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Clowns have always sparked fear in many. While some may not admit to being outright afraid, most people acknowledge that there’s something deeply unsettling about them, regardless of their form. A glance at the most influential clowns throughout history reveals that this figure has always had a dual nature.
10. The White Fool
Various Native American tribes had their unique types of clowns. The Arapaho's 'white fool'—or white crazy man—wasn't just a figure of fear in retrospect. He was feared by his own people.
He was called the white fool because of the white clay he painted his body with, and it was believed that he had access to special medicinal magic, making him powerful. Additionally, it was understood that the white fool had unrestricted sexual freedom during ceremonies, meaning he could engage with anyone, and he became one of the most dreaded figures in ritual.
In myth, the white fool often stood in contrast to the noble, selfless Big Chief, who, despite being his brother, plotted to rid himself of the fool.
9. Joseph Grimaldi and Grim-All-Day
The iconic modern clown and the concept of pantomime owe much of their development to British performer Joseph Grimaldi. He was introduced to theater by his father, a madman known as the Signor or Grim-All-Day.
The Signor claimed that the Devil once told him he would die on the first Friday of every month. When that day arrived, he would lock himself in a room full of clocks and stay awake all night. To train aspiring performers, the Signor subjected them to bizarre torments, such as suspending them in stocks above the stage.
Biographers speculate that Joseph Grimaldi's upbringing by such an unpredictable madman influenced him to create an onstage persona that was equally erratic and insane. His 19th-century appearance was described as 'part-child, part-nightmare,' with a mouth painted blood red like a gaping wound. He also suffered from a split personality, oscillating between depression and mania.
8. The Clowns of the Aztecs
While the Aztecs are often associated with human sacrifice, it seems they also appreciated a bit of humor, just like any other civilization.
When Hernan Cortes returned to Europe with treasures stolen from the Aztecs, he included a group of Aztec clowns—dwarfs and hunchbacks—as part of his presentation to Pope Clement VII.
In his masterwork on the Aztecs and their downfall, William H. Prescott vividly described Montezuma's personal clowns and fools. Prescott suggested that these figures were so grotesquely deformed that they likely weren't the product of natural causes.
Like many rulers, Montezuma believed that hidden within the jests and antics of his clowns was a kernel of truth that no one else dared to speak.
7. Tristano Martinelli, The First Harlequin
In the 1570s, a troupe of Italian performers traveled from Italy to Antwerp and then to Paris, led by Tristano Martinelli. Martinelli had developed a distinctive character for his performances, donning a black leather mask, a full-body suit patched with pieces of fabric, a hat adorned with a rabbit’s tail, and carrying a wooden sword.
Martinelli adopted the name Arlequin. The character became so popular that, within a few years, he began signing his name with detto Arlechino comico.
The original Harlequin was a servant and an utter fool. Eventually, Martinelli wore a half-mask with an exaggerated, questioning expression, and the character began to take on a darker tone. Comparisons were made between Martinelli's Arlequin and Alichino, a demon appearing in Dante’s renowned depiction of Hell.
6. The Cannibal Clowns
The Native American tribes of the Northern Plains region named their clowns after the windigo, a fearsome, enormous creature that roamed the forests and hunted travelers to satisfy its craving for human flesh. Known by various names, including “windigokan,” “wetigokan,” and “wintgogax,” depending on the tribe, these cannibal clowns were misleadingly named.
When a leader received a vision of the Skeleton Being, a group of ten men would dress in rags and wear masks with long noses. The clowns would then set off on a hunt. Upon returning with their catch, they would perform a mock hunt, where they stalked and then ran from everything, from the remains of the fallen animal to strips of drying meat, all designed to provoke laughter.
It was this laughter that was believed to be healing, thought to drive away any demons or evil spirits that might be possessing the tribe’s members.
5. Pagliacci
Pagliacci (“The Clowns”), a 19th-century opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo, helped solidify the image of the clown as a tragic figure. In the opera, a troupe of traveling clowns arrives in a town to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption.
Canio, the lead clown, eventually discovers that his wife is having an affair with another performer. When Nedda refuses to reveal the name of her lover, Canio stages a performance that mirrors the real-life conflict. The performance ends in tragedy when Canio kills both his wife and her lover.
The opera is based on the true story of Gaetano Scavello, a tutor hired to discipline the young Leoncavallo. Scavello became entangled in a love triangle, which concluded with him confronting his beloved and a village shoemaker. Scavello was fatally stabbed, the shoemaker’s brother was arrested, and the incident was later immortalized as a tragic operatic tale of clowns.
4. William Kemp
William Kemp was one of the most famous actors of the Elizabethan era. His influence as a stage clown became so significant that Shakespeare likely drew inspiration from Kemp’s performances for his own writing.
Kemp was known for improvising, and his tendency to veer off-script was one of the things that made him a favorite among audiences. Some scholars speculate that a rift between Kemp and Shakespeare—who often wrote with the specific actors in mind—could have been the reason Falstaff was excluded from Henry V, despite earlier promises of his return. When Hamlet mentions that clowns should merely follow directions, it is likely a reference to Kemp’s style.
Kemp was also known for his bold stunts. After his famous 1598 morris dance from London to Norwich, he penned a book about the journey, in which he humorously referred to Shakespeare as “Shakerags.”
3. Dan Rice
Dan Rice claimed to have been Abraham Lincoln’s personal clown, to have inspired the iconic image of Uncle Sam with his patriotic clown costume, and even to have invented pink lemonade. But the reality of his life is even more extraordinary.
Rice was a clown during a time in U.S. history when the circus was far from family-friendly. He dubbed himself the Great American Humorist and used his platform to offer sharp critiques of contemporary events, particularly the Civil War.
Rice capitalized on the myth surrounding his sharp humor to run for president. Despite being labeled a traitor by Northern newspapers (since his circus was based in Louisiana), Rice maintained a firm abolitionist position and led the Democratic vote tally.
He ultimately dropped out of the race after a few months, fading into relative obscurity, though his influence lived on through a new generation of circus performers, notably the Ringling Brothers.
2. Hopi Contrary Clowns
The Hopi have four distinct types of clowns, each with its own role. Among them, the contrary clowns stand out, symbolizing the inevitable fate that awaits everyone, while also warding off evil through their humor.
Laughter has long been believed to be a powerful tool in combating evil and spirits. The Hopi contrary clowns achieve their humor by behaving in a way that is the complete opposite of normal conduct.
These clowns parody the most pressing issues people face daily, but their actions and language, which are intentionally reversed, reflect what awaits all in the afterlife. Hopi traditions assert that in the realm of the dead, everything is inverted, including day and night, as well as cardinal directions. By embodying this reversal in life, the clowns connect with the realm of the dead.
1. Jean-Gaspard Deburau
Jean-Gaspard Deburau was the mastermind behind one of Paris’s most beloved clowns, Pierrot, known for his white face and acrobatic performances. He captivated audiences across all social classes, regardless of the character he embodied during his shows.
However, his career took a tragic turn when, while walking through the streets of Paris, a child shouted the name of his stage character. Deburau turned, raised his cane, and struck the child on the head with such force that the boy died instantly.
Deburau was eventually cleared of the murder charges. Though he never explained the reason for the fatal blow, his biographers speculated that he had a split personality. While Pierrot allowed him to maintain control of his actions and emotions, the removal of his makeup seemed to unleash a darker side of him.
