Stephen King’s 1986 novel ‘IT’ brought to life one of the most iconic and terrifying villains in horror literature: Pennywise the Killer Clown. With his grotesque grin and ability to prey on the deepest fears of his victims, Pennywise has cemented his place in pop culture.
While the character is undeniably supernatural, his origins are rooted in real-world horrors, from notorious killers to societal fears. So, let’s take a closer look at how real-life events and characters inspired the creation of this murderous clown.
John Wayne Gacy’s Gruesome Legacy As The Killer Clown Was One Of The Main Inspirations Behind ‘IT’
One of the most direct influences for Pennywise was the infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Known as the “Killer Clown,” Gacy presented himself as a friendly entertainer named “Pogo the Clown.” He performed at children’s events and hospitals.
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However, beneath this façade, Gacy committed horrific crimes, murdering at least 33 young men and boys between 1972 and 1978. Many of his victims were lured to his home, where he sexually assaulted and killed them, hiding their bodies in a crawl space.
Gacy’s arrest in 1978 and subsequent conviction in 1980 sent shockwaves across America. Stephen King began writing ‘IT’ around the same time, and while he has never explicitly confirmed Gacy as a direct influence. Additionally, the parallels are hard to ignore. Like Gacy, Pennywise uses his clown persona to lure and manipulate children.
The Stranger Danger Era
The 1980s were marked by a widespread societal panic known as “stranger danger.” High-profile cases of child abductions and murders dominated the news, fueling public anxiety. This era also saw the rise of initiatives to protect children. Additionally, parents were warned to teach their children about the dangers of strangers.
Additionally, this heightened vigilance permeated the cultural landscape. Clowns became particularly unsettling during this time. Their painted faces and exaggerated features masked their true identities, making them ideal strangers. Pennywise embodied this fear, using his guise as a clown to lure children into his grasp.
Ronald McDonald And Real Crime Also Played A Part
While John Wayne Gacy may have inspired Pennywise’s malevolence, his appearance owes much to a more benign figure: Ronald McDonald. Stephen King has admitted that the beloved fast-food mascot influenced Pennywise’s design.
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King described Ronald McDonald as a figure children inherently trust, making him the perfect model for a predator hiding in plain sight. By twisting the familiar image of a beloved children’s icon, King created a character that was both recognizable and deeply unsettling.
Additionally, Stephen King’s hometown of Bangor, Maine, also played a significant role in shaping the story of the film. One particularly tragic event that influenced both the book and its 2019 film adaptation was the murder of Charlie Howard in 1984. Howard, a gay man, was attacked by three teenagers who assaulted him and threw him off a bridge.
In ‘IT: Chapter 2’, King includes a similar scene where a gay man, Adrian Mellon, is brutally attacked by a group of bigoted teens and thrown into a river, where Pennywise ultimately kills him. King has noted that including this scene was essential, as it reflected real-world prejudice and violence that needed to be confronted.
