When Terrifier was made into a feature length film in 2016 under the same title (Terrifier (2016)), the original actor to play Art the Clown in (Mike Giannelli) was replaced by David Howard Thornton, who also reprized the role in Terrifier 2 (2022).
Director Damian Leone chose the name 'Art the Clown' as a nod to Seinfeld and the pseudonym Art Vandalay used throughout the series after seeing the Pagliacci clown outfit worn by character Crazy Joe Davola. Leone had been trying to find a classic look for Art and felt the modern depiction of clowns would remind audiences of Stephen King's It.