(July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997)

Red Skelton was a comedian, best known as a top radio and television star
from 1937 to 1971. Skelton’s show business career began in his teens as a
circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV ,and night
clubs. During this time Red was pursuing another career as a painter. Red
Skelton was quoted as saying, "I just want to be known as a clown, because
to me that’s the height of my profession. It means you can do everything—
sing, dance and above all, make people laugh.”

Painting by Red Skelton titled “Clowning  Around”