Though he isn't a clown in the traditional sense, Batman's arch-nemesis The Joker has been dubbed the clown prince of crime. The late Heath Ledger's manic portrayal of the character in 2008's "The Dark Knight" earned him a posthumous Oscar win and terrified legions of moviegoers. Some even speculate that playing the role drove Ledger to his death from a drug overdose. The Joker is the fifth most famous clown in pop culture.
What's scarier than a clown that kills people? A clown that kills people and is from another world. Stephen King's horror novel "It" brought us a character who can transform into what people fear the most – and surprise, surprise, he often appears as a clown. As Pennywise the demonic clown, he preys on children and feeds on their fears. Funny, huh? Pennywise is the fourth most famous clown in pop culture.
Krusty, the beloved clown from "The Simpsons" is known for his raspy voice, inappropriate humor, and goofy laugh. Krusty was originally planned to be Homer Simpson's alter-ego, meaning that Bart, who doesn't respect his father, would unknowingly worship him when he performed as a clown. Krusty's backstory ended up developing very differently: he is of Jewish descent and his father, a rabbi, looked down upon his choice of profession. Krusty is the third most famous clown in pop culture.
The word "bozo" dates back to 1920s America, but its origin is unknown. The word became much more popular with the advent of Bozo the Clown, who had many different television programs on a variety of stations for decades. Bozo was portrayed by several different actors over the years, though he was originally created for a read-along book set for children. Bozo is the second most famous clown in pop culture.
Ronald McDonald, the face of the McDonald's franchise, is not very well-liked. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2011 that in an index of over 2,800 celebrities, he was ranked 2,109 in consumer likability. However, Ronald scored fourth in consumer awareness, which all but solidifies his importance in popular culture and makes him the most recognizable clown in the world. I'm lovin' it?