Voting Station

Bob Bell

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Clown

The Resume

    (January 18, 1922-December 8, 1997)
    Portrayed Bozo the Clown for Superstation WGN-TV (Chicago) on 'Bozo' (1960), 'Bozo's Circus' (1961-80) and 'The Bozo Show' (1980-84)
    Received an Emmy Award (1970)
    Guest appeared on 'Riptide' (December 1985)
    Died of heart failure at age 75

Why he might be annoying:

    He was legally blind in his right eye but passed a physical to get into the U.S. Marine Corps by memorizing the eye chart (cheating clown).
    He also served in the U.S. Navy by sweet talking the doctor examining him to give him a pass.
    He went uncredited as a U.S. Cavalryman in the 1940 movie 'Arizona.'
    Even when tickets were obtained, the wait to get on his Bozo show exceeded 10 years.
    He's a Bozo.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He and Roy Brown (Cooky the Cook) often ad libbed lines (it was live TV) with hilarious results.
    His Bozo voice was the inspiration used by Dan Castellaneta to voice Krusty the Clown on The Simpsons.
    Although he wasn't the first or last person to portray Bozo, he was the first Bozo inducted into the Clown Hall Of Fame (August 3, 1996).
    After his death, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley declared April 18, 1998 'Bob Bell Day' in Illinois.
    Chicago has renamed a section of street near WGN-TV Studios 'Bob Bell Way.'
    About the show he quoted, 'I was always somewhat calloused about broadcasting, but this Circus is the doggonedest phenomenon I have ever seen. There's always the satisfaction that you have done something for somebody that goes beyond the commercial aspects of the show. I love my work and enjoy making children laugh. Laughter cannot be imitated. It comes from the heart.'

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 70.59% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 22 Votes: 59.09% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 37 Votes: 37.84% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 54 Votes: 51.85% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 41 Votes: 58.54% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 39 Votes: 56.41% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 98 Votes: 59.18% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 556 Votes: 56.29% Annoying