Emmett Kelly

The role of Weary Willie made American circus performer Emmett Kelly famous. He was modeled by Great Depression hobos, and unlike most clowns, he never looked to have a smile on his face. He dressed shabbily and shuffled as he performed, portraying the oppressed who struggled in their late 20s and early 30s in American history.

People could identify with Kelly's Weary Willie character, which helped him become a tremendous sensation. A star of The Greatest Show on Earth, which won the 1952 Academy Award for Best Picture, he has performed with some of the most well-known circuses acts in the world, including the Ringling Brother circus.

He was the most well-known clown in the world when he passed away in 1979 at the age of 80.