Clarence E. Willard | |
|---|---|
 Photograph of Willard from the December 3, 1956 issue of Life magazine, published with a double exposure effect to show the extent of his "growing" ability. | |
| Born | 1882 |
| Died | (aged 79) Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Vaudeville performer, restaurateur |
| Known for | Elongation freak act |
Clarence E Willard (1882 – July 31, 1962) was an American vaudeville performer. After carrying out stretching exercises, Willard found he was able to increase his height at will by 7+1⁄2 inches (19 cm) and also elongate his arms and legs. He developed this into a freak show act under the name "The Man Who Grows". From around 1910 Willard performed in vaudeville in the United States and was also claimed to have performed at the Berlin Wintergarten theatre. He became associated with Robert Ripley, performing at the Believe It or Not! odditoriums and appearing in a short film. Willard appeared at the 1936–37 Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland, Ohio, and later ran a restaurant in Alameda, California.