Barry Mark Lubin was born on July 3, 1952 in Atlantic City, New Jersey to Edythe Weinberg Lubin, a homemaker, and George Simon Lubin, an audiovisual engineer.
In Lubin's early years, he had no intention of becoming a circus clown. In 1974 a friend of Lubin applied for an audition with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Clown College, Barry decided to go along. Barry also auditioned and to his surprise was accepted. After the eight week course, Barry graduated and was hired by RBBB where he continued to work until 1079. It was during this time of performing with RBBB that Lubin developed his iconic character "Grandma".
In 1982 Barry joined the Big Apple Circus where Grandma would perform for the next twenty five seasons.
Grandma has become an international sensation, having performed in America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Grandma also was a featured performer in 15 of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
After retiring from the Big Apple Circus, Lubin lived in Stockholm, Sweden where he continued to perform, consult, write, teach and mentor.
In 2017 Barry rejoined The Big Apple Circus with much fanfare, advertisement for the circus announced "Grandma is Back".
On January 19, 2018 Barry Lubin resigned from the Big Apple circus after an allegation of sexual misconduct.
It was alleged that in 2004 Lubin pressured a 16-year-old Circus Smirkus, performer into posing for pornographic pictures.
Barry's Book
Tall Tales of a Short Clown
Available in our
Circus Book Store
On July 22, 2016 Barry Lubin was inducted into the
International Circus Hall of Fame. Friday, July 22, 2016
In 2002 Barry Lubin was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame.
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