Harmless jokers or evil lunatics? While clowns usually aim for laughs, the reaction from many—especially those who suffer from coulrophobia (fear of clowns)—is more like fear. W… See more

We owe thanks (or blame) to this English performer, who is considered the “father of modern clowning.” In the early 1800s Joseph Grimaldi created the character “Joey,” wh… See more

Known as the “king of clowns”—which we assume was meant as a compliment—the Swiss acrobat Charles Adrien Wettach began performing as a clown in 1903. That year he too… See more

He might be considered the Tom Brady of clowns. Like the famed NFL quarterback whose big break came when he replaced a hurt teammate, Oleg Popov took the lead when the M… See more