Bill Irwin

Bill Irwin was born in Santa Monica, California, on April 11, 1950. Irwin studied Theatre Arts at Oberlin College, graduating in 1973. He spent the next year at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. Irwin created a run of highly regarded stage shows that incorporated elements of clowning. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts and has made a number of appearances on film and television. Although Irwin is best known for his theatrical clown work, he has also been featured in a number of dramatic plays. Irwin appeared in 1988 on stage with Steve Martin and Robin Williams for a production of WAITING FOR GODOT in the role of Lucky. He appeared in 2002 with Sally Field in the replacement cast of THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? In 2005, he starred alongside Kathleen Turner as George in a revival of Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Irwin has appeared in over twenty films. The first was in 1980, Robert Altman's “Popeye.” Other film roles include “My Blue Heaven,” “Eight Men Out,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “The Laramie Project.” Irwin has also worked on television in “Northern Exposure,” “Sesame Street,” “The Cosby Show,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “3rd Rock From The Sun.”