Built Not Born Podcast (Episode #24): Clayton Prince — The Cosby Show, Hair Spray & The Last Dragon
Clayton Prince, a native of Philadelphia, was acting in off Broadway shows with the likes of Robert Downey Jr at the age of 17.
After high school, Clayton decided to go all in and purse his dream of becoming an actor.
Clayton gave up a scholarship to Temple University, 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.
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.
Thank you for listening.
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“Life is built, Not born.”
Joe Ciccarone
