Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton (July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997) was an American comedian who is 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, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing another career as a painter. Skelton, who has stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio and television work, is 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."

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