The Actor's Craft: Clowning With Bill Irwin

Watch the Tony-winning performer develop a wide-range of physical movement with only a few props.
Bill Irwin is one of the most impressive performers in the business. Dramatically, he has wowed audiences with stirring turns in plays like ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (for which he won a Tony Award) and ''Waiting for Godot'' (in separate productions, he's played both Lucky and Vladimir), among others. On the polar opposite end of the spectrum, he's made us laugh uproariously as a gifted clown and physical comedian in ''Old Hats'' and ''Fool Moon''. Now finishing up a run in Irish Repertory Theatre's ''On Beckett'', Irwin recently gave us a crash course in physical comedy that's bound to give you a trippingly good laugh while also stoking your imagination.

[@aidanchilders9043]

The reason Bill Irwin doesn't dance much on Legion is because his clowning skills would destroy the Shadow King in seconds.

[@BretHHamilton]

I've been a mime for 38 years and no one inspires me like Bill Irwin. He is a master.

[@rileysutton2823]

2:45 KIDS: No! No, Mr. Noodle, it's on backwards! ELMO: Mr. Noodle, your jacket's on backwards! (Laughs) Silly Mr. Noodle.

[@Junius]

WHY HAVEN'T MORE PEOPLE VIEWED THIS. WHY. HE'S A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT.

[@CRFlixs]

Clowning and Slapstick is a lost art. I remember seeing him on a stand up special in the late 80s. His routine was 90% physical and it was genius. So glad Nolan cast him as TARS in Interstellar, he did a great vocal and physical performance playing the role.

[@billclemons5593]

GIGANTIC FACTS! He’s phenomenally good

[@danafripp4120]

Too much genius in this man to be captured in under five minutes...but I'll take what I can get! ❤

[@artbygabe]

Well said

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

He came to my middle school in the 80s and performed for us. He was great friends with Robin Williams -- they were both in Bobby McFerrin's video 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' and Bill is also in Popeye.

[@NikolaiVolkovski]

My 9 month old daughter LOVES Mr. Noodle and he’s her favorite part of the day. I had to look up who played him and found out it was Bill; so I want to say thank you, Bill. Your character brings joy to a baby every day and she’s always happy to see you. You are a wonderful person in a world that can get pretty rough

[@cindiverbelun1802]

He IS a master at his craft, a BRILLIANT actor, and a REALLY NICE GUY too.

[@wwef6lr]

Everyone remembers him for Mr. Noodle, but I'll always remember him as Jeffrey from the movie Stepping Out. He was amazing!

[@billclemons5593]

He also was in the movie POPEYE! With Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall! That’s the first time I saw him

[@CRFlixs]

T.A.R.S. humor setting 100%.

[@allisonrogers1409]

Yes! Thanks for that reminder.

[@colleenbaudrau3051]

Bill you are just amazing I have always marveled in your creations and presence I laugh every time, You'll always be Mr Noodle to me!!🥰🥰

[@larrygohome5291]

I remember the first time I saw him on TV. I had never seen anything like it. I just randomly thought of him and googled “children’s comedian walks down fake stairs.” Found him! :)

[@GlennDavey]

So much physical comedy is based in the innate human desire for dignity and having that unexpectedly taken away from a character, or subverted, then returned triumphantly, then taken away again... which side it lands at the end depends if you want the character to be a permanent putz or eventually the hero. I discovered Bill from his playing of TARS the robot in Interstellar almost 10 years ago, where he was able to use his voice like almost like a physical body, and also credited as its puppeteer.

[@jean-pierrejipi5720]

Bill Irwin is a genius. I'm french and since the video"don't worry be happy" i know than Mr Irwin is brilliant 👍 . Tonight i looking at TV, C.S.I ( in France"les experts ) with Nathan Askell the serial killer .Mr Irwin you are a genius .

[@rileysutton2823]

3:07 I saw Bill Irwin (as Mr. Noodle) do that exact same hat trick on an episode of Elmo's World (Fast and Slow).

[@antoniomartinezprny]

I saw You on 8th Ave thru the glass of a Salad eatery ❤😂🎉 I said out laud, There is the Clown, without opening the door.❤😂🎉

[@lohrilla]

So good! An amazing performer and teacher.

[@riverbender9898]

You Sir are brilliant!

[@giorgiorosa4402]

I can unpack these 5 minutes for years.

[@fiorablasi7165]

meravigliosooo.. perchè lo scopro così tardi..

[@hyjynxproductionsltd.8932]

Thank you for sharing this! I feel like I learned a week's worth of lessons in that one video. WOW

[@maythineeTV]

He is a MIRACLE

[@ritastahl6427]

he’s my favorite clown!!!!!!!! I absolutely LOVE him!!

[@malenaramirez9377]

Maestro! 🙏🏽

[@richielekivezscheani]

Super love this...

[@YSOSERIOUSDUDE14]

Love Bill Irwin! Really want to know where to begin in studying his clown and more beginner blocks!

[@Junius]

Go to SF. There's like 3 clown colleges there. That's where he learned his craft. But then he made it all his own.

[@jenifferdejesus7722]

Lou Lou who! 😊 did he do mr. Noodle in elmo's world?

[@sophiasalazar2125]

From Los Angeles California 🇺🇸

[@chickenlurkinyungchihuahua]

Mr. Noodle!!!!

[@billclemons5593]

MASTER CLASS

[@titaniachaosofficial346]

thanks for that, loved it and will immediately start rehearsing! best wishes from Titania Chaos ;-)

[@HullBoy-ld6nf]

Is that you, Mr. Noodle?

[@rileysutton2823]

Yep, that's him, just without the frizzy red hair, mustache, and big red bowtie.

[@dickenscider4082]

Bill Irwin. Popeye, the Cosby show, don’t worry be happy, and much, much more.

[@cpi23]

living legend

[@treywest268]

Absolute Genius!

[@Junius]

Suddenly when he puts the hat on, he looks COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Bizarre. Wonder how long it took him to FIND the right costume for him.

[@markfostercrtgamer3201]

Brilliant as always

[@PuddlesPityParty]

♥️

[@gio1884]

So cool

[@erinslearningchannel]

thank you so much for this video :-)

[@rileysutton2823]

3:18 "There he goes with the hat thing again."

[@sophiasalazar2125]

Sergio: it’s 👀 👍 Sam I am

[@branhateshandles]

Brilliant in Rachel Getting Married

[@TimothyJonSarris]

Well, well. Look who makes it look so easy.

[@ACARDtvMusic]

He’s doing and looking good at 71

[@thebamboozlerette1824]

A master

[@matthewesqueda1861]

Sheer genius 👏 🙌

[@JTC2227]

I know this guy as Mr. Noodle from Elmo's World

[@paddybird1]

Amazing

[@spidernellie]

WOW

[@CRFlixs]

Talk to me TARS!

[@sophiasalazar2125]

Sergio: 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@timothyball7502]

America's true Clown, the others are levels under his talent. 11-23-2021

[@kndonehundredm3715]

He has a wig and fake mustache when he's Mr. Noodle.

[@Titanic19127]

Mr noodle

[@alaynehartley2065]

Happy birthday to Bill Irwin (Mr. Noodle, Sesame Street; Dr. Peter Lindstrom, Law & Order SVU) Born April 11, 1950 (age 70)

[@pessie83]

Don't forget Nate Haskell, CSI: Las Vegas.

[@813Productions]

TARS!

[@haidenedwards198]

Are they the same pants he wore in Elmo's world

[@72grantorino]

Don't worry

[@Junius]

WHY SO FEW VIEWS??????

[@sergiosalazar569]

Wa la

[@sergiosalazar569]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@denisejohnson5962]

I can't help but think there is a hot body under there. I know he's 70 but don't be that limber and be a slouch in the workout department.

[@rynolascavio3381]

You have to be a bit of an natural athlete to move like this.

[@jesselee669]

do u know who bill irwin is is the self guest and mr leeeds in lady in the walter american masters sesame street get up and dance sesame street a muiscal celebraion charlie rose showing up and old hats eric the white black and brown guyin a new life hal silver the white and black guy in dark matter the old professor televion air mime guest apperances a new way to wallk random guy and mr noodle unidted in sesame street who ll replace the big bad wolf? sesame stretethe adventures of little big bird sesamae street max the magicain sesame street silly story time sesame street sleeping goruchy sesame street elmo vistes the doctor sesame street elmo and freinds the letter quest and outher magcial tales sesame street the plant g sesame street play all day with elmo sesame street jack's bigjumpsesame steeet rosita gets up set with zoe and abby big bird and snuffy and freinds hike elmo's wolrd skin elmo's wolrd jumpin elmo's world school elmo's world mailelmo's world helpin the street that we live on elmo's wolrd all about animals elmo's wolrd favaoirite things elmo's world peguins elmo's world dinosuars elmo's wolrd forgs elmo's world birds elmo's wolrd horse elmo' world fishes elmo's world cats geting dress elmo's wolrd familys drawings danceing books elmo's world freinds elmo's world elmo wonders and happy holidays lou lou who in how the grinch stold chrismas richard the white and black guy in lust life love the tars in interells the single dad in ricki and the flash the er doctor in this is us super brawl sunday the drector in forzen on broadway first look wwe star raven in raw back stage sym smack down wcw thunder wcw monday nitro leddies and gelteman my name is paul hayman cool as hell hard knocks short owata short and more thats what he does..