EXCLUSIVE: Clifton Powell on Losing His Mother to Suicide at Age 4: She Just Walked Into the Night

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Actor Clifton Powell, known for his iconic role as Pinky in *Friday After Next*, shared a deeply personal story on VladTV about losing his mother to suicide when he was just four years old. Powell revealed that his mother’s death left a lasting void in his life. “She just walked into the night,” he said, recalling how she was found at the bottom of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.

Raised by a struggling father and supported by his sister and community, Powell emphasized the rarely spoken pain of losing a parent to suicide in a generation that “didn’t talk about stuff.” Despite this early trauma, he credits the “angels” around him—including a protective cousin and neighborhood figures—for shaping his resilience.

Now 70, Powell reflects on the emotional impact of his mother’s absence, describing Mother’s Day as a difficult time. He hopes to write a book, *Angels by My Side*, to honor her memory and the strength that helped him survive.