Emmett Kelly Ringling Bros

Emmett Kelly was one of the most famous clowns in the history of Ringling Bros. He created the character of Weary Willie, a sad hobo who always tried to make others smile. As Mel Gussow wrote, “Though a clown is often deadpan, he is a connoisseur of laughter.” Kelly knew how to use his facial expressions and gestures to elicit different types of laughter from the audience, from chuckles to guffaws.