Biography
Emmett Kelly was an American circus clown and actor. Born in Sedan, Kansas, he created the character Weary Willie, a mournful tramp clown, which he first performed in the 1920s and developed while working with various circuses, including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey from 1942 until the late 1950s.
Kelly made his film debut in The Fat Man (1951) and appeared as himself in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). He also featured in television series including General Electric Theater (1955) and The Carol Burnett Show (1967). He wrote the autobiography Clown (1954) and died in Sarasota, Florida.
