helped him succeed in acting and what it was like to get his blue belt from UFC legend Royce Gracie.
Clayton shares an amazing story of his Dad’s secret business and the time when his Dad was confronted by the Philadelphia mob.
Clayton also talks about his new tour company came and what it is like to be an entrepreneur.
So…
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We have a bunch of cool interviews, like this one, to come.
Enjoy my conversation on with Clayton Prince, star of The Cosby Show, The Last Dragon and Hair Spray, student of Brazilian jiu jitsu and entrepreneur.
And remember… “Life is built, not born”.
