List of clowns
Encyclopedia
Famous
- Charles Adrien Wettach – GrockGrockGrock , born Charles Adrien Wettach, was a Swiss clown, composer and musician. Called "the king of clowns" and "the greatest of Europe's clowns", Grock was once the most highly paid entertainer in the world....
(1880–1959), A celebrated Swiss clown.
- Achille ZavattaAchille ZavattaAchille Zavatta was a French clown, artist and circus operator.Achille Zavatta was born in La Goulette, Tunisia, the son of Federico Zavatta, a circus owner...
(1915–1993)
- António Melo – BatatinhaBatatinhaAntónio Melo is a famous Portuguese clown who performs as Batatinha .In the early years of his career, Melo worked with another famous Portuguese clown named Croquete. Since their separation, he has worked with Companhia....
(literally Little Potato), from PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. A very well known clown.
- Bev Bergeron – Rebo the Clown CBS=TV 1960–65 – Magic Land of Allakazam & The Magic Circus
- Bim BomBim BomBim Bom was a Moscow circus clown duo consisting of Ivan Radunsky and various "Boms" throughout the years. The clown act was enormously popular, but often banned or censored due to its satirical political content. Each act would begin with an original song and dance performed by Bim...
– a famous clown of Revolutionary RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, executed by the ChekaChekaCheka was the first of a succession of Soviet state security organizations. It was created by a decree issued on December 20, 1917, by Vladimir Lenin and subsequently led by aristocrat-turned-communist Felix Dzerzhinsky...
for his BolshevikBolshevikThe Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
satires
- Ernie Blinko Burch – Blinko (1929–1997) R50's TV show. Ringling Bros. circus. The Greatest Show on Earth film. Named by Cecil B. DeMille
- Josep Andreu i Lasserre – Charlie RivelCharlie RivelJosep Andreu i Lasserre , best known as Charlie Rivel, was an internationally known Spanish circus clown. He was born in Cubelles...
Other than Grock perhaps the most beloved and respected of all European clowns
- The Chickys, classic European clown act
- Jose de Jesus Medrano – ChuchinChuchinJose de Jesus Medrano, better known as Chuchin, was a Mexican clown and star attraction of many circuses in Mexico from the late 1960s to 1984, when de died while on tour in Africa. He toured Peru as the Circo Bell's Main attraction. Chuchin appeared in the Mexican Film Esta y L'otra con un solo...
(1953–1984) a.k.a., a Mexican clown and performance star who died tragically.
- Nicolai PoliakoffNicolai PoliakoffNicolai Poliakoff OBE was the creator of Coco the Clown, arguably the most famous clown in the UK during the middle decades of the 20th century. Technically, Coco is not a clown but an auguste, the foolish character who is always on the receiving end of buckets of water and custard pies...
– Coco the Clown a longtime star clown of the Bertram Mills Circus
- Daniel RiceDan RiceDan Rice , was an American entertainer of many talents, most famously as a clown, who was pre-eminent before the American Civil War. During the height of his career, Rice was a household name...
(1823–1901) A famous American clown of the 19th century and principal inspiration for Uncle Sam.
- David Konyot – 4 times winner best clown (U K) Hungarian circus festival, Polish circus Festival
- Drosta – Real name unknown. European
- Emmett KellyEmmett KellyEmmett Leo Kelly , a native of Sedan, Kansas, was an American circus performer, who created the memorable clown figure "Weary Willie", based on the hobos of the Depression era.- Career development :...
– Extremely well known American tramp clown
- Charlie CairoliCharlie CairoliCharlie Cairoli was an Italian-born English clown, impressionist and musician.-Background and career:Born in Milan, Italy to a travelling circus family of French origin, he began his performing career at the age of seven...
- Italian-born British clown
- The Fratellini FamilyFratellini FamilyThe Fratellini Family was a famous European circus family in the late 1900s and 1920s. An engagement at the Circus Medrano in Paris, France, after World War I was so successful that it sparked a strong resurgence of interest in the circus. By 1923, the Fratellini brothers had become the darlings of...
– a dynasty of French clowns
- George CarlGeorge CarlGeorge Carl was a "vaudevillian" style comic & clown. Carl was born in Ohio, and started his comedy career traveling with a variety of circuses during his teenage years. In time, Carl would become internationally famous as a clown and visual comedian. In his sixties, Johnny Carson, a fan of...
– American clown who found great success in Europe. Performed Royal Command PerformanceRoyal Variety PerformanceThe Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
for the Queen at the Palladium in London. He also received the coveted "Golden Clown" award from Princess GraceGrace KellyGrace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
at the International Circus Festival of Monte-CarloInternational Circus Festival of Monte-CarloThe International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, known as Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo in French, is an annual festival held since 1974 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The festival includes the awarding of the Clown d'Or award as well as awards for other circus skills...
.
- Glen "Frosty" LittleGlen "Frosty" LittleGlen "Frosty" Little was a circus clown who served with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for over 20 years...
– America's last living Master Clown and longtime "Boss Clown" with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus
- Harty the clown – (1906–1986) Frank "Harty" Hart was chief clown for Billy Smart's Circus for 12 years. He toured the US and UK's biggest auditoriums, as well as appearing many times on TV. He even beat the panel on the BBC's What's My Line.
- Johnny B, Kummiedjant Lokali
- Ian P, Maltese Clown and Actor of the Rivendell Circus
- Joe JacksonJoe Jackson Sr.Joe Jackson Sr. was born as Joseph Francis Jiranek in Vienna, Austria. He was Austrian cycling champion and a member of a world champion bicycle polo team before he became an entertainer....
Sr & Jr. – famous tramp clown entree with a breakaway bicycle
- Mikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev – KarandashKarandashMikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev , better known under his stage name Karandash , was a famous Soviet clown....
(1901–1983) Soviet Clown and clowning teacher.
- Johann Ludwig Jacob – Lou JacobsLou JacobsJohann Ludwig Jacob was an auguste clown who performed for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for more than 60 years. He was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1989...
(1903–1992) – During his 60 years in the American circus this Master Clown came to be known as one of the most famous clowns in the world through his innovative comic routines, compassion for others and strong dedication to his work. Credited with inventing the clown carClown carA clown car is a prop in a circus clown routine. A common example of such a routine involves an implausibly large number of clowns emerging from a very small car, to humorous effect. The first performance of this routine was in the Cole Brothers Circus during the 1950s.The clown car is a...
gag.
- Oleg PopovOleg PopovOleg Konstantinovich Popov is a famous Soviet and Russian clown and circus artist. Popov is also called the "Sunshine clown".He was born on 31 July 1930 in Moscow, the son of a clock-maker. He studied elements of acrobatics, juggling, and other circus skills in his youth...
– Greatly admired clown from the Soviet Union and student of KarandashKarandashMikhail Nikolayevich Rumyantsev , better known under his stage name Karandash , was a famous Soviet clown....
- Otto GrieblingOtto GrieblingOtto Griebling was a German-born circus clown who performed for many years with the Cole Brothers and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circuses. He was one of four clowns given the title Master Clown by Irvin Feld....
– (1896–1972) Prolific and influential Master Clown with the Cole Bros. and Ringling circuses. The single most admired and respected American circus clown of the 20th century
- The Rastellis – European clown act
- José Vega SantanaJosé Vega SantanaJosé Vega Santana a.k.a "Remi" is a clown from Puerto Rico. A book "Remi, El Clown" describes his adventures as a clown. He has made many presentations in the United States. While he was a student at the Inter-American University he developed the character of "Remi"...
– Remi (1958–present) – "Puerto Rico's Greatest Clown"
- Vicki GabereauVicki GabereauVicki Frances Gabereau is a Canadian radio and television personality. Most recently she hosted an eponymously titled afternoon talk show on CTV Television Network, which wrapped up production on April 8, 2005 after 8 seasons...
– Rosie Sunshine who ran as a candidate in the 1974 Toronto mayoral
election
- VersaceVersaceGianni Versace S.p.A. , usually referred to as Versace, is an Italian fashion label founded by Gianni Versace in 1978.The first Versace boutique was opened in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978, and its popularity was immediate. Today, Versace is one of the world's leading international fashion houses...
- great clown and pantomime, world wide known from Mexico, touring with " http://www.zirkus-charles-knie.de/ " meanwhile
- Yuri NikulinYuri NikulinYuri Vladimirovich Nikulin was a well-known Soviet and Russian actor and clown who starred in many popular films.He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1973 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990...
– Russian clown and actor
- Jack PerryZig and Zag (Australian performers)Zig and Zag – in real life Jack Perry and Doug McKenzie – were a clown duo who appeared on Australian television from 1956 to 1969 in Melbourne, beginning with Peters Fun Fair...
and Doug McKenzieZig and Zag (Australian performers)Zig and Zag – in real life Jack Perry and Doug McKenzie – were a clown duo who appeared on Australian television from 1956 to 1969 in Melbourne, beginning with Peters Fun Fair...
– Zig and ZagZig and Zag (Australian performers)Zig and Zag – in real life Jack Perry and Doug McKenzie – were a clown duo who appeared on Australian television from 1956 to 1969 in Melbourne, beginning with Peters Fun Fair...
Australian Television clowns
Contemporary
- Buffo, claimed to be the world's strongest clown
- CepillínCepillínRicardo González Gutiérrez known as Cepillín is a Mexican clown as well as a singer, TV host and actor....
, a Mexican clown - Greg and Karen DeSantoGreg and Karen DeSantoGreg and Karen DeSanto are a husband and wife comedy/clown team currently in their third decade as professional circus clowns.Greg DeSanto graduated in 1985 from the acclaimed Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He was the featured producing clown and created, wrote, and directed...
– husband and wife clown/comedy team - DimitriDimitri (clown)Dimitri . After changing his name, his official name is Jakob Dimitri. He is a well-known Swiss clown and mime.- Early life and training :...
– Swiss clown and mime - Barry LubinBarry LubinBarry Lubin, recently inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame, is a physical comedian most familiar to circus audiences as "Grandma", the star of the Big Apple Circus....
– "Grandma"; star clown of the Big Apple CircusBig Apple CircusThe Big Apple Circus is a circus that is based in New York City. Opened in 1977, it has become a tourist attraction as well. It has been highly influential towards the creation of Cirque du Soleil, tent-based circuses and smaller non-profit shows, such as Circus Flora.-The 1970s:The idea of... - Fumagalli, European star clown, Big Apple Circus
- John Wayne GacyJohn Wayne GacyJohn Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
– "Pogo"; a painter and serial killer - Jeff Gordon – "Le Clown GordoonGordoon"Le Clown Gordoon" is a New American Circus-style clown character created and portrayed by Jeff Gordon. He has performed most notably with the Big Apple Circus but has also appeared with Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros...
"; star clown with the Big Apple Circus - Michael HalvarsonMichael HalvarsonMichael Halvarson, born July 30, 1976 in Stockholm, Sweden, has for a long time been one of the most frequently-hired artists and comedians in Scandinavia. His acts, centered on comedy, magic and stage pickpocketing, have time and again become known throughout the World...
– Swedish clown and star pickpocket entertainer who has appeared in Cirque du SoleilCirque du SoleilCirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
Kooza - Paul HuntPaul Hunt (gymnast)Paul Hunt is a gymnastics coach and gymnastics clown. An Illinois native, he is from Murray, Utah. He runs Hunt's Gymnastics Academy in Salt Lake City. Hunt has performed comedic performances of women's gymnastics routines, including the uneven bars, floor exercises, and the balance beam since 1980...
– gymnast clown - Jean-Jacques Menais – "Jyjou*", French clown and mime artist (1989— )
- Demetrius Nock – "Bello NockBello NockBello Nock , usually known simply as "Bello", is a clown performed by Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock. A performer for three years with the one-ring Big Apple Circus early in his career, he later joined the Ringling Bros...
"; a star clown in Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus - Sergey PavlovSergey Alexandrovich PavlovSergey A. Pavlov is a Russian actor, clown, television director, writer and composer- Biography:1980 – Sergey Pavlov was a student of "Clown Studio" in Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard...
– "Lalala", Russian clown, director and actor - Arthur Vercoe PedlarArthur Vercoe PedlarArthur Vercoe Pedlar is a British clown.Arthur Pedlar was born into a Congregational family and lives in Southport. He was educated at Leighton Park School in Reading, Berkshire, England, a Quaker school. He first became interested in clowns when he visited Bertram Mills Circus in 1938...
– "Vercoe", an English clown - David ShinerDavid Shiner (clown)David Shiner is an American actor, clown, playwright and theater director.Shiner was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Francis Shiner, a computer programmer, and a homemaker mother. The lanky Shiner, usually donning a small dunce cap, started as a street mime, first in Colorado, and later...
– Tony Award-winning American born mime and circus clown who has appeared on Broadway and with several European circuses - Steve Smith – "T.J. Tatters"; longtime director of Ringling Clown College
Rodeo
- Flint RasmussenFlint RasmussenFlint Rasmussen is perhaps the most famous "rodeo clown" or "rodeo barrelman" in the sport of bull riding. Rasmussen and his wife, Katie, have two daughters, Shelby and Paige...
– Seven time winner of Man in the Can award. - Johnny TatumJohnny TatumJohnny Tatum was a famous rodeo clown and bullfighter. He toured the United States for many years entertaining crowds and protecting bullriders. Early in his career, he traveled to Japan with Casey Tibbs to promote the sport of rodeo in that country...
– American rodeo clown - Quail DobbsQuail DobbsQuail Dobbs is a famous rodeo clown and performer, inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also inducted in the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2002, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2004.His parents were Acie and Avis Dobbs, and his...
– American rodeo clown - Slim PickensSlim PickensLouis Burton Lindley, Jr. , better known by the stage name Slim Pickens, was an American rodeo performer and film and television actor who epitomized the profane, tough, sardonic cowboy, but who is best remembered for his comic roles, notably in Dr...
– American rodeo clown and film actor.
Film
- Abbott & Costello (William (Bud) Abbott, 1897–1974); Louis Costello, 1906–1959) American comedy duo whose mastery of the white clown (straight man) /red clown (comic) relationship made them one of the most popular and respected teams in American comedy history
- Ben TurpinBen TurpinBen Turpin was a cross-eyed American comedian and actor, best remembered for his work in silent films.-Personal life:...
(September 19, 1869 – July 1, 1940) cross-eyed comedian, best remembered for his work in silent films - Buster KeatonBuster KeatonJoseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
– (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) The Great Stoneface. His innovative work as both a comedian and a director made great contributions to the development of the art of cinema - Charlie ChaplinCharlie ChaplinSir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
– (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977) British born comedian. The most famous actor in early to mid Hollywood cinema era, he acted in, directed, scripted, produced, and eventually scored his own films. His principal character was "The Little Tramp" - Chester ConklinChester ConklinChester Cooper Conklin was an American comedian and actor. He appeared in over 280 films, about half of them in the silent era.-Early life:...
(January 11, 1886 – October 11, 1971) American comedian and actor - Harry LangdonHarry LangdonHarry Philmore Langdon was an American comedian who appeared in vaudeville, silent films , and talkies. He was briefly partnered with Oliver Hardy.-Life and career:...
– (June 15, 1884 – December 22, 1944) was an American silent film comedian and a first class mime - Jacques TatiJacques TatiJacques Tati was a French filmmaker, working as a comedic actor, writer and director. In a poll conducted by Entertainment Weekly of the Greatest Movie Directors Tati was voted the 46th greatest of all time...
– (October 9, 1908 – November 5, 1982) was a French comedian, mime and filmmaker best known as the socially inept Monsieur Hulot - Keystone Cops incompetent group of policemen created by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917
- Laurel & Hardy – perhaps the most famous comedy duo in film history
- Martin & Lewis – an American comedy duo, comprising singer Dean Martin (as the "straight man") and comedian Jerry Lewis (as his stooge)
- The Marx Brothers – a team of sibling comedians that appeared in vaudeville, stage plays, film and television
- Peter SellersPeter SellersRichard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
– (September 8, 1925 – July 24, 1980) Extremely versatile and talented English comedian and actor best remembered for the character of Inspector Clouseu - Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) One of the most popular actors of his era, but is best known today for his central role in the so-called "Fatty Arbuckle scandal"
- Joseph UtslerJoseph UtslerJoseph William "Joey" Utsler is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, professional wrestler and actor. Utsler is known as Shaggy 2 Dope of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow Insane Clown Posse rapper Joseph Bruce and...
– Shaggy 2 Dope; DJ of the Insane Clown PosseInsane Clown PosseInsane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
, a Detroit-based hip-hop group with a fan army of "schizophrenic wizards" called the juggalos and star of underground film Big Money Hustlaz - Slim PickensSlim PickensLouis Burton Lindley, Jr. , better known by the stage name Slim Pickens, was an American rodeo performer and film and television actor who epitomized the profane, tough, sardonic cowboy, but who is best remembered for his comic roles, notably in Dr...
, rodeo clown and filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - Snub PollardSnub PollardHarry "Snub" Pollard was a silent film comedian, popular in the 1920s.-Career:Often mistaken as the brother of Australian actress Daphne Pollard, in fact the two were not related despite their shared surname. Harry Pollard was born as Harold Fraser and took the name Pollard as his stage name...
(November 9, 1889, Melbourne, Australia, – January 19, 1962) was a silent film comedian, popular in the 1920s. - The Three Stooges – starred in many short features that consisted of masterful ways of showcasing their extremely physical brand of slapstick comedy
- W.C. Fields – (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946) was an American comedian and actor. Fields created one of the great American comic personas of the first half of the 20th century
- Joseph BruceJoseph BruceJoseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
– Violent J; The leader of the Insane Clown Posse, a Detroit-based hip-hop group and star of Big Money Hustlaz underground film
Television
- Benny HillBenny HillBenny Hill was an English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme The Benny Hill Show.-Early life:...
– The Benny Hill Show - Bozo the ClownBozo the ClownBozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
, a franchised clown played by many local television performers and on cartoonCartoonA cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s, based on the character created in 1946 by Alan W. LivingstonAlan W. LivingstonAlan Wendell Livingston , born Alan Wendell Levison, was an American businessman best known for his tenures at Capitol Records, first as a writer/producer best-known for creating Bozo the Clown for a series of record-album and illustrative read-along children's book sets, then as the executive who...
for Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
' record-reader series - Bubbles the Clown – The clown doll that appears on BBC test cards F, J & W
- Charlie ChalkCharlie ChalkCharlie Chalk was a short-lived stop motion animation series produced in 1987 in the UK by Woodland Animations, from the creators of Postman Pat and the two other children's television programmes that are Gran and Bertha.-Synopsis:...
from the British children's TV series of the same name - Clarabell the clownClarabell the ClownClarabell the Clown was the mute partner of Howdy Doody.Three actors played Clarabell. The first was Bob Keeshan, who later became Captain Kangaroo. Keeshan was succeeded by Robert "Nick" Nicholson, who also played the character of J. Cornelius Cobb on The Howdy Doody Show. Lew Anderson was the...
was a regular character from the Howdy DoodyHowdy DoodyHowdy Doody is an American children's television program that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on NBC in the United States from 1947 until 1960. It was a pioneer in children's television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows...
television program, originally played by Bob KeeshanBob KeeshanRobert James "Bob" Keeshan was an American television producer and actor. He is most notable as the title character of the children's television program Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of people during its 30-year run from 1955 to 1984.Keeshan also played the original...
of Captain KangarooCaptain KangarooCaptain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
fame - John Michael Howson - 'Clown' from Adventure IslandAdventure Island (TV series)Adventure Island is an Australian television series for children which screened on the ABC from 11 September 1967 to 22 December 1972 . It was jointly created by Godfrey Philipp, who produced the series, and actor-writer John Michael Howson, who also co-starred in the show...
- Doink the ClownDoink the ClownDoink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...
, a gimmick used by several wrestlers in the 1990s. Doink began as a heelHeel (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
wrestler in the evil clownEvil clownThe image of the evil clown is a development in popular culture, in which the playful trope of the clown is rendered as disturbing through the use of horror elements and dark humor.-Background:...
archetypeArchetypeAn archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
, but later Doinks portrayed the character as a babyfaceFace (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
who loved to entertain the children in the crowd - Eric The Clown, a character on SeinfeldSeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
, played by Jon FavreauJon FavreauJonathan Kolia "Jon" Favreau is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and comedian. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Rudy, Swingers , Very Bad Things, and The Break-Up. His notable directorial efforts include Elf, Iron Man and its sequel, and Cowboys & Aliens... - Flunky the Clown, a character on Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, a bitter, chain-smoking, depressed, very unenthusiastic clown who helped Dave answer viewer mail about circuses and clowns, played by show writer Jeff MartinJeff Martin (writer)Jeff Martin is an American television producer and writer. He was a writer for The Simpsons during the first four seasons. He attended Harvard University, where he wrote for The Harvard Lampoon, as have many other Simpsons writers...
. His catchphrase was"yeah, it's a real panic." - Damon WayansDamon WayansDamon Kyle Wayans is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor, one of the Wayans brothers.-Early life:Wayans was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager...
– Homey the Clown, a character from the In Living ColorIn Living ColorIn Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series, which originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990 to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote, and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century...
television program, whose famous catchphrase was "Homey don't play dat". - Chris Wedes – J.P. Patches, a Seattle children's television mainstay for decades
- Alyson Court – Loonette, clown character on the The Big Comfy CouchThe Big Comfy CouchThe Big Comfy Couch is a Canadian children's television series about Loonette the Clown and her doll Molly, who solve everyday problems on their "Big Comfy Couch". It aired from 1992 until early 2006. Re-runs of the show are still being aired on Treehouse TV. It was produced by Cheryl Wagner and...
- Lucille BallLucille BallLucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
– I Love Lucy, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy - Milton BerleMilton BerleMilton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
– Texaco Star Theater, Berle's Buick Hour - Mr. NoodleMr. NoodleThe goofy-acting human characters Mr. Noodle, Mr. Noodle's Brother, and Miss Noodle all appear in Sesame Street 's "Elmo's World" segments. The characters, who do not speak, attempt repeatedly to demonstrate a particular activity related to the episode's topic, while offscreen children verbally...
, character created by Bill IrwinBill IrwinWilliam Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
for the Elmo's WorldElmo's World"Elmo's World" is a segment of the children's television show Sesame Street featuring Elmo, a small, three and a half year old, bright red monster. It debuted on November 16, 1998. Since then, it has been regularly shown during the last fifteen minutes of every Sesame Street episode...
segment of Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The... - Paul ReubensPaul ReubensPaul Reubens is an American actor, writer, film producer, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor...
– Pee-wee HermanPee-wee HermanPee-wee Herman is a comic fictional character created and portrayed by American comedian Paul Reubens. He is best known for his two television series and film series during the 1980s. The childlike Pee-wee Herman character developed as a stage act that quickly led to an HBO special in 1981...
, Pee-Wee's Playhouse - Pinky LeePinky LeePincus Leff , better known as Pinky Lee, was an American burlesque comic and host of a children's television program, The Pinky Lee Show, in the early 1950s.-Biography:...
– The Pinky Lee Show - Pooter-the-Clown - A birthday clown who appears in the film Uncle BuckUncle BuckUncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffman, and Macaulay Culkin, and co-stars Jay Underwood and Laurie Metcalf.-Plot:Bob Russell Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby...
- Bev Bergeron – Rebo the Clown (1960–1965), CBS=TV 'Magic Land of Allakazam
- Red SkeltonRed SkeltonRichard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
– The Red Skelton Show - Rowan AtkinsonRowan AtkinsonRowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is most famous for his work on the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line...
– Mr. Bean - Jim Allen – Rusty NailsRusty NailsJim Allen portrayed the clown character Rusty Nails and was the host of various children's television shows in the Portland, Oregon, U.S. television market from 1957–1972...
(1957–1972), Pacific Northwest children's television clown, and model (in part) for Matt Groening's "Krusty" character on the television program "The Simpsons" - Sid CaesarSid CaesarIsaac Sidney "Sid" Caesar is an Emmy award winning American comic actor and writer known as the leading man on the 1950s television series Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour, and to younger generations as Coach Calhoun in Grease and Grease 2.- Early life :Caesar was born in Yonkers, New York,...
– Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour - Soupy SalesSoupy SalesSoupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
– The Soupy Sales Show - Willie Whistle – WSBK-TVWSBK-TVWSBK-TV is a MyNetworkTV television station for eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire that is licensed to Boston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter along the Needham and Wellesley town line southwest of the MA 9 and I-95 / MA 128...
38, a clown who had a kids' show in the 1960s-70's. He got his name because he "spoke" with a squeeky whistle - Roger Black – Yucko the ClownYucko the ClownRoger Black is an insult comedian known for his character Yucko the Clown.Yucko is a regular guest on The Howard Stern Show.He is also known for starring in The DAMN! Show along with fellow writer and creator Waco O'Guin and MTV2 series Stankervision, which included sketches from The DAMN! Show,...
, made famous by his rude observations, obscenities, and public intoxication - Zig and Zag (Australian performers)Zig and Zag (Australian performers)Zig and Zag – in real life Jack Perry and Doug McKenzie – were a clown duo who appeared on Australian television from 1956 to 1969 in Melbourne, beginning with Peters Fun Fair...
- Der ClownDer ClownDer Clown was a German television series that ran between 1998-04-21 and 2001-10-11. It ran for 46 episodes, and starred Sven Martinek, Diana Frank, Thomas Anzenhofer and Volkmar Kleinert.Der Clown was also a 2005 film.-Story:...
– German television series
Famous
- A. Robins – Vaudeville's "The Banana Man" and "One Man Music Shop"
- Andy KaufmanAndy KaufmanAndrew Geoffrey "Andy" Kaufman was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one...
American comic and one of the most famous practitioners of anti-humorAnti-humorAnti-humor is a type of indirect humor that involves the joke-teller delivering something which is deliberately not funny, or lacking in intrinsic meaning. The audience is expecting something humorous, and when this does not happen, the irony itself is of comedic value. Anti-humor is also the basis... - Clark & McCullough – Bobby Clark & Paul McCullough started as circus clowns and progressed to be stars of stage and screen
- Ed WynnEd WynnEd Wynn was a popular American comedian and actor noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor....
– The Perfect Fool - George CarlGeorge CarlGeorge Carl was a "vaudevillian" style comic & clown. Carl was born in Ohio, and started his comedy career traveling with a variety of circuses during his teenage years. In time, Carl would become internationally famous as a clown and visual comedian. In his sixties, Johnny Carson, a fan of...
– Longtime star of the Crazy Horse SaloonCrazy Horse (cabaret)Le Crazy Horse Saloon or Le Crazy Horse de Paris is a Parisian cabaret known for its stage shows performed by nude female dancers and for the diverse range of magic and variety 'turns' between each nude show...
in Paris - George Washington Lafayette Fox, perhaps the most famous American stage clown during the 19th century and one of the first known performers to become typecast in a role
- Joseph GrimaldiJoseph GrimaldiJoseph Grimaldi , was an English actor and comedian who is perhaps best known for his invention of the modern day whiteface clown. He chiefly appeared at Drury Lane in pantomime where his greatest success was appearing in Harlequin and Mother Goose; or the Golden Egg and followed with a successful...
credited with being "the first whiteface clown" — in an homage to Grimaldi, circus clowns began referring to themselves and each other as "Joey"s, and the term 'joey' is now a synonym for clown - Olsen & Johnson – Stars of Broadway's Hellzapoppin
- Richard TarltonRichard TarltonRichard Tarlton , an English actor, was the most famous clown of his era.His birthplace is unknown, but reports of over a century later give it as Condover in Shropshire, with a later move to Ilford in Essex...
– actor and clown in the Elizabethan theatreEnglish Renaissance theatreEnglish Renaissance theatre, also known as early modern English theatre, refers to the theatre of England, largely based in London, which occurred between the Reformation and the closure of the theatres in 1642...
in England - Robert ArminRobert ArminRobert Armin was an English actor, a member of the Lord Chamberlain's Men. He became the leading comedy actor with the troupe associated with William Shakespeare following the departure of Will Kempe around 1600...
– actor and clown in Shakespeare's company - Spike JonesSpike JonesMel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
and his City Slickers – Murdered the classics with their "Musical Depreciation Revue"; versatile American musical act featuring slapstickSlapstickSlapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
circus-style comedyComedyComedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in... - Tommy CooperTommy CooperThomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was a very popular British prop comedian and magician from Caerphilly, Wales.Cooper was a member of The Magic Circle, and respected by traditional magicians...
– British comedy magician - W. C. FieldsW. C. FieldsWilliam Claude Dukenfield , better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer...
– Vaudeville comedy star who mastered the variety as well as the legitimate stage, silent and talking films, print and radio - Will KempeWilliam KempeWilliam Kempe , also spelt Kemp, was an English actor and dancer specializing in comic roles and best known for having been one of the original players in early dramas by William Shakespeare...
(fl. c 1589–1600) – actor dancer and clown who worked with ShakespeareWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
; famously jigged his way from NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
to LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1600 - Willie, West & McGinty – Fast-paced Irish-American vaudevilleVaudevilleVaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
knockabout act about 3 laborers building a house
Contemporary
- Adam Gertsacov – bills himself as "The Most Educated Clown In America (barring certain elected officials.)" Currently the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, MarylandGreenbelt, MarylandGreenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
, and the "boss clown" of the Acme Clown Company - Alan ClayAlan ClayAlan Clay is a film director, writer and clown teacher. In his early career he performed extensively as a clown and increasingly taught the artform. He wrote three novels and a clown textbook. He went on to write and direct a short film and two feature films, which are adapted from his...
– International clown teacher and performer; and author of Angels Can Fly, a Modern Clown User Guide. - Alex the JesterAlex the Jester-Biography:Feldman performs under the stage name "Alex the Jester" in the style of a medieval court jester, a tradition which combines music, juggling, prop comedy and stage magic. While performing at the Just for Laughs international comedy festival in Montreal, Canada, Feldman began speaking a...
, the "King of Jesters," speaks a contemporary version of the medieval gibberish language GrammelotGrammelotGrammelot is a term for a style of language in satirical theatre, a gibberish with macaronic and onomatopoeic elements, used in association with pantomime and mimicry....
. - Avner Eisenberg – also known as Avner the Eccentric, a "Broadway" clown
- Bill IrwinBill IrwinWilliam Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
– Tony award winning clown known for his new vaudevilleVaudevilleVaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
-style performances - Blue Man GroupBlue Man GroupBlue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...
– Trio of silent characters that perform covered in blue paint - Dan "Sylvester the JesterSylvester the JesterDaniel Sylvester Battagline, also known as Sylvester The Jester , is an American magician, best known for playing a cartoon character which comes to life...
" Sylvester – The Human Cartoon - Dario FoDario FoDario Fo is an Italian satirist, playwright, theater director, actor and composer. His dramatic work employs comedic methods of the ancient Italian commedia dell'arte, a theatrical style popular with the working classes. He currently owns and operates a theatre company with his wife, actress...
– Capo Comicio – creator of "Mistero Buffo" and "Accidental Death of an Anarchist"; recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in LiteratureNobel Prize in LiteratureSince 1901, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded annually to an author from any country who has, in the words from the will of Alfred Nobel, produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction"...
; uses Arlecchino stage persona, political activist - Drew Richardson – The Dramatic Fool
- Emma the clown- the most popular French stage clown.emmalaclown.com
- Gale LaJoye – International performer and creator of "Snowflake"LaJoye.com
- Geoff HoyleGeoff HoyleGeoff Hoyle is a British performer who originated the role of Zazu in the Broadway theatre production of The Lion King. Hoyle has also performed in vaudeville shows, worked with Bill Irwin in "The Pickle Family Circus", performed with Cirque Du Soleil's Nouvelle Expérience, and performed with the...
– stage clown. Started in the Pickle Family CircusPickle Family CircusThe Pickle Family Circus was a small circus founded in 1974 in San Francisco, California, USA. The circus formed an important part of the renewal of the American circus. They also influenced the creation of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal...
with Bill Irwin and Larry Pisoni - Hilary Chaplain – Versatile NYC stage clown
- Jeff Jenkins – co-founder of Chicago's Midnight Circus
- Jean-Jacques Menais – Jyjou* (1989–present) The famous French clown, mime and flower.
- Julie Goell – "If Olive Oyl played Tinkerbell, in a play by Kafka, directed by Mel Brooks, and designed by Samsonite"
- Karen Koziol Scurto - owner of California Clown School
- Michael Lane Trautman – physical clown and pantomime, with several theatrical shows
- Mump and SmootMump and SmootMump & Smoot are a Canadian clown duo created by Michael Kennard and John Turner, directed by Karen Hines. Also referred to as 'clowns of horror' they've produced interactive, improvisational plays aimed squarely at adult audiences.-Background:...
– Canadian "clowns of horror" - Richard PochinkoRichard Pochinkothumb|right|alt=Pochinko 1980|Richard Pochinko 1980Richard Pochinko was a notable Canadian clown trainer who developed a new style of mask/Clown performance training, known as the "Pochinko technique".-History:...
– founder of "Canadian ClowningCanadian clowningThe Canadian Clowning Technique is a mask-based style of performance created by Richard Pochinko.Also known as the "Pochinko Method", seven masks are used, each representing one of the six physical directions . The final mask is the Clown...
" style - Slava Polunin – Russian-born clown and creator of "Slava's Snowshow", a theatrical experience currently running at Union Square Theater in New York, New York
- Wolfe BowartWolfe BowartWolfe Bowart is a modern-day physical comedian, actor and playwright whose work is reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. His current touring productions include Letter's End, LaLaLuna and The Man the Sea Saw...
– stage clown touring internationally with his productions LaLaLuna and The Shneedles - Sergey PavlovSergey Alexandrovich PavlovSergey A. Pavlov is a Russian actor, clown, television director, writer and composer- Biography:1980 – Sergey Pavlov was a student of "Clown Studio" in Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard...
– Russian clown "LALALA", creator of "LALALA SHOW"
Fictional
- Adam the Clown, from the video game Dead RisingDead Risingis an action-adventure, survivor horror video game, developed by Capcom and produced by Keiji Inafune. It was released on August 8, 2006 exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game console. The game was a commercial success. It has been introduced into the Xbox 360 "Platinum Hits" lineup, and a cell...
. Equipped with two chainsaws that he juggles, he is a bossBoss (video games)A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
in the game. He dies by falling on his chainsaws and suffering from massive blood loss. - Binky the Clown from Garfield and FriendsGarfield and FriendsGarfield and Friends is an American animated television series based on the comic strip Garfield by Jim Davis. The show was produced by Film Roman, in association with United Feature Syndicate and Paws, Inc., and ran on CBS Saturday mornings from September 17, 1988 to December 10, 1994, with...
- Buggy the Clown is the antagonist of the mangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
One PieceOne Pieceis a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
. His appearance is best described as a mix between a blue-haired clown and a stereotypical pirate. He is extremely sensitive about his real nose (which actually looks like a false clown nose) and anyone who says any thing that he thinks sounds like an insult to his nose, (even if the statement has absolutely nothing to do with his nose) will cause him to get extremely violent. (if you watch the episodes in Japanese you will see the words are similar to "big" "red" & "nose") - Buttons, a central character from the 1952 film The Greatest Show on EarthThe Greatest Show on EarthThe Greatest Show on Earth is a 1952 drama film set in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The film was produced, directed, and narrated by Cecil B. DeMille, and won the Academy Award for Best Picture...
, played by James StewartJames Stewart (actor)James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime... - Calvero was a famous clown character played Charlie ChaplinCharlie ChaplinSir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
in the film Limelight - Captain Spaulding, from the horror films House of 1000 CorpsesHouse of 1000 CorpsesHouse of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 exploitation horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie; it is his directorial debut. It was released in the United States on April 11, 2003 by Lions Gate Entertainment.-Plot:...
and The Devil's RejectsThe Devil's RejectsThe Devil's Rejects is a 2005 American horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie, and the sequel to his 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses. The film is about the family of psychopathic killers from the previous film now on the run... - Chuckles the ClownChuckles the ClownChuckles the Clown is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show . His character is best known for his off-camera death in the episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust."...
was a Mary Tyler Moore Show background character who was trampled to death in one of the best-known episodes - Dodo Delwyn once a famous Ziegfeld star, is reduced to playing clowns in burlesque and amusement parks in 1953 film The Clown, played by Red SkeltonRed SkeltonRichard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
- Frenchy the ClownFrenchy the ClownFrenchy the Clown is the title character in National Lampoons "Evil Clown Comics", which ran in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Nick Bakay created the Evil Clown storyline for National Lampoon utilizing Alan Kupperberg as the illustrator...
of the national lampoon comic Evil clown comics series - I PagliacciPagliacciPagliacci , sometimes incorrectly rendered with a definite article as I Pagliacci, is an opera consisting of a prologue and two acts written and composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It recounts the tragedy of a jealous husband in a commedia dell'arte troupe...
, (The Clowns) a tragic operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by Ruggiero Leoncavallo prominently features Arlecchino as a character. This opera was inspired by a true story - Jack, advertising icon for the fast foodFast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
company, Jack in the Box - Jack Point, from the Judge Dredd MegazineJudge Dredd MegazineJudge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.-Content:...
's The Simping Detective series.Undercover Judge who dresses like a clown in order to appear crazy enough to fit in. Also conceals several weapons within clown gear - Jojo, main character on the Disney ChannelDisney ChannelDisney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
's Jojo's CircusJoJo's CircusJoJo's Circus is a musical comedy series for preschool children. The series debuted in 2003 and airs in the United States on the Disney Channel as part of the Playhouse Disney morning programming schedule at 6am eastern time. The program airs daily on both the UK and Australian versions of... - The JokerJoker (comics)The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
is a supervillain often called the "Clown Prince of Crime" from DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner... - Koko the ClownKoko the ClownKoko the Clown was an animated character created by animation pioneer Max Fleischer. The character originated when Max Fleischer invented the rotoscope, a device that allowed for animation to be more lifelike by tracing motion picture footage of human movement. To test out his new invention...
from Max FleischerMax FleischerMax Fleischer was an American animator. He was a pioneer in the development of the animated cartoon and served as the head of Fleischer Studios...
's Out of the InkwellOut of the InkwellOut of the Inkwell was a major animated series of the silent era produced by Max Fleischer from 1918 to 1929.The series was the result of three short experimental films that Max Fleischer independently produced in the period of 1914-1916 to demonstrate his invention, the Rotoscope, which was a...
series of animated cartoonAnimated cartoonAn animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
s - Krusty the Clown the television clown from the animated television series The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
- PennywiseIt (novel)It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King. The story follows the exploits of seven children as they are terrorized by the eponymous inter-dimensional predatory life-form that exploits the fears and phobias of its victims in order to disguise itself while hunting its prey. "It"...
, the clown monster in the Stephen KingStephen KingStephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
book It - Pierrot Bolneze from Yakitate! Japan, world-class clown, bread judge and master of ceremonies, he's also the crown princeCrown PrinceA crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of Monaco according to the series. Even though he's defined as a clown, he looks more like an harlequinHarlequinHarlequin or Arlecchino in Italian, Arlequin in French, and Arlequín in Spanish is the most popularly known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte and its descendant, the Harlequinade.-Origins:...
and he perform acrobacies (like free-falling from a great height) and even magic tricks (like cloning himself) - Rajoo, a circus clow and the central character in Raj KapoorRaj KapoorKnown as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
's film Mera Naam JokerMera Naam JokerMera Naam Joker is a 1970 Hindi film directed by Raj Kapoor. The screenplay was written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. This film was the debut of Rishi Kapoor. Mera Naam Joker is a film about a clown who must make his audience laugh at the cost of his own sorrows. The film is reportedly inspired by Raj... - Ronald McDonaldRonald McDonaldRonald McDonald is a clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. In television commercials, the clown inhabits a fantasy world called McDonaldland, and has adventures with his friends Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird, and...
, McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
fast-food restaurant chain's advertising clown character, performed by various performers, all of whom were trained to portray the character in an identical manner. Prior to this standardization of the character, Ronald McDonald was played by several performers. In the first television ad featuring Ronald McDonald, the clown was portrayed by Willard ScottWillard ScottWillard Herman Scott, Jr. is an American media personality and author best known for his television work on NBC's The Today Show and as the creator of the Ronald McDonald character.-Early years:...
in Washington, D.C. - Scoopy, clown mascot of the Safe-T-Cone novelty ice cream cone company.
- Shakes the ClownShakes the ClownShakes the Clown is a 1992 American movie directed and written by Bobcat Goldthwait, who performs the title role. It also features Julie Brown, Blake Clark, Paul Dooley, Kathy Griffin, Florence Henderson, Tom Kenny, Adam Sandler, Scott Herriott, LaWanda Page, Jack Gallagher, and a cameo by Robin...
the title character of the film of the same name. Shakes the Clown was called "the Citizen KaneCitizen KaneCitizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...
of alcoholicAlcoholismAlcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
clown films" by the New York Times - YorickYorickYorick is the deceased court jester whose skull is exhumed by the gravedigger in Act 5, Scene 1, of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.Yorick may also refer to:* Yorick...
was a court jester who featured as the subject of a lengthy soliloquy in Shakespeare'sWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
HamletHamletThe Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601... - Stan is the clown name of the character Louison in the 1991 French film DelicatessenDelicatessen (film)Delicatessen is a 1991 French black comedy film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, starring Dominique Pinon and Karin Viard. It is set in an apartment building in a post-apocalyptic France of an ambiguous time period. The story focuses on the tenants of the building and their desperate...
. When Louison worked as "Stan" his sidekick was a chimp known as Livingstone and they were employed in the fictional "Cirque du Colonial" in Paris.
Further reading
- Poor Clown by Charlie Rivel
- Behind My Greasepaint by Coco
- Bert Williams – A Biography of the Pioneer Black Comedian by Eric Ledell Smith
- The Book Of Clown by George SpeaightGeorge SpeaightGeorge Victor Speaight was a theatre historian and the leading authority on 19th-century toy theatre.One of his brothers was the Shakespearean actor Robert Speaight, who paid for some of George's education at Haileybury....
- Bring On The Clowns by Beryl Hugil
- Clown, My Life In Tatters and Smiles by Emmett Kelly and F. Beverly Kelly
- The Clown In Times (Volumes 1–6) by Bruce Johnson
- Clowns by Douglas Newton
- Clowns by John Towsen
- Clowns Of The Hope – Tradition Keepers and Delight Makers by Barton Wright
- Felix Adler by Anne Aull Bowber
- The Fool and His Scepter by William Willeford
- Fools and Jesters At The English Court by John Southworth
- Greasepaint Matadors – The Unsung Heroes of Rodeo by Jeanne Joy Hartnagle-Taylor http://www.lasrocosa.com/greasepaintmatadors.html
- Grimaldi – King of Clowns by Richard Findlater
- Grock – King of Clowns by Grock
- Here Come The Clowns by Lowell Swortzell
- Jest In Time: A Clown Chronology by Bruce Johnson
- Life's A Lark by Grock
- A Ring, A Horse And A Clown by John H. McConnell
- Russian Clown by Oleg Popov
- The Tramp Tradition by Bruce Johnson
- Hammond, J.
- Woven Gods: Female Clowns and Power in Rotuma (book review)
- Handelman, D., Models and Mirrors: Towards an Anthropology of Public Events
- Little, K., Clown Performance in the European One-Ring Circus. Culture, 1981. 2(1):61–72.
- Rudlin, J., Commedia Dell'Arte; An Actors Handbookhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415047706
- Angels Can Fly, a Modern Clown User Guide by Alan Clay, Artmedia, ISBN 0957884419