Emmett Kelly
/ˌemət ˈkeli/
/ˌemət ˈkeli/
- (1898-1979) the best-known US clown (= a person with comic clothes and a painted face who does funny things). Kelly became famous as the character Weary Willie with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circuses (1942-56). Willie's face was very sad, and everything seemed to defeat him.