Hollywood Harris - Rodeo Clown

Up Close & Personal With:

Hollywood Harris - Rodeo Clown

Publication Date: July 2001

Behind the painted face and rag-tag clothes of rodeo clown "Hollywood Harris" lies Texas native Clifton Harris. Born in Waco, TX, Harris always dreamed of becoming a rodeo clown. "I was born into the livestock business and grew up around rodeo," he explains. He competed for a while, but since he was more suited to comedy, clowning was a natural progression.

As a child, Harris was fascinated by two Texas clowns, Dan and Billy Willis. He spent hours studying the work of master rodeo clowns including veterans Quail Dobbs, Lecile Harris (no relation) and John Gilstrap. Meanwhile, he became hooked on the comedic skills of Don Knotts' Mayberry RFD character Barney Fife, Red Skelton and The Three Stooges. Physical comedy was his personal favorite, and once he decided to make it his career, performers like Steve Martin, Tim Conway and Jim Carey have been role models.

Harris has been called one of the most innovative clowns in rodeo and has enjoyed great success since starting out in 1984. He has been chosen to perform at several International Finals Rodeos both as a comedy act and a barrel clown. Harris won a record six events at the IFR contract show held in Oklahoma City, including comedy act, dress act, and the barrel man competition.

After his move to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), Harris' brand of comedy was embraced by the Professional Bullriders Association as well. The Tuff Hedeman Bullriding Challenge in Fort Worth marked his first PBR event followed by the PBR Finals in Las Vegas, the Laughlin Series Finals, and many of the Bud Light Cup Invitationals.

Harris prides himself on keeping his acts fresh and original. His popular cast of characters include Quick Draw McGraw, a mechanical outlaw dressed in black that matches wits with Hollywood, and Dino the Rope-a-Souras, which features him astride a six foot tall inflatable dinosaur. (That is as difficult to get into the roping box as the high-strung horses of many calf ropers!)

Harris loves magic and is an accomplished illusionist and sleight-of-hand artist. One of his most acclaimed acts is "Hollywood Houdini," based on an old Houdini illusion called "The Met-amorphosis." In the act, Hollywood magically changes places with an assistant who is locked in a box.

Five-year-old son Brinson James and wife Kelly accompany Harris on the road, which has become a year-round ordeal. Brinson recently joined the act as Booger Head and is most likely the youngest rodeo clown on the circuit.

Harris feels his comedic skills are falling into place and he looks forward to the crowds of the new millennium. Describing himself as still a kid himself, Harris knows that's what keeps him in tune with the younger crowd. After all, rodeo is the reason the kids come, but without Hollywood, the experience wouldn't be the same.

For more information on Hollywood Harris, check out his website at: http://www.hollywoodharris.com/bio.html