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SIERRA VISTA — The man who was the “world’s most famous clown” died at 83 on Wednesday.
Emmett Kelly Jr., a Tombstone resident, was best known as Wearie Willie, a clown alter-ego that made him one of the circus world’s brightest stars.
“Wearie Willie was the original ambassador of happiness,” Kelly said in a 1984 Sierra Vista Herald interview.
Kelly died of complications from pneumonia at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, said his daughter, CherryAnn Kelly-Knapp.
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“Up until the day he died, he got letters and cards and poems from fans and friends,” Kelly-Knapp told The Associated Press on Thursday. “The world has lost the most wonderful friend.”
Kelly was born on Nov. 13, 1923, in Dyersburg, Tenn., on a circus lot where his father, Emmett Kelly Sr., was working as a clown, according to the Web site www.emmettkellyjr.com.
Kelly debuted as Wearie Willie at the 1960 Circus Festival in Peru, Ind. From there, he went on to travel the nation, and even acted as a representative for Eastman Kodak in 1964 at the New York World’s Fair.
In 1972, the Emmett Kelly Jr. Circus started touring the nation, including two performances at the White House, and Kelly also appeared on television specials.
Besides touring with the circus, Kelly went on to entertain at more than 2,800 hospitals and he was featured in print ads and TV commercials.
His Web site said there are still products today depicting his likeness available, such as figurines and lithographs.
In 1980, Kelly moved to Tombstone. Having passed through the town several times with the circus, he fell in love with the town’s mining history, Kelly-Knapp said.
In 1993, he was on a float in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day.
“He was the most humble, gentle loving man. He never got over the amazement that people loved his character,” Kelly-Knapp said.
Kelly also was known for giving time to charitable causes, including The Make A Wish Foundation, The American Cancer Society, Save The Children Foundation, and FACES — The National Association for the Craniofacially Handicapped, according to the Web site about him.
And a weekend event in Tombstone was named after him. Emmett Kelly Jr. Days, which is held in November, includes clown school and other events. It is done to raise funds for a scholarship for a Tombstone High School graduate.
Kelly made personal appearances as a clown until a year ago, due to health reasons.
He is survived by two other daughters and three sons.
Funeral arrangements are pending with Hatfield Funeral Home in Sierra Vista.
TheSilverRose wrote on Jun 27, 2009 10:22 PM:
Thank You! "