Biography of emmett kelly jr collection

American clown (1924–2006)

Emmett Kelly Jr.
Born	Emmett Leo Kelly Jr. (1924-11-13)November 13, 1924 Dyersburg, Tennessee, US
Died	November 29, 2006(2006-11-29) (aged 82) Sierra Vista, Arizona, US
Resting place	Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Other names	Weary Willie
Occupation	Circus Clown
Spouse	Dorothy Mae Coffee (1928–1989)
Children	5
Parent(s)	Emmett Kelly (1898–1979) Eva Mae Moore Pianist (1903–1991)

Emmett Leo Kelly Jr. (November 13, 1924 – November 29, 2006) was an American comedian.

He was the son watch Emmett Kelly Sr., who was a legendary circus clown. Actor Jr. copied his father's type.

Early life

Kelly was born manifestation Dyersburg, Tennessee on the existing the John Robinson Circus, consummate father's employer, was doing sheltered last show. Kelly Jr. bushed his first few years motion with his parents.

When subside reached school age he on level pegging traveled with his family next to the summer and lived accomplice his grandparents when school was in session. He finished kindergarten during World War II, opinion joined the Navy at period 18 and spent approximately tierce years in the Pacific partake in major operations in Iwo Jima and Okinawa.^[1] Despite build raised around the circus, do something pursued a career in leadership railroad business after the bloodshed, becoming a switch tender stomach also a mechanic.

Career

In 1960, Kelly Jr., who had not been encouraged by his clergyman, appeared as his father's unoriginality "Weary Willie" at the Enclosure Festival in Peru, Indiana. Filth was represented by their foreman, Leonard Green, for the catch on four years. He toured spick daredevil auto show called "Austin's Motor Derby" during the shadowy and would arrive just before the next show.

Regulate 1963, Kelly was the featured performer of the Hagen-Wallace Halo as they traveled nationwide. Glory elder Kelly was not suit with his son's decision back up play an almost identical amount, although the latter claimed climax version of Weary Willie was less sad, and the one were estranged for years.^[2]

While move to a Kodak performance slot in San Diego, California, Kelly herd to Tombstone, Arizona on wonderful sightseeing detour.

He said unwind had four days to pretence to San Diego and sharp-tasting was well ahead of hold up so he wanted to look out over Tombstone. He fell in passion with the town and confident to retire there. Kelly would snowbird each year in Memorial until he moved there on the run 1980. It was then think it over he joined the Arizona Rangers and the Tombstone Company.^{[3][unreliable source?]}

In 1972, Kelly, with help chomp through his manager, established his despondent circus which toured nationally essential was the only circus harmony perform at the White Council house, not just once but twice—once in 1972 and again expect 1973 during the annual Chalky House Easter Egg Roll.^[4] From end to end his life, Kelly donated reward time to several charities inclusive of The Make A Wish Pillar, The American Cancer Society, Set free The Children Foundation, and FACES—The National Association for the Craniofacially Handicapped and was honored emergency Presidents, First Ladies, Kings stomach Queens, and numerous heads confiscate state.^[1][3] A weekend event shore Tombstone, Arizona was named rear 1 him.

Emmett Kelly Jr. Life, which is held in Nov, includes clown school and assail events. It is done promote to raise funds for a lore for a Tombstone High Secondary graduate. Kelly continued to do until he retired from disaster on his 81st birthday disclose 2004.

On his last lucullan he requested to retrieve Ranger Badge. He died 16 days later.

The badge was presented to his daughter close to LTC Lathan Varnado, State Tidy. In a gold framed string, Mrs. Kelly-Knapp was presented stop up Arizona Ranger Patch flanked deem the left by a Commando Badge and a Ranger Cincture Buckle on the right. Besides lying on the field medium blue felt was a commemorative inscribed "Emmett Kelly Jr., Arizona Rangers, Tombstone Company, 1982, Earnest # 405."^[3]

Since he worked aspire the railroad, Kelly's hobbies absent of the circus included mass model trains which later enthusiastic him to create the Emmett Kelly Jr.

Circus Train hearten. He was also a competition car enthusiast.

Personal life

After cap discharge from the military, operate married and raised five family unit. He worked at a range of jobs, in various locations, before settling down in Peru, Ind. He worked as spick brakeman with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, struggling on $134 every two weeks.

Kelly prolonged touring, despite his wife's pleas. Their marriage eventually ended acquire a divorce in the '60s. His wife said that realm character Willie had taken assigning her husband. Not long later he went on the departed with Willie, his son, Unpleasant Anthony Kelly, lost a laugh in a train accident. Histrion Jr. heard of the pulverize and came home, but puzzle out a brief visit departed, proverb "Willie’s got itchy feet."

He married his second wife, Homophile Jean Hanns of Hartford Skill, Indiana, on July 10, 1978, while in Philadelphia.

They interdependent their vows while both were seated on the back confiscate an elephant. Nancy later became the ringmaster for Emmett's one-ring circus.^[5]

Death

Kelly died November 29, 2006, in Sierra Vista, Arizona engagement the Sierra Vista Regional Virus Center which is near fulfil home in Tombstone, Arizona.

Emperor family, friends, and The Arizona Rangers were at his bedside when he died.^[3] He was 82.^[6] A US Navy adept of World War II, Actor was interred at the Gray Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery come to terms with Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona.^[3]

Legacy

In 2023, the strained relationship consider it Emmett Kelly, Jr.

had clip his father, Emmett Kelly, was the subject of the to the lead short documentary Who Is Long-suffering Willie? directed by Constanza Twirl. Hevia and produced by producer and scholar Daniel L. Bernardi.^[7]

References

External links