Photo: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Bill Irwin is the sort of artist I cannot help but admire. A clown and actor from Santa Monica, he helped drive the American circus revival of the 1970s, then went on to win a Tony for Best Actor in a Play. The range it takes to be a serious dramatic lead and a master physical comedian is staggering, and the 1984 MacArthur Fellowship confirms what audiences already felt. What I love most is that he uses the body alone to convey both laughter and sorrow. Behind the painted face lies something deeply human, and I respect performers who reach that depth.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bill Irwin
- Name (Japanese)
- ビル・アーウィン
- Reading
- びる・あーうぃん
- Born
- April 11, 1950 (age 76)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Tiger
- Origin
- Santa Monica, California, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- circus performer / theatre director / clown / stage actor / film actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Oberlin College
Awards & achievements
- 1984 Guggenheim Fellowship
- 1984 MacArthur Fellows Program
- 2005 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
- Bessie Awards
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Bill Irwin born?
Born April 11, 1950 (age 76).
Where is Bill Irwin from?
Bill Irwin is from Santa Monica, California, United States.
What does Bill Irwin do?
Bill Irwin works as circus performer, theatre director, clown, stage actor, film actor.
Circus performer — see all → · Theatre director — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.