Ernie Burch; Played Blinko the Clown in Film, at Resort

Ernie Burch, known as Blinko the Clown at the Circus Circus hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Burch began his clown career when he ran away from home to join the circus. After serving in the Army during World War II, he joined the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, He later adopted the name Blinko at the suggestion of film director Cecil B. DeMille, who featured Burch in the 1951 film “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The worldwide fraternity of professional colleagues honored him with the title King of the White-Face Clowns. Burch, who never revealed his age, spent more than five decades as a clown before joining Circus Circus in 1977. He quickly became known as the resort’s resident ambassador of goodwill, strolling the midway, greeting guests and inflating balloons for children. Burch retired from Circus Circus in 1990 and was honored by hotel officials and fellow performers. In Sarasota, Fla., of cancer on an unreported date.