Best Clown

Grock was a Swiss entertainer renowned for his unique brand of performance art. He combined clowning with exceptional musical skill, playing multiple instruments simultaneously during elaborate shows. Emerging in the early 20th century, Grock’s popularity reached across Europe and captivated audienc...

Yuri Nikulin was a prominent Russian figure in 20th-century entertainment. He is recognized as one of the most influential Soviet clowns, famed for his distinctive physical comedy and performances within the Moscow Circus. His work extended into film acting, solidifying his legacy. Nikulin’s style r...

Emmett Kelly Sr. was an American clown known for his poignant portrayal of Weary Willie, a hobo-clown figure developed during his time with Ringling Bros. Circus. Willie’s expressive face and slumped posture conveyed profound sadness and hardship, making him one of the most recognizable and beloved...

Slava Polunin is a renowned Russian mime artist celebrated for his intensely physical and visually arresting performances. His work blends elements of traditional mime with contemporary movement and theatrical spectacle. Primarily performing in snow shows, Polunin’s unique style captivates audiences...

Totò, originally Antonio De Curtis, remains one of Italy’s most significant comedic performers. His unique physical style and improvisational talent defined a generation of Italian cinema. He is particularly notable for his influence on physical comedy and continues to be appreciated by film enthusi...

Kukla was a hand puppet created by Burr Tillstrom for his popular puppetry show, Kukla, Fran and Ollie. The program, running from 1947 to 1957, is recognized as an innovative early television series. It’s notable for pioneering techniques now common in children's programming. Kukla was primarily des...

Mario Moreno, known as Cantinflas, was a prominent 20th-century Mexican comedian celebrated for his unique physical comedy style. His character, a lovable rogue with distinctive glasses and oversized suit, became a beloved icon of Mexican cinema. He primarily entertained audiences with slapstick hum...

Oleg Popov was a prominent Russian mime artist recognized globally for his distinctive style and physical comedy. He spent much of his career with the Moscow State Circus, earning widespread acclaim as “The Sunshine Clown.” His performances were celebrated throughout the Soviet Union and beyond. Pop...

Slava’s Snowshow is a touring revue created by Russian artist Slava Polunin. The performance utilizes physical theater and incorporates a large-scale artificial snowstorm as its central element. It's notable for its unique blend of clowning, movement, and visual spectacle. This show is primarily int...

Pinto Colvig was a significant figure in early twentieth-century entertainment as an American clown and voice actor. He is best known for originating the role of Bozo the Clown for Walt Disney’s animated shorts and radio programs. His distinctive vocal style and physical comedy performances establis...

Little Tich was a British performer active in the late Victorian era. He gained recognition through his elaborate pantomime clown character, characterized by oversized footwear – notably “Big Boot” – and extraordinary physical dexterity. His performances were popular within music halls and provided...

Leonid Yengibarov was an Armenian-Soviet circus clown and mime celebrated for his poetic, melancholic style, which earned him the nickname of the sad-eyed clown.

François Fratellini was a French circus performer who served as the elegant whiteface clown in the internationally renowned Fratellini Trio of the 1920s.

Paul Fratellini was an Italian-French circus clown who co-founded the legendary Fratellini Trio in Paris during the 1920s, reviving European circus arts.

Dan Rice was a highly influential 19th-century American clown whose variety performances and political satire earned him national fame and a presidential run.

Albert Fratellini was a French circus performer who created the erratic tramp clown role within the widely celebrated Fratellini Trio of the 1920s.

Karl Valentin was a Bavarian cabaret performer and clown whose absurd, melancholic humor made him a major influence on 20th-century German comedy.

Carequinha, born George Savalla Gomes, was a beloved Brazilian clown who became a television pioneer, starring in his own programs on TV Tupi starting in the 1950s.

Bob Keeshan was an American television producer and actor who notably portrayed Clarabell the Clown on the Howdy Doody Show in the 1950s.

George L. Fox was a prominent 19th-century American stage clown who popularized the Humpty Dumpty pantomime character to massive stateside success.

American comedian (1913–1997) celebrated for physical comedy and pantomime, whose self-titled CBS variety show ran for 20 seasons from 1951 to 1971.

Coco the Clown, born Nicolai Poliakoff, was a highly influential Russian-born circus clown who achieved massive fame performing in the United Kingdom.

Philippe Gaulier is a French theater teacher and clown who studied under Jacques Lecoq and founded the École Philippe Gaulier outside Paris, training generations of international performers.

Swiss clown and mime (born 1935) who trained with leading European mime masters and became internationally renowned for one-man shows blending physical comedy and poetic imagery.

Puddles Pity Party is the stage name of American clown Mike Geier, notable for his striking 6'8" tall sad-clown persona and his melancholic baritone singing.

Known by his stage name Karandash, Mikhail Rumyantsev was a legendary Soviet circus clown famous for his satirical persona and iconic scruffy dog companion.

Marceline Orbes was a Spanish silent whiteface clown who became a massive star at the New York Hippodrome in the early 1900s for his elegant pantomime.

Charly Cairoli was an Italian-born British circus clown famous for his engaging musical routines and his 40-year residency at the Blackpool Tower Circus.

Bill Irwin is an American actor, clown, and mime, a 1984 MacArthur fellow who won a special Tony Award in 1999 for Fool Moon.