He was originally a member of the Knickerbocker Circus and helped rescue several children when the circus tent caught fire, killing a number of people. The event was known forever after as "the day when the clowns cried.".
His son, Emmett Kelly Jr. (d. 2006) followed in his footsteps to become
a circus clown.
Clown of renown (usually in sad-faced hobo's makeup although on some occasions he sported classic whiteface) with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, who acted in a handful of films.
Inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, 1996.
Emmett Kelly wrote and published his memoirs: "Clown" in 1954. He was
also a part of a nightclub comedy team with entertainer and radio/TV
broadcaster, Linn Sheldon, during the l930s.