Stephen King’s iconic novel, IT, has been adapted into various forms over time, all centered around the menacing character of Pennywise, the eerie clown. King penned this chilling tale from September 1981 to December 1985, revealing this to readers in the book’s conclusion. Interestingly, King drew inspiration from a real-life encounter with a spooky clown to create the character.
Since its release, fans have pondered the origins of Pennywise, with some speculating that the notorious serial killer and clown impersonator, John Wayne Gacy, who was sentenced to death in 1980, could have influenced King’s creation. However, King has never confirmed this speculation, preferring to share his personal thoughts on clowns and their ability to evoke fear in children.
Following his work on The Stand, King envisioned a troll reminiscent of the Three Billy Goats Gruff story, residing not under a bridge but within a sewer system, leading to the inception of IT. The idea of IT being able to transform, often taking the form of a clown, a figure King himself finds terrifying, swiftly took shape in his mind.
During a 2005 interview on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, King disclosed his childhood fear of clowns, which played a pivotal role in crafting Pennywise, the central figure in his renowned book IT, later adapted into movies. King recounted a disquieting childhood memory at the circus, observing adults with ghostly white faces and vivid red lips, jokingly questioning the appeal of such a sight.
When asked about his personal experiences with clowns, King shared a peculiar encounter involving a clown on a plane. On a return trip from Cleveland, Ohio, following his first major book tour, King found himself seated next to Ronald McDonald, who nonchalantly lit a cigarette and ordered a gin and tonic, prompting King to muse about the surreal scenario of potentially perishing beside a clown in a plane crash.