Tragic Clown

The Tragic Clown (also known as Sunny the Tragic Clown) was for the first time introduced in The Sims: Livin' Large as one of the newly featured NPCs (the other being the Grim Reaper, Genie, Servo and Santa Claus). He is also one of the pre-created, yet deceased sims featured in The Sims 3, which resided, during their lifetime, in the Sunset Valley, neighborhood that ships with The Sims 3.

Life leading up to The Sims
In The Sims, the Tragic Clown visits depressed sims who own the "Tragic Clown painting" in order to cheer them up. However, it doesn't help because the Tragic Clown is also feeling miserable and for that reason, any tricks he attempts to do will fail, meaning he will probably make already depressed sims even more depressed (an example is that when he juggle, he gets hit by the bowling pins he is juggling with). He usually wanders around the house, cries and coughes. Although sims can interact with him, the only interaction that makes them happier is "insulting" him. The Tragic Clown will leave only if are depressed sims cheered up (a hard feat to achieve when is the Tragic Clown constantly making matters worse), or if the "Tragic Clown painting" catches fire. If this happens, the Tragic Clown himself will also go up in flames. Also, The Sims Official Site released a download called "The Clown Catchers", a service that your sims could call via the phone. When they arrived, they removed the Tragic Clown from the lot.

Life leading up to The Sims 2
The Tragic Clown doesn't make an appearance in The Sims 2, but he is replaced with similar character, the Social Bunny, who has even a similar goal. Social Bunny visits sims, which have a low social need. Unlike the Tragic Clown, Social Bunny is always successful in his mission and just having him around raises the social need. The Social Bunny leaves when is the bar back up to the halfway point.

Life leading up to The Sims 3
Although The Sims 3 is a prequel to The Sims, the Tragic Clown is already deceased and buried in the Pleasant Rest Graveyard. Things like where he died or why was not in The Sims 2 are unknown. His tombstone (which can be found along the east side of the Pleasant Rest Graveyard) indicates that he drowned. For that reason, the colour of his ghost is blue. His ghost can usually be spotted around the time when most of the other ghosts are already out.

Appearance
The appearance of the Tragic Clown from The Sims 3 is quite different compared to his appearance in The Sims. He looks more realistic, friendly and colourful. His clothing consists of light green shirt with grey waistcoat and colourful pants. He also wears a black and white hat (all of these things includes detailed patterns). He still has his signature "clown" makeup but without a white mask. The colour of his hair is no longer red, but blonde instead. His eyes are dark blue. Although it seems that he has short hair, he has actually long hair, which is revealed when he wears sleepwear, athletic and swimwear clothes.

Personality
The Tragic Clown's traits are Easily Impressed, Bookworm, Neat, Clumsy and Hydrophobic. Strangely, he doesn't have any favourite things but his lifetime wish to become a "World-Renowned Surgeon". Judging by his traits, his personality is an exact opposite of the "typical" clown.

Appearance in Other Games
The Tragic Clown made an appearance as the downloadable golfer, along with other familiar characters including Bella and Mortimer Goth in the SimGolf game.

Trivia & Easter Eggs

 * Clown Catchers: Maxis included a downloadable service called the "Clown Catchers", which, when rung up, would come round and remove the Tragic Clown from the house. After they catch him, they will also take the "Tragic Clown painting" to ensure he does not come back.
 * Tragic Clownfish: There is a "funny looking fish" called "Tragic Clownfish" in The Sims 3. Catching it, is a main goal of one of the fishing opportunities.
 * Milk: A photo of the Tragic Clown can be seen on the milk cartons in The Sims 3.