Clowning around until the end: world’s oldest clown dies aged 98

The world’s oldest clown died today, aged 98.

Floyd “Creeky” Creekmore died in his home in the Montana city of Billings, after suffering from heart complications.

Despite his age, his friends and family said his passion for clowning lasted until the very end.

"A lot of people go clear through life and are never really passionate about something," his son Dave Creekmore told local media.

"Boy, he had the passion. He jumped into that with both feet."

Formerly a Montana rancher and a builder, Creeky started “clowning around” in the 1980s when he joined a circus performance group called the Shriners known for entertaining sick children.

As an integral member of the Shriners, Creeky also put thousands of hours entertaining the sick kids to help raise money for its hospitals.

In 2012, aged 95, Creeky was recognised by The Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest performing clown.

Later that year, Mr Creekmore held his last performance following the death of his wife of 74 years, Betty Creekmore died.

“Creeky continued to attend Shriners' clown meetings, but he never put on the makeup again,” his son said.

Creeky was hospitalised last month due to an intestinal infection. He was later released but never fully recovered.