We all know Mr. T as the gold jewelry rockin,’ African Mandinka hairstyle sportin,’ ‘I Pity The Fool’ “Clubber Lang” Rocky III, A-Team character, but we never really got to know him as the man who is also the father of three (and possibly four, but we’ll explain that on another day).
He has two daughters and one son with his wife, Phyllis Clark, whom he has been married to since 1971. His 37 year old daughter, Erica Clark, spoke out not too long ago about what type of father her Pops is and why he doesn’t really talk to her other than once or twice a year.
Erica chose a line of work that her Dad apparently doesn’t approve. No she’s not robbing banks, or doing anything else illegal, she’s simply making folks laugh as a comedian, after walking away from her teaching job of 10 years and that is what she says has driven the distance between she and her father. Here’s what Erica explained about that to NBC News:
“We talk maybe once or twice a year. We’re not super close since I moved out,” said Clark. “He wants me to be a nice teacher and get married and have kids. [My dad] doesn’t want me to do entertainment at all so he hasn’t come to any of my shows before but he’s aware that I do it.”
“I always wanted to be the center of attention,” said Clark. “It’s weird, I don’t think most people know this but my dad is pretty shy when he’s not on camera. I was never like that…to be honest with you, I just wanted to be famous.”
https://youtu.be/wYBcd1NSw-E
Although Erica and Mr. T. aren’t close anymore, we do give Erica her props for following her heart’s desire, because at some point, all kids have to step outside of their parents’ shadows and go after what genuinely makes them happy. Erica has been building her name on the comedy circuit on her own and she says she refuses to be locked inside of the gender box that seems to only apply to female comics- to stay in realm of only talking about relationships. She talks about a wide range of funny topics, including the time she mistakenly sent a booty call sex-text message to her Dad, instead of to “Dave”…LOL:
“[I sent] probably the filthiest text message you could ever think of” to ‘Dad’ instead of ‘Dave.’ After realizing her 4 A.M. mistake Clark turned off her phone in fear. When she finally did pick up her father curtly asked how she was, neglecting to mention the text. They never spoke of it. The call was one of few they share each year.- via NBCNews
Then there was that time she says her Momma almost choked out her teacher at school:
Clark recounted the time her mother, Phyllis Clark, tried to strangle her teacher for claiming that Clark couldn’t keep up with the other students in her Lake Forest class. A good story, certainly one that embodied this year’s theme: conflict.
It’s good that Erica can find humor in some of the embarrassing moments in her life, but it’s unfortunate that she and her Pops have yet to see eye to eye about her profession. It’s understood for any parent to want stability for their child, and Mr. T. knows first hand just how flaky the entertainment game is. But on the other hand, it’s sometimes better to find a way to support the child and allow them to succeed, or fail on their own as the parent stands by their side and offers any wisdom he can from the sideline.
Erica Clark regularly performs in the comedy circuit throughout Chicago and she also travels across the country getting her stand-up comedy on. Her other gig is as a Chicago radio host.
