MICHAEL POLAKOVSMichael Polakovs, who died at the age of 86 on 6 December, 2009, was the latest in his family to perform as Coco the Clown.
He inherited the character from his father, Nicolai.
Coco is technically an 'Auguste' - the character who is always on the receiving end of buckets of water and custard pies. He had two distinctive and endearing traits - his huge boots, described as being size 58, and trick ginger hair with hinges in the centre parting that could lift when he was surprised.
Nicolai Polakovs (or Poliakoff) appeared for many years in England with the Bertram Mills Circus. Following a serious road accident in 1960 he focused his efforts on using Coco to promote road safety in schools and was awarded the OBE. He died in 1974.
Michael was born in Latvia, backstage at a circus where his father was performing.
He grew up in England and joined his first circus at 14.
He performed in America with the Mills Brothers Circus, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey.
A major claim to fame of Michael Polakovs was his role in creating the McDonald's promotional character Ronald McDonald.
In 1966 he was hired by the company to design the outfit and makeup that is worn by the character to this day. He also appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as Ronald McDonald and appeared in the first eight television commercials that featured the character.
Mr Polakovs left a wife, Hazel, daughter Michelle and two sons, both of whom are clowns themselves.
His eldest son, Graham, performed as Coco Jr., while youngest son David performed as Coconut, rather than Coco, because Nicolai Polakovs had decreed that there be only one Coco per generation.
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