His classmates remember him as 'the class clown'. [=a student who tried to make other students laugh]
a rodeo 'clown' [=a person in a rodeo who dresses like a circus clown]
He was always 'playing the clown'. [=trying to make people laugh]
(..) This is Team Leader to Team Fuck-up. Knock the grab-ass off. Get back to your positions. You're compromising the unit. - That's an order. Do it now. - What are these fuckin' clowns doing? No, Slov. It's just a souvenir. No, Slov, not... What the hell... Let's go! (..)1997 G.I. Jane