The success of clown comedy is dependent on the comic or comics who take centre stage. These comics are usually identified with a specific comedic shtick, physical or visual humour, and their underdog status. This study of film scholar Wes Gehring presents a brief, historical overview of major figures in the genre, including W.C. Fields, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope and Woody Allen. The comedians discussed are drawn from four genre periods: the silent era, the depression era, the post-World War II period and the modern era.