Terry Gross

Williams grew up in an abusive family; they didn't know she was autistic. Williams has been labeled "deaf," "retarded," and "crazy." She ran away from home at a young age, lived on the streets, and managed to put herself through college. When she was 25, she learned the word "autistic," and set out to articulate to others her experience living in "a world under glass." Her autobiography is called "Nobody Nowhere."

We broadcast a song from Vernel Bagneris and Morten Gunnar Larsen's November 12th performance of selections from their biographical musical. Because of time constraints, this tune never made it on air -- until now.

The stage and screen actor's career has spanned nearly 50 years. One of his most well-known films is the Magnificent Seven. Wallach is currently touring the country in the play Love Letters with his wife Anne Jackson, and also has a role in the upcoming film, Godfather Part III.

Hoskins starred in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" in which he acted opposite a cartoon bunny. We rebroadcast a portion of an earlier interview where he talks about his accidental start as a stage actor.

Cartoonist and Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Terry interviewed him in 1989, before the television comedy launched on prime time. Groening also draws the comic strip, "Life In Hell," which appears in many alternative and college newspapers.

Arthel "Doc" Watson is one of America's premier acoustic folk guitarists. His flat-pick style of playing traditional folk and bluegrass has made his sound one of the most distinctive of any folk artist. We rebroadcast a 1988 interview and 1989 in-studio concert with guitarist Jack Lawrence.

Last year, Wofford won an upset victory, becoming the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania since 1962. He was a key aide to President John F. Kennedy, helped establish the Peace Corps, and aided Martin Luther King, Jr. He also chaired the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee from 1987 to 1991. A new edition of Wofford's 1980 book, "Of Kennedy's & Kings: Making sense of the Sixties" has just been published.

The Irish writer and director has made the films "Mona Lisa," "The Company of Wolves," and "The Miracle." His new film is "The Crying Game," a love story starring Stephen Rea as an Irish Republican Army gunman with a false identity hiding in London's underworld.

Composer Anthony Davis's opera "X" based on the life of Malcolm X, and has just come out on CD. It premiered in 1986. Terry talks with David about what Malcolm X meant to him and why he decided to compose an opera on his life. Davis has received international recognition for his compositions as well as his performances as a solo pianist and the leader of the ensemble Episteme.

Early is director of Afro-American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. He'll talk with Terry about why he used to like Malcolm X, and why he no longer does. His article. "Their Malcolm, My Problem," appears in December's issue of Harper's Magazine.