Stephen King’s iconic novel IT has been adapted multiple times, all centered around the eerie character of Pennywise the clown. King started crafting the chilling tale in September 1981, completing it by December 1985. What many fans may not know is that King drew inspiration for Pennywise from a real-life encounter with a clown.
Speculation has swirled around the origins of Pennywise, with some linking the character to notorious serial killer and clown performer John Wayne Gacy, who was executed in 1980. However, King has never confirmed this connection, instead sharing his own thoughts on clowns and their inherently frightening nature.
During a moment of inspiration after finishing The Stand, King envisioned a troll reminiscent of the creature in the children’s story Three Billy Goats Gruff, residing in a sewer system. This mental image sparked the creation of IT, with the central concept of a shapeshifting entity, often taking the form of a clown, a figure that even King himself finds unsettling.
In a 2005 interview on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, King discussed his childhood fear of clowns, which helped shape the character of Pennywise in his novel. Recalling a childhood experience at the circus where he encountered adults with painted white faces and vivid red lips, King humorously remarked on the unnerving nature of clowns.
King shared a peculiar incident involving a clown on a plane during a return journey from Cleveland, Ohio, after completing his first major book tour. A clown, resembling Ronald McDonald, boarded the plane and sat next to King, sparking a bizarre and discomforting moment for the author.
The unexpected presence of the clown and his subsequent actions, including lighting a cigarette and ordering a drink, left King feeling unnerved, contemplating the surreal scenario of potentially perishing next to a clown in a plane crash.