Biography

Bill Britten was born on November 15, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Fame (1980), Bozo the Clown (1959) and Bozo's Big Top Circus! (1961). He was married to Mary Louise Jones. He died on February 4, 2020 in Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA.

Performed as a clown for a gas station franchise in Seattle, Wa, in l953. He later performed as "Prof. Oakey Doakey The Clown" with Ringing Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus at NYC's "Madison Square Garden" during the spring of 1954. Britten was also the third host/performer of WJZ/WABC TV Ch. 7 NYC's kids TV show "Time For Fun!" weekday afternoons from Monday December 31, 1956 to Friday August 1, 1958. Britten MC'd "Time For Fun!" as "Johnny Jellybean".

Succeeded Herb Sheldon as the third host/performer of WABD TV Ch. 5 NYC's "Looney Tunes Show", which was seen Saturday nights on WABD TV in NYC From Saturday August 9, 1958 to Saturday August 30, 1958. Britten also became the second host/performer of WABD TV Ch.5 NYC's "Bugs Bunny Presents which went out weekday evenings on WABD TV in NYC from Monday August 4, 1958 to Wednesday May 2, 1959.

Studied pupetry with two puppet theaters. One of the puppet theaters was sponsored by The University Of Washington in Seattle, Wa., where Mr.Britten was a student. He performed with these two puppet theaters and later on he took puppetry lessions with Mr. Frank Parris (The first head puppeteer/puppet maker) for "Puppet Playhouse Presents"/"Howdy Doody". Mr. Britten made his NYC TV debut as the second head puppeteer and cartoonist on "Jolly Gene & His Fun Machine" on WJZ TV Ch. 7 in NYC in l954. The show was seen weekday evenings on WJZ TV Ch. 7 in NYC from Monday September 21, 1953 to Friday February 25, 1955.