High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Red Skelton (July 18, 1913?September 17, 1997), born Richard Bernard Skelton, was an American comedian who was best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing another career as a painter. Born in Vincennes, Indiana, Skelton was the son of Joseph E. Skelton (1878-1913), who died in 1913 shortly before the birth of his son, and Ida (née Fields) Skelton (1884-1967).