This list of famous clowns includes photos, bios, and other information, when available. Who are the top clowns in the world? While most clowns don't intend to scare, these reasons why kids hate clowns might bring back some childhood fears. This list includes the most prominent clowns, living and dead, both from America and abroad. This list of notable clowns and clown names is ordered by their level of prominence, and can be sorted for various bits of information, such as where these popular clowns were born and what their nationality is. The people on this list are from different countries, but they're all regarded as famous clowns in history and today.
No clown names list would be complete without the likes of Willard Scott, Red Skelton, Bill Irwin, and more. Did you know serial killer John Wayne Gacy had a career as a clown as well? Famous circus clowns, famous TV clowns, and others are full of surprises.
From reputable, prominent, old, and well known clowns to funny clown names you might not have heard of, these are some of the funniest famous clown names int the business. You'll even find a few female clown names on this list! So, who are the most famous clowns ever? What are the names of famous clowns? This list has them all, with French, Italian, and other world famous clowns for your amusement.1
Bill Irwin
Age: 70William Mills Irwin (born April 11, 1950) is an American actor, clown, and comedian. He began... more2
John Wayne Gacy
Dec. at 52 (1942-1994)John Wayne Gacy (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer who raped,... more- 3
Emmett Kelly
Dec. at 81 (1898-1979)Emmett Leo Kelly (December 9, 1898 – March 28, 1979) was an American circus performer, who... more - 4
Red Skelton
Dec. at 84 (1913-1997)Richard Bernard Eheart (July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997) professionally known as Red... more - 5
Soupy Sales
Dec. at 83 (1926-2009)Milton Supman (January 8, 1926 – October 22, 2009), known professionally as Soupy Sales, was... more - 6
Grock
Dec. at 79 (1880-1959)Grock (January 10, 1880 – July 14, 1959), born Charles Adrien Wettach, was a Swiss clown,... more - 7
Bob Keeshan
Dec. at 77 (1927-2004)Robert James Keeshan (June 27, 1927 – January 23, 2004) was an American television producer... more - 8
Joseph Grimaldi
Dec. at 59 (1778-1837)Joseph Grimaldi (18 December 1778 – 31 May 1837) was an English actor, comedian and dancer,... more - 9
W. C. Fields
Dec. at 66 (1880-1946)William Claude Dukenfield (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946), better known as W. C.... more - 10
Dimitri
Age: 85Dimitri Jakob Muller (September 18, 1935 – July 19, 2016), known as Dimitri was a Swiss clown... more - 11
Otto Griebling
Dec. at 76 (1896-1972)Otto Griebling (April 28, 1896 – April 19, 1972) was a German-born circus clown who performed... more - 12
Michael Goudeau
Age: 61Michael Carey Goudeau (born May 11, 1959) is a juggler and an ex-circus clown who graduated... more - 13
Chester Conklin
Dec. at 85 (1886-1971)Chester Cooper Conklin (January 11, 1886 – October 11, 1971) was an early American film ... more - 14
Wavy Gravy
Age: 84Hugh Nanton Romney (born May 15, 1936) — known as Wavy Gravy — is an American entertainer and... more - 15
Bud Abbott
Dec. at 79 (1895-1974)William Alexander "Bud" Abbott (October 2, 1897 – April 24, 1974) was an American actor, best... more - 16
Avner the Eccentric
Age: 72Avner Eisenberg "Avner the Eccentric" (born August 26, 1948) is an American vaudeville... more - 17
Oleg Popov
Age: 90Oleg Konstantinovich Popov (Russian: Олег Константинович Попoв, 31 July 1930 – 2 November... more - 18
Bob Bell
Dec. at 75 (1922-1997)Robert Lewis Bell (January 18, 1922 – December 8, 1997), better known as Bob Bell, was an... more - 19
Pinto Colvig
Dec. at 75 (1892-1967)Vance DeBar Colvig Sr. (September 11, 1892 – October 3, 1967), professionally Pinto Colvig,... more - 20
Yuri Nikulin
Dec. at 76 (1921-1997)Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (Russian: Юрий Владимирович Никулин; 18 December 1921 – 21 August... more - 21
Jim Allen
Jim Allen is a television producer.... - 22
Lou Jacobs
Dec. at 89 (1903-1992)Johann Ludwig Jacob (January 1, 1903 – September 13, 1992), professionally known as Lou... more - 23
Willard Scott
Age: 86Willard Herman Scott Jr. (born March 7, 1934) is an American weather presenter, author,... more - 24
Arisa
Age: 38Rosalba Pippa (born 20 August 1982), better known by her stage name Arisa, is an Italian... more - 25
Achille Zavatta
Dec. at 78 (1915-1993)Achille Zavatta (6 May 1915 – 16 November 1993) was a French clown, artist and circus... more
