Legendary court jester Meadowlark Lemon, member of the Harlem Globetrotters, passed away on Monday.

The New York Times reports the 83-year-old former entertainer died in Scottsdale, Arizona. His passing was confirmed by his wife, Cynthia Lemon.

"For a generation of fans, the name Meadowlark Lemon was synonymous with the Harlem Globetrotters," Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider said, via the team's official website. "He was an incredible entertainer and brought happiness and lifelong memories to millions around the world. We have lost a great ambassador of the game."

Nicknamed the "Clown Prince of Basketball," the gifted athlete and Hall of Famer performed for 24 seasons with the iconic exhibition squad.

Lemon played in 7,200 consecutive games for the Trotters, dazzling fans with his slick ball-handling, incredible passing, and speculator moves, such as his halfcourt hook-shot. He appeared in nearly 100 countries, performing for presidents, popes, kings and queens.

Among their spectators were Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.

The North Carolina native joined the squad in 1954 after spending two years in the army. He soon assumed the role of the central showman and comedian, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Reece Tatum, aka "Goose."

During his 2003 induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Lemon said he was entranced by the sport when he watched a newsreel about the Trotters as an 11-year-old.

"They seemed to make that ball talk," Lemon said in his induction speech. "I said, 'That's mine. This is for me.' I was receiving a vision, I was receiving a dream in my heart."

The Globetrotters began as a competitive team, attracting black athletes looking to play professional basketball in an era of racial segregation. The group took on college all-star teams and even twice defeated the champion Minneapolis Lakers.

Eventually, the acceptance of black players into the NBA lead to the Trotters to transform into an entertainment troupe, one that offered an extravagant show of flashy moves not seen in the more conservative national league.

In 1986, Lemon became an ordained minister, going on to fund the nonprofit organization Meadowlark Lemon Ministries. He was also a motivational speaker and a recipient of the John W. Bunn Award in honor of lifetime contributions to the sport of basketball.