MICHAEL “Coco” POLAKOVS (1923 – 2009)
Coco was inducted into the 1991 Clown Hall of Fame.
Coco is a third generation Russian circus clown, who achieved his fame in England where the family came while he was a youth. He was associated with the Bertram Mills and Billy Smart Circuses in England, which later included tours of Europe. He came to the U.S. in 1953 to work for a limited time with the Mills Bros. Circus, before returning to England. Coco later joined Ringling Brothers, working eight years as advance man and goodwill ambassador. He developed several classic clown routines, including “Busy Bee“. He later became an independent working clown, sometimes acting as an advance performer in small shows.
