Clarence Maclin on becoming a breakout star in ‘Sing Sing’ and what ‘turned that artist back on in me’

Clarence Maclin has been hailed as one of 2024’s top breakouts for his critically acclaimed debut performance in Sing Sing — but as the burgeoning actor sees it, the public is merely catching up. “It feels like they’re just getting to know me,” the 58-year-old tells Gold Derby, “because I’ve always been a star.”

That’s exactly how director Greg Kwedar felt when he decided to cast Maclin, a Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) participant, who was incarcerated for 15 years. Maclin, who...