I grew up in the Bronx where you would stay up late with your girlfriends just being silly in our bedrooms whatever. And I was always the clown.

I'm dealing with fools and trolls and soft targets. It's just strafing runs in my underwear before my first cup of coffee. I don't have time for these clowns.

I got through my teen years by being a bit of a clown.

I had no interest in sports so I didn't make friends in that traditional way where kids are in public school and they go and they join clubs and play sports. So I kind of had to find my own way to make friends and get attention and so I just was the class clown.

If by chance some day you're not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I've said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart then my purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.

I am not a sad clown. I am not a sad clown.

Dwight is a sad clown. You've seen those paintings of sad clown.

I know what I look like - a weird sad clown puppet. I'm fine with that.

Plus you know when I was young there was a lot of respect for clowning in rock music - look at Little Richard. It was a part of the whole thing and I always also believed that it released the audience.

I would borrow my mom's red Borghese lipstick and smear it on like a clown!

I remember in the circus learning that the clown was the prince the high prince. I always thought that the high prince was the lion or the magician but the clown is the most important.

People who know me they know I have a sense of humor I'm a bit of a joker a bit of a clown really and I would love someone to exploit that side of me and send me a romantic comedy.

I would hope they would be our fellow artists rather than trying to emulate or idolize clowns like us.

I realise that I do not change the course of history. I am an actor I do a movie that's the end of it. You have to realise we are just clowns for hire. After I had success it was great at first not to worry about money. It was on my mind when I was growing up.

I'm not a very serious person. You know how they say that clowns are very funny in public and are really sad at home? I'm really kind of stupid at home and more serious in public.

I actually was class clown but I don't know how that happened because I've never been considered an outwardly funny person.

I actually was class clown but I don't know how that happened because I've never been considered an outwardly funny person-as the people in this room will attest.

Being a funny person does an awful lot of things to you. You feel that you mustn't get serious with people. They don't expect it from you and they don't want to see it. You're not entitled to be serious you're a clown.

I had a friend who was a clown. When he died all his friends went to the funeral in one car.

It's odd the things that people remember. Parents will arrange a birthday party certain it will stick in your mind forever. You'll have a nice time then two years later you'll be like 'There was a pony there? Really? And a clown with one leg?'

Dick Van Dyke was my first idol. He's an amazing physical comedian like a classic clown but also very smart and not afraid to show vulnerability.

People like eccentrics. Therefore they will leave me alone saying that I am a mad clown.