# Mooky the Clown

Laci Endresz Jr. (born 28 July 1974) is an English circus performer who performs as the circus clown Mooky the Clown. He has been the main clown at the Blackpool Tower Circus since 1999.

## Background

Endresz was born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England. His father, Laci Endresz Sr., was born in Hungary and is the director of the Tower Circus at Blackpool Tower, a position he has held since 1992. Seven generations of his family have performed in the circus on his father's side and nine generations on his mother's side. He made his first appearance as a clown in a circus at the age of four.

## Career
### Early career

In 1985, Endresz won a bronze medal as a juggler at the Cirque Mondial de Demain Festival in Paris, France. In 1987, at the age of 12, he performed at the 12th International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo with his sister Kate, juggling with nunchucks, five and seven rings, four and five clubs, three then five balls and finishing his act with five fire torches. He has worked in most of the leading circuses in Europe, appeared on the Paul Daniels television show three times and performed at the Royal Command Performance.

### Mooky

Endresz is the third member of his family to use the name Mooky for his clown character. The name was first adopted by his grandfather in the 1940s and was then adopted by his father from the 1970s until the late 1990s. By the time his father began managing the Blackpool Tower Circus in 1992, Endresz had become Mooky Jr and performed as a sidekick clown to his father.
In 1999, Endresz took over as the main Mooky the Clown, and in the process became the primary clown at the Blackpool Tower Circus. Since then, he has starred each year in the summer circus show; and until it was discontinued in 2020, he also starred in the Circus’ pantomime.
In his act, Mooky is usually accompanied by a straight man, who often tries and fails to control Mooky’s chaotic behaviour. Over the years there have been different characters who have played this role. Initially, from 1999 to 2001, it was a ringmaster character played by Laci Endresz Sr. In 2002, Mr Maxi, an arrogant compere character was introduced in his place. Attila Endresz was the first to play Mr Maxi - doing so until 2007; while Tom Fackrell took over for the 2007 main season. In 2008, Endresz’ brother, Tom "Bubu" Endresz, became Mooky’s latest straight man - Mr Boo (spelt as Mr Booo until 2014). Mr Boo is a similar character to Mr Maxi; and much like his real life counterpart, is Mooky’s brother.

### Other work

Endresz appeared in the 1995 film Funny Bones as a juggler. He also appears in the short film Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World, playing young Joseph Grimaldi alongside his brother Bubu Endresz, who plays young Jack Bologna. He has also performed his juggling act on the Children's Variety Performance.
In 2007, he appeared in the second series of the Channel 4 documentary The Convention Crasher as Mooky, helping Justin Lee Collins learn clowning before he travelled to the United States to participate in a clowning convention in Houston, Texas.

### Awards

Endresz has won a number of awards, including:
| Award | Organization | Location | Year | Notes |
| Silver Medal Winner | Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain | Paris, France | 1985 | Won for his juggling act. |
| Silver Medal Winner | Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain | Paris, France | 1995 | Won for his juggling act "Wild on Wheels". |
| Best Ground Act in Great Britain | Circus Friends Association | | 1999 | Won for his juggling act "Wild on Wheels". |
| Leisure Parcs Entertainer of the Year | Leisure Parcs | | 1999 | |
| Best Comedy Act in Great Britain | Circus Friends Association | | 2000 | As Mooky |
| Best Comedy Act in Great Britain | Circus Friends Association | | 2001 | As Mooky |
| Best Comedy Act in Great Britain | Circus Friends Association | | 2002 | As Mooky |
| Best Comedy Act in Great Britain | Circus Friends Association | | 2004 | As Mooky, joint award with Mr Maxi (Attila Endresz) |
| Silver Cup | Hansa Theatre | Hamburg, Germany. | |
| Circus Personality of the Year | Bayern Munich Carnival, Circus Krone | Germany | | |
| Gold medal winner | Tokyo Circus Festival | Tokyo, Japan | | |
| Best All Round Entertainer | | Budapest, Hungary | | |

## Filmography
### Actor
#### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Funny Bones | Juggler | |
| 2017 | Grimaldi: The Funniest Man in the World | Young Joseph Grimaldi | Credited as Mooky |