Larry Harmon, the entrepreneur who popularized Bozo the Clown more than 50 years ago, died of congestive heart failure on Thursday at the age of 83. Pinto Colvig, who provided the voice of Goofy in the Walt Disney cartoons, was the original Bozo, but Harmon obtained the licensing rights and turned the character into a television icon. He licensed the property to local television stations around the country, who had their own Bozos greeting kids and introducing cartoons. The Krusty the Klown character from The Simpsons is a blatant spoof of the franchise.
In the 1960s, Harmon ventured into TV animation and produced syndicated animated showcases featuring Popeye, Mr. Magoo, Dick Tracy, Laurel and Hardy and Casper the Friendly Ghost. Harmon also acquired the rights to Laurel and Hardy in 1960. His company continues to license the names and character rof Bozo and Laurel and Hardy worldwide.
Bozo the Clown was created in 1946 by Writer-producer Alan W. Livingston for a series of children’s records put out by Capitol Records. Harmon was one of several actors hired to appear as the fiery-haired merry-maker at promotional events. He would go on to have more than 200 Bozos working for him as the character became a sensation with kids everywhere. The first Bozo show, Bozo’s Circus, aired on KTTV in Los Angeles with Pinto Colvig’s son, Vance, in the starring role. The most popular incarnation, however, aired on WGN-TV in Chicago and had Bob Bell sporting the crazy wig and red nose. The station aired the show until 2001. A Harris poll once named Bozo as the most famous clown in the world.
Harmon continued to appear as Bozo from time to time for more than half a decade. He was disheartened when, In 2004, the International Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee took down his plaque and decided to instead honor Colvig for originating the role. While he never claimed to be the creator of Bozo, he thought the move dismissed the work he had put into making the character a household name. Harmon died at his home in Los Angeles with his wife, Susan. He is survived by a son and three daughters.
