This article is a translated version of one that was formerly published on Christianity Malaysia Chinese.
At first glance, Sam Tee looks just like an ordinary, friendly uncle from next door. He wears a simple white T-shirt and khaki pants, smiling and welcoming visitors at the door of his home in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, looking no more extraordinary than anyone else.
But few people would imagine that this gentle father has brought joy and laughter to children all over the world for twenty-plus years, often wearing a bright yellow wig, red nose, and huge clown shoes.
For Sam Tee, being a clown is not just a job. It is a calling and his goal is simple. Sam hopes to share happy smiles and sow seeds of joy into the lives of as many people as possible.
An Accidental Start in Clowning
Sam Tee was born in a poor family in Kuala Lumpur. Due to his family’s financial difficulties, he could not continue his formal education. To make a living, he ran a small stall at Kuala Lumpur Central Market, selling self-designed buttons, badges, and small accessories.
One day, a regular customer – a magician – asked if Sam was willing to help at a children’s party. The job was very simple: he only needed to distribute balloons to children for an hour. Sam thought, “If I can earn some extra money, why not give it a try?”
That seemingly ordinary part-time job quietly planted a seed – the joy and passion for entertaining and in bringing happiness to others.
At the time, Sam was also teaching Sunday school at his church. The experience of interacting with children made him realize that he actually enjoyed communicating and engaging with children. Gradually, he began to seriously develop his clown persona.
Thus, “Uncle Button” was born.
Becoming “Uncle Button”
Before every performance, Sam spends at least half an hour on his makeup. He would sit in front of the mirror, slowly applying white paint around his eyes and mouth, then draw an exaggerated red smile, and finally put on the classic red nose.
Sam laughs and likens this to the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, “When you put on the clown costume, your whole personality also changes. You become another character.”
But for Sam, this is more than just role-playing. It acts as a kind of reminder. “When I paint this face, I remind myself to take this profession seriously. We may look funny, but we are seriously doing something meaningful.”
Clowning Beyond Just Entertainment
Many people, when thinking of clowns, often only think of circuses or birthday parties. However, Sam shares that the world of clowning goes far beyond that. All across the world, many clowns participate in various social initiatives such as:
- Clowns Without Borders
- Performances in support of disaster relief and psychological support
- Hospital visits to sick children
- Public education activities
- Anti-drug and safety awareness programs
Sam has himself also performed in many places, including disaster-stricken and impoverished regions, bringing joy to children.
“Sometimes, in the toughest places, people need smiles the most.”
In all of these services, for Sam, the most important aspect is not only in bringing laughter. He often uses his clown skills and talents to equip and train others, sharing the hope in the Gospel with others through creativity, humor, and love. Sam feels keenly that it would be a pity if these skills remained merely as performances.
With a pastor’s heart, Sam not only goes out personally, but also constantly teaches others how to communicate God’s love and message in meaningful, engaging ways.
In his ministry, Sam often issues altar calls, incorporating invitations to respond to faith in a relaxed but authentic atmosphere, where many, both children and adults, are touched and come to Christ. For Sam, being a clown is not just about being a performer, but a bridge to people’s hearts.
Constant Learning to Improve
With growing experience, Sam began to realize that merely repeating the same performance was not good enough. He wanted to become a more professional clown.
With his wife’s support, he saved up to attend clown conventions, workshops, and training courses in the United States, even briefly studying at a clown school in Atlanta, Georgia. Some people who thought this was a strange career path even mocked him.
But Sam never gave up.
After returning to Malaysia, he and his wife started a clown supplies company from home, importing clown props from the United States, and creating wigs, hats, and other products on their own for sale online.
As his experience and creativity continued to improve, Sam’s professional abilities were gradually recognized. His combination of creative expression and children’s ministry earned deep appreciation from many churches and Sunday schools, and he was often invited to share and serve in different places, including the world’s largest Sunday school organization, Metro World Child.
These invitations not only validated his professional skills but also allowed him the opportunity to share joy and faith to larger audiences.
Building a Clown Community
Sam not only performs himself but hopes to raise the standards of the entire industry.
Subsequently, he co-founded the Association of Clowns Malaysia with a few of his peers, along the way organizing events to encourage more people to learn the art of clowning.
At one event, 70 clowns from different regions gathered in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, parading on the streets, bringing laughter and color to the city.
Yet, even after years of effort, Sam estimates that professional clowns in Malaysia still number fewer than 200 and the industry remains niche and misunderstood.
A Challenging Profession
We always see clowns appear with smiles on their faces, but behind the scene, there are realities that are not widely known.
At children’s parties, a clown’s hourly wage is usually not high, and performance opportunities can be irregular.
“Birthday parties are an important source of income for many clowns,” Sam said. “If there is no fixed or steady contract, our earnings can be greatly affected.”
Relying solely on performances to make a living is not easy. Therefore, his clown supplies business became an important support for his family.
Why Keep Going?
Over the years, Sam has been invited to perform in numerous countries around the world – from bustling cities to remote areas, from resource-rich environments to forgotten corners. In many of these places, some people may never have heard the message of hope. Through the simplest means — a smile, a performance, a sincere heart — Sam brings Christ’s love and joy into their lives.
Despite myriad challenges, Sam Tee continues to be “Uncle Button.”
His reason and what keeps him going is actually very simple; the smiles of children. In this era, when laughs are often built on sarcasm and mockery, Sam believes joy can be pure, bringing healing and warmth.
“Sometimes, just by being yourself, you can make many people smile.”
For Sam Tee, being a clown has never been just about a role.
It is a mission – to bring joy into people’s lives.
About Uncle Button (Sam Tee)
Sam Tee, also known as Uncle Button, is a Malaysian Chinese international professional clown. He is a member and former Southeast Asia President of the World Clown Association. He has been clowning for 32 years, performing in over 40 countries. He crosses cultural and religious boundaries to share joy and love, including in many Muslim-majority countries and post-disaster relief efforts.
Uncle Button’s style is versatile, blending playful American humor with Chinese storytelling techniques. His performances include family-friendly story balloons, astonishing magic, and meaningful life stories that bring healing and warmth through laughter.
If you wish to invite Uncle Button to an event, or learn more about clown ministry and training, you can contact him through his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/unclebuttonclownsupplies.
Whether for children’s parties, church events, or learning how to reach hearts creatively, he is happy to share his joy and continue spreading smiles.
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