16 Facts About Otto Griebling

Otto Griebling was a German-born circus clown who performed for many years with the Cole Brothers and Ringling Bros.

Otto Griebling was one of four clowns given the title Master Clown by Irvin Feld.

Otto Griebling was born April 28,1896, in Koblenz, Germany.

Young Otto worked his way to the United States by boat in 1911.

Otto Griebling studied under and worked with Albert Hodgini in Baraboo, Wisconsin, for several years, performing in Hodgini's act in the Sells Floto Circus and other circuses.

Otto Griebling changed his performance area in 1930 after suffering a serious fall.

Otto Griebling developed a silent tramp clown character, an act that he would perform as a clown.

Otto Griebling would walk around the circus holding a slab of ice asking for Miss Jones.

Otto Griebling was a clown with the Cole Brothers Circus from their first tour in 1935, eventually becoming Cole Brothers' head clown before he joined the Ringling Bros.

Otto Griebling spent the rest of his circus career with Ringling, going on strike in 1956 with Emmett Kelly and later teaching to the first few classes of the Ringling Bros.

Otto Griebling appeared as Jimmy Durante's stunt double in the 1962 film Jumbo.

In 1970 Otto Griebling had his larynx removed due to cancer, but it did not affect his silent act.

Otto Griebling's first wife, Hanna, was a fellow circus performer; they had three children together and divorced in 1948.

Otto Griebling died on April 19,1972, from a stroke following a brief illness for which he was hospitalized at Saint Clare's Hospital in New York City.

Otto Griebling was buried at Sarasota Memorial Park in Sarasota, Florida.

Otto Griebling was inducted into the International Circus Hall of Fame in 1973.