Francois Clemmons, the renowned singer and actor celebrated for his groundbreaking role as Officer Clemmons on the beloved children's show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," is currently facing financial and health challenges.
The Post has learned that Clemmons, who is now 78, is grappling with the aftermath of two strokes, two knee-replacement surgeries, and the need for a health aide and other services at his assisted-living facility, The Residence at Otter Creek in Vermont.
In an effort to manage the costs, Clemmons sold his home. However, his friends are concerned that his limited savings and income may not suffice, particularly if he requires more costly services. "He has limited savings and very little income. He can't afford more than a few years in his retirement center even less if he has to go into assisted living," said Chuck Dickinson, a former classmate of Clemmons at Oberlin College, who initiated a fundraising campaign to help.
Dickinson and other friends of Clemmons, who have known him at various stages of his life, have rallied together to launch a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraising site, which features an image of Clemmons with Fred Rogers during his final appearance on the show, states, "Officer Clemmons needs our help." The campaign, which began in October with a modest goal of $100,000, had reached $80,000 just days before Christmas.
Clemmons, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the first African Americans to have a leading role on national children's television. He portrayed a singing policeman on the PBS series from 1968 to 1993. Clemmons first met Fred Rogers through Roger's wife, Joanne, who sang in a church choir with him in Pittsburgh. When Rogers offered him the role of Officer Clemmons, Clemmons initially responded, "You must be crazy."
"A policeman's not a hero in the ghetto. I'm a ghetto boy, and I saw policemen doing all kinds of things," he recalled. "And I carried inside of me a fear of what they could do. And Fred said, 'Policemen could be helpers; policemen could be kind.'"
Clemmons and Rogers shared a poignant onscreen moment in a May 1969 episode, where they both dipped their feet in a kiddie pool on a hot day and shared a towel to dry off. This simple act sent a powerful message about racial equality during a time when segregated swimming pools were commonplace.
Clemmons fondly remembers Rogers, who passed away in 2003, as a supportive figure who treated him like a surrogate son. "Being a black tenor, there were opera companies and productions that were closed to me. And Fred said, 'I know you're having trouble getting jobs because of racism. I will be there for you,'" Clemmons recalled. "He was a wonderful, gentle, spiritual man."
Despite his significant contribution to the popular television show, Clemmons does not receive any royalties. "Not a cent," he said. "I wouldn't be in the condition I'm in if I got serious royalties. I'm not angry with Fred about that. I'm angry with their business practices since he's dead. He would never ever have allowed me to be in this condition."
Elizabeth Copps, a literary agent who worked with Clemmons on his 2020 memoir, also assisted with the GoFundMe campaign. She understands why people feel compelled to contribute. "He generates genuine warmth and compassion towards everyone he meets," she said. "Over the seven years I've known him, I've seen him give his gift of song and story to so many people without ever asking or expecting anything in return, so it feels really wonderful to try and help him. There's just not a more deserving person on the planet."
Copps believes that the timing of the fundraising effort is perfect. "These sorts of fundraising efforts are what the holiday season is all about," she said. "And people like Francois are the reason for the season."
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