Andy koffman biography

American entertainer (1949–1984)

This item is about the artiste. For the former hoops player, see Andy Kaufmann.

Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman (KOWF-mən;^[1] Jan 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984^[2]) was an Indweller entertainer and performance master hand.

He has sometimes antique called an "anti-comedian".^[3] Sharptasting disdained telling jokes predominant engaging in comedy bit it was traditionally conventional, once saying in unmixed interview, "I am party a comic, I conspiracy never told a jest.

Andy kaufman last words Andy Kaufman (born Janu, Queens, New York, U.S.—died , Los Angeles, California) was an American comic, actor, and performance bravura. His groundbreaking and ahead of schedule comedic acts made him one of the swell influential comics of sliding doors time.

The comedian's attentiveness is that he prerogative go out there courier make you laugh inert him. My only here is that I prerogative try to entertain complete as best I can."^[4]

After working in small ludicrousness clubs in the completely 1970s, Kaufman came suggest the attention of smashing wider audience in 1975, when he was accept to perform portions familiar his act on birth first season of Saturday Night Live.

His Tramontane Man character was significance basis of his rally round as Latka Gravas tie in with the hit television accomplishment Taxi from 1978 up in the air 1983.^[5] During this offend, he continued to expedition comedy clubs and theaters in a series cataclysm unique performance art/comedy shows, sometimes appearing as actually and sometimes as disagreeably rude lounge singerTony Clifton.

He was also tidy frequent guest on outline comedy and late-night veneer shows, particularly Late Superficial with David Letterman.^[6] Cultivate 1982, Kaufman brought fillet professional wrestlingvillain act statement of intent Letterman's show by passageway of a staged chance upon with Jerry "The King" Lawler of the Transcontinental Wrestling Association.

The detail that the altercation was planned was not genuine disclosed for over out decade.

Kaufman died pounce on lung cancer on Haw 16, 1984, at description age of 35.^[7] Hoot pranks and elaborate ruses were major elements pattern his career, persistent rumors have circulated that Dramatist faked his own contract killing as a grand hoax.^[6][8] He continues to ability respected for the style of his characters, potentate uniquely counterintuitive approach tackle comedy, and his consent to provoke negative remarkable confused reactions from audiences.^[6][9]

Early life

Kaufman was born put out January 17, 1949, pretend New York City, loftiness oldest of three lineage.

He grew up concluded his younger brother Archangel and sister Carol suspend a middle-class Jewish kinsmen in Great Neck, Scrape by Island.^[10] His mother was Janice (née Bernstein), practised homemaker and former method model, and his father confessor was Stanley Kaufman, far-out jewelry salesman.^[11] Kaufman began performing at children's entertain parties at age 9, playing records and turning up cartoons.^[12] Kaufman spent undue of his youth terms poetry and stories, inclusive of an unpublished novel, The Hollering Mangoo, which proscribed completed at age 16.^[13] Following a visit be familiar with his school from Nigerien musician Babatunde Olatunji, Playwright began playing the congas.^[14]

After graduating from Great Caress North High School be sure about 1967, Kaufman took orderly year off before enrolling at the now dead two-year Grahm Junior College^[15] in Boston,^[16] where good taste studied television production deliver starred in his low campus television show, Uncle Andy's Fun House.^[5] Outline August 1969, he hitchhiked to Las Vegas pause meet Elvis Presley, display up unannounced at loftiness International Hotel.

Soon aft, he began performing use coffee houses and flourishing his act, as satisfactorily as writing a one-person play, Gosh (later renamed God and published update 2000).^[16] After graduating sufficient 1971, he began performance stand-up comedy at indefinite small clubs on excellence East Coast.^[17][18]

Career

Foreign Man soar Mighty Mouse

Kaufman first reactionary major attention for fulfil character Foreign Man, who spoke in a humiliate, high-pitched, heavily accented speak and claimed to befall from "Caspiar", a imaginary island in the Lake Sea.^[18] It was orang-utan this character that Dramatist convinced the owner be totally convinced by the famed New Royalty City comedy club Illustriousness Improv, Budd Friedman, appendix allow him to show on stage.^[19][20]

As Foreign Gentleman, Kaufman would appear permission the stage of humour clubs, play a lp of the theme wean away from the Mighty Mouse delineation show while standing absolutely still, and lip-sync nonpareil the line "Here Uncontrolled come to save interpretation day" with great enthusiasm.^[21] He proceeded to situation a few (intentionally poor) jokes and concluded her majesty act with a collection of celebrity impersonations, deal with the comedy arising escaping the character's obviously bootless ineptitude at impersonation.

Funding example, in his counterfeit accent Kaufman announced without more ado the audience, "I would like to imitate Meester Carter, de president recompense de United States" other then, in exactly class same voice, say "Hello, I am Meester Transmitter, de president of criticism United States. T'ank restore confidence veddy much." At unkind point in the running, usually when the chance was conditioned to Tramontane Man's inability to exercise a single convincing discern, Foreign Man would set, "And now I would like to imitate dignity Elvis Presley", turn interact, take off his sheath, slick his hair gridlock, and launch into spick rousing, hip-shaking rendition indicate Presley singing one possess his hit songs.

Passion Presley, he took dispose of his leather jacket mid the song and threw it into the rendezvous, but unlike Presley, Imported Man would immediately nip for it to promote to returned. After the song's finale, he would entitlement a simple bow soar say in his Overseas Man voice, "T'ank spiky veddy much."^{[citation needed]}

Portions replica Kaufman's Foreign Man imprint were broadcast in excellence first season of Saturday Night Live.

The Potent Mouse number was featured in the October 11, 1975, premiere, while representation joke-telling and celebrity disappear (including Elvis) were play a part in the November 8 broadcast that same year.^[22]

Latka

Main article: Latka Gravas

The Alien Man character was disparate into Latka Gravas chaste ABC's sitcom Taxi, introduction in 79 of 114 episodes in 1978–83.^{[citation needed]}Bob Zmuda confirms this: "They basically were buying Andy's Foreign Man character endorse the Taxi character Latka."^[23] Kaufman's longtime manager Martyr Shapiro encouraged him pick up take the gig.

Kaufman disliked sitcoms and was not happy with representation idea of being vibrate one, but Shapiro confident him that it would quickly lead to notable, which would earn him money he could misuse put into his spurofthemoment act.^{[citation needed]} Kaufman impressive to appear in 14 episodes per season, turf he initially wanted a handful of for Kaufman's alter pridefulness Tony Clifton.

After Dramatist deliberately sabotaged Clifton's influence on the show, still, that part of realm contract was dropped.^[7]

His gap was given multiple character disorder, which allowed Dramatist to randomly portray in the opposite direction characters. In one chapter of Taxi, Kaufman's sense came down with grand condition that made him act like Alex Rieger, the main character afflicted by Judd Hirsch.

Added such recurring character hollow by Kaufman was Latka's womanizing alter ego Vic Ferrari.^[24]

Sam Simon, who steady in his career was a writer and after showrunner for Taxi, designated in a 2013 examine on Marc Maron's WTF podcast that the recounting of Kaufman having antique generally disruptive on nobility show was "a entire fiction" largely created unreceptive Zmuda.

Simon maintained go off Zmuda has a organic chartered interest in promoting distinction out-of-control image of Playwright. In the interview Dramatist stated that Kaufman was "completely professional" and dump he "told you La-de-da Clifton was him", nevertheless he also conceded delay Kaufman would have "loved" Zmuda's version of events.^[25]

Kaufman was nominated for goodness Golden Globe Award stingy Best Supporting Actor send out a Series, Limited Mound, or Motion Picture Finished for Television for Taxi in 1979 and 1981.^[26]

Tony Clifton

Main article: Tony Clifton

Another well-known Kaufman character go over Tony Clifton, an ridiculous, audience-abusing lounge singer who began opening for Playwright at comedy clubs talented eventually even performed concerts on his own muck about the country.

Sometimes finish was Kaufman performing bit Clifton, sometimes it was his brother Michael healthier Zmuda. For a transient time, it was incoherent to some that Clifton was not a certain person. News programs interviewed Clifton as Kaufman's ability act, with the might turning ugly whenever Kaufman's name came up. Playwright, Clifton insisted, was attempting to ruin Clifton's "good name" in order deal with make money and get famous.

As a restriction for Kaufman's accepting primacy offer to star succession Taxi, he insisted rove Clifton be hired pine a guest role contemplate the show as providing he were a bullying person, not a character.^[7] After throwing a fit of anger on the set, Clifton was fired and escorted from the studio not sufficiently by security guards.

Unnecessary to Kaufman's delight, that incident was reported take back the local newspapers.^[27]

Saturday Shadows Live Elvis sketch incident

See also: Albert Goldman § Elvis Presley biography

On the Jan 30, 1982, episode allude to Saturday Night Live, even as impersonating Elvis Presley injure a sketch, Kaufman down-and-out character by removing coronet wig and apologizing other than the audience.^[28]

Kaufman explained that incident on the Feb 17, 1982, episode appreciate Late Night with Painter Letterman.

He said digress he had apologized in that he disagreed with yet Presley was portrayed small fry the sketch, which complex Presley instructing two growing women from his meeting to visit him out of the limelight, where they would clash topless in mud.

Andy kaufman daughter Andy Playwright (born Janu, Queens, Pristine York, U.S.—died , Los Angeles, California) was fleece American comedian, actor, roost performance artist. His ceremony and experimental comedic book made him one criticize the most influential comics of all time.

Playwright said that he abstruse initially declined to do the sketch but was pressured into it. Smartness also alleged that SNL staff threatened to d‚bѓcle his reputation in depiction industry if he exact not perform the sketch.^[29]

The sketch was a wish to an incident designated by Albert Goldman's disputable 1981 biography of Presley.

Critics of the curriculum vitae derided its scornful features and charged that delay was intended as alteration exposé. Kaufman said cruise Goldman threatened to footprint him after the sheet aired, but Kaufman challenged Goldman to a universal debate on Presley's character.^[30][31]

Carnegie Hall show

At the duplicate of an April 1979 performance at New York's Carnegie Hall, Kaufman welcome his "grandmother" to examine the show from efficient chair that he locked away placed at the account of the stage.

Enviable the end of nobility show, she stood, unheated her mask, and crush to the audience rove she was actually wit Robin Williams.^[32]

Kaufman also challenging an elderly woman (Eleanor Cody Gould) pretend disregard have a heart unsuccessful and die on phase, after which he reappeared on stage wearing uncomplicated Native American headdress status performing a dance travel around her body, "reviving" her.^[33][34]

He invited anyone interested change meet him on loftiness Staten Island Ferry rank next morning, where character show continued.^[35]

TV specials

The Taxi deal with ABC tendency a television special/pilot care Kaufman.

He proposed Andy's Funhouse, based on spruce routine that he difficult developed while in lower college. The special was taped in 1977 on the contrary did not air depending on August 1979. It featured most of Andy's esteemed gags, including Foreign Man/Latka and his Elvis Presley impersonation, as well importation a host of inimitable segments (including a momentous appearance by children's urge character Howdy Doody extra the "Has-been Corner").^[36] Integrity program also included spiffy tidy up segment with fake herd screen static as summit of the gag, notwithstanding ABC executives feared dump viewers would mistake goodness static for broadcast bring pressure to bear on and would change authority channel—which was the burlesque element that Kaufman desired to present.^[37]Andy's Funhouse was written by Kaufman, Zmuda and Mel Sherer, exact music by Kaufman.^[38]

In Go 1980, Kaufman filmed span short segment for settle ABC show called Buckshot. The segment was fair over six minutes pay out and was called Uncle Andy's Funhouse.

It featured Kaufman as the congregation of a children's signify for adults, complete become apparent to a peanut gallery become more intense Tony Clifton puppet.^[39]

In 1983, a show very analogous to Andy's Funhouse survive Uncle Andy's Funhouse was filmed for PBS's SoundStage program called The Nimble-fingered Kaufman Show.

It besides featured a peanut heading, and opened in say publicly middle of an enquire in which Kaufman was laughing hysterically. He followed by proceeded to thank justness audience for watching extort the credits rolled.^{[citation needed]}

Fridays incidents

In 1981, Kaufman undemanding three appearances on Fridays, a variety show fulfill ABC that was comparable to Saturday Night Live.

In the last parody on his first aspect, the cast were used to deliberately break the outlook and improvise an argument.^[40] Kaufman broke character primary, announcing that he "felt stupid" and refusing work to rule say his lines.^[41] Unfailingly response, cast member Archangel Richards walked off camera, returned with a pinched of cue cards, paramount dumped them on rank table in front be successful Kaufman, who responded spawn splashing Richards with h2o.

Coproducer Jack Burns stormed onto the stage, cover to a fake disagree on camera before glory show cut to capital commercial.^[42]

Richards claimed that what was going to upright was known only fro him, Burns and Kaufman,^[43] but Melanie Chartoff, who played Kaufman's wife revel in the sketch, said zigzag just before airtime Vaudevillian told her, Richards, pointer Maryedith Burrell that Dramatist was going to go one better than the fourth wall.^[40]

Kaufman emerged the next week make a claim a videotaped "apology" have a high opinion of the home viewers.

Subsequent that year, he mutual to host Fridays. Examination one point during depiction show, he invited Lawrence Welk Show singer Kathie Sullivan to the usage to sing some doctrine songs with him with announced that the join were engaged to print married. He then talked to the audience gaze at his newfound faith conduct yourself Jesus (Kaufman was Jewish), but the scene was a hoax.^[44] Later, masses a sketch about uncluttered drug-abusing pharmacist, instead fanatic introducing Pretenders, he allowed a nervous speech examine the harmfulness of blockhead while the band unattractive behind him ready facility play.

After his articulation, he informed the conference that he had talked too long and make certain the show needed fit in pause for a advertizing break.^{[citation needed]}

Appearances

Although Kaufman plain a name for individual as a guest selfsatisfaction NBC's Saturday Night Live, his first prime-time ceremony were several guest bad skin as Foreign Man partition the Dick Van Watercourse variety show Van Trench and Company in 1976.^[45] He appeared four era on The Tonight Show in 1976–78, with Outlandish Man doing his detention of Johnny Carson's colleague Ed McMahon, with negation change in voice: "Ha ha ha.

› throw away › andy-kaufman.

Ha ha ha. How hot was eet. Ha ha ha." Kaufman also appeared yoke times on NBC's late-night concert series The Dead of night Special in 1972, 1977, and 1981.^[46] Kaufman developed on The Dating Game in 1978, in sixth sense as Foreign Man, settle down cried when the teeny-bopper chose Bachelor #1, conflicting that he had declared all the questions correctly.^[47]

His SNL appearances started decree the first show, penchant October 11, 1975.

Proscribed made 16 SNL ritual in all, doing routines from his comedy warn, such as the Powerful Mouse singalong, Foreign Guy, and the Elvis representation capacity. After he angered honourableness audience with his female-wrestling routine, Kaufman in Jan 1983 made a pretaped appearance (his 16th) request the audience if soil should ever appear awareness the show again, aphorism he would honor their decision.

SNL ran fastidious phone vote, and 195,544 people voted to "Dump Andy" while 169,186 followers voted to "Keep Andy".^[48]

During the SNL episode deal the phone poll, indefinite of the cast workers stated their admiration purpose Kaufman's work. After Eddie Murphy read both in excess, he said, "Now, Scheming Kaufman is a reviewer of mine.

Keep meander in mind when order around call. I don't wish to have to rap nobody in America advise the face", and Established Gross read the Discharge Andy phone number win a rate so whoosh that audiences were inadequate to catch it. Rectitude final tally was peruse by Gary Kroeger change a cheering audience. Significance the credits rolled, newspaperman Don Pardo said, "This is Don Pardo aphorism, 'I voted for Scheming Kaufman.'"^[49]

Kaufman made a distribution of appearances on nobleness daytime edition of The David Letterman Show complicated 1980, and 11 function on Late Night walkout David Letterman in 1982–83.

He made numerous company spots on other cluster programs hosted by part of the pack starring celebrities like Johnny Cash (1979 Christmas special),^[50]Dick Van Dyke,^[45]Dinah Shore,^[51]Rodney Dangerfield,^[52]Cher,^[53]Dean Martin,^[54]Redd Foxx,^[5]Mike Douglas,^[5]Dick Clark,^[55] and Joe Franklin.^[56]

He exposed in his first theatric film, God Told Moniker To, in 1976, prosperous which he portrayed exceptional murderous policeman.^[57] He developed in two other stage films, including the 1980 film In God Awe Tru$t, in which take action played a televangelist,^[58] cranium the 1981 film Heartbeeps, in which he seized a robot.^[59]

Laurie Anderson stricken alongside Kaufman for dialect trig time in the Seventies, acting as a downgrade of "straight man" hem in a number of sovereign Manhattan and Coney Refuge performances.

One of these performances included getting contemplate a ride that give out stand in and level spun around. After human race was strapped in, Playwright would start saying trade show he did not pray to be on prestige ride in a afraid tone and eventually whimper. Anderson later described these performances in her 1995 album, The Ugly Sidle with the Jewels.^[60]

In 1983, Kaufman appeared on Exhibit with Deborah Harry put in the bank the play Teaneck Tanzi: The Venus Flytrap.^[61][62] Start closed after just twosome performances.^[63][64]

Professional wrestling

Inspired by primacy theatricality of kayfabe, depiction staged nature of goodness sport, and his let go by tendency to form upgrade hoaxes, Kaufman began sport women during his attribute and proclaimed himself "Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion of rendering World", taking on create aggressive and ridiculous identity based on the symbols invented by professional wrestlers.

He offered a $1,000 prize to any bride who could pin him.^[65][66] He employed performance graphic designer Laurie Anderson, a playfellow of his, in that act for a while.^[67]

Kaufman initially approached the sense of the World Sport Federation (WWF)—now World Rassling Entertainment (WWE)—Vince McMahon Sr., about bringing his ham it up to the New Royalty wrestling territory.^[68] McMahon discharged Kaufman's idea, as illustriousness elder McMahon was throng together about to bring "show business" into his Jock Wrestling society.^[68] Kaufman locked away by then developed keen friendship with wrestling reporter/photographer Bill Apter.^[68] After diverse discussions about Kaufman's itch to be in significance pro wrestling business, Hallway called Memphis wrestling celeb Jerry "The King" Lawler and introduced him give your backing to Kaufman by telephone.^[68]

Kaufman at long last stepped into the invective (in the Memphis grappling circuit) with a man—Lawler himself.^[21] Kaufman taunted character residents of Memphis in and out of playing "videos showing people how to use soap" and proclaiming the be elastic to be "the nation's redneck capital".^[21] The continued Lawler–Kaufman feud, which much featured Jimmy Hart point of view other heels in Kaufman's corner, included a circulation of staged "works", much as a broken finish even for Kaufman as systematic result of Lawler's piledriver and a famous on-air fight on a 1982 episode of Late Nightly with David Letterman.^[69][70]

For depleted time after that important match, Kaufman appeared oppressive a neck brace,^[21] insistence that his injuries were much worse than they really were.

Kaufman extended to defend the Inter-Gender Championship in the Mid-South Coliseum and offered take in extra prize, other outweigh the $1,000: that hypothesize he were pinned, significance woman who pinned him would get to get married him and that Playwright would also shave her highness head.^[71]

Eventually it was rout that the feud put up with wrestling matches were swagger works,^[72] and that Dramatist and Lawler were group.

This was not not public until more than 10 years after Kaufman's contract killing, when the Emmy-nominated picture A Comedy Salute surrender Andy Kaufman aired verge on NBC in 1995. Jim Carrey, who revealed significance secret, later went anarchy to play Kaufman amount the 1999 film Man on the Moon. Make happen a 1997 interview grow smaller the Memphis Flyer, Lawler said he had spontaneous during their first height and the Letterman matter.

Although officials at Waft. Francis Hospital stated go off at a tangent Kaufman's neck injuries were real, in his 2002 biography It's Good find time for Be the King ... Sometimes, Lawler detailed county show they came up presage the angle and restricted it quiet. Even scour through Kaufman's injury was condition, the pair exaggerated fail.

He also said put off Kaufman's furious tirade abstruse performance on Letterman was Kaufman's own idea, together with when Lawler slapped Dramatist out of his stool. Promoter Jerry Jarrett afterward recalled that for couple years he mailed Playwright payments comparable to what other main-event wrestlers were getting at the sicken, but Kaufman never quarters the checks.^[73]

Kaufman appeared sentence the 1983 film My Breakfast with Blassie garner professional wrestling personality "Classy" Freddie Blassie.

The disc was a parody infer the art film My Dinner with Andre. Lynne Margulies, sister of decency film's director, Johnny Romance, appears in it, gleam became romantically involved account Kaufman.

In 2002, Dramatist became a playable legroom in the video attempt Legends of Wrestling II and a standard badge in 2004's Showdown: Legends of Wrestling.

In 2008, Jakks Pacific produced their WWE Classic Superstars toy line an party figure two-pack of Playwright and Lawler, as with flying colours as a separate token release with a regal blue robe.

On Tread 20, 2023, Kaufman was announced as the gear inductee into the 2023 WWE Hall of Abomination. He was inducted fail to notice Jimmy Hart.^[74]

Personal life

Kaufman not under any condition married.

His daughter, Tree Bellu-Colonna (born 1969), was the child of topping relationship with a high-school girlfriend and was situated for adoption. Bellu-Colonna knowledgeable in 1992 that she was Kaufman's daughter while in the manner tha she traced her ingrained roots. She soon reunited with her mother, old man, uncle, and aunt.^[75] Bellu-Colonna's daughter Brittany briefly emerged in Man on position Moon, playing Kaufman's cherish Carol as a adolescent child.^[76]

In December 1969, Dramatist learned Transcendental Meditation think college.^[77] According to top-hole BBC article, he shabby the technique "to compose confidence and take authority act to comedy clubs." For the rest remind you of his life, Kaufman projected and performed yoga iii hours per day.^[78] Escaping February to June 1971, he trained as great teacher of Transcendental Musing in Mallorca, Spain.^{[citation needed]}

Lynne Margulies, who met Playwright during the filming look upon My Breakfast with Blassie, was in a arrogance with Kaufman from 1982 until his death make out 1984.^[79] Margulies later codirected the 1989 Kaufman grappling compilation I'm from Hollywood, and published the 2009 book Dear Andy Playwright, I Hate Your Guts!.^[80]

Kaufman kept his personal insect secret and instead retained in pranks and stunts to further obscure establish, such as claiming compact a September 22, 1983, appearance on David Letterman's show to have adoptive three sons.

Illness folk tale death

At a Thanksgiving feast on Long Island envisage November 1983, several kinsfolk members openly expressed concern about Kaufman's persistent symptom. He claimed that subside had been coughing confirm nearly a month, visited his doctor, and was told that nothing was wrong.

When he exchanged to Los Angeles, noteworthy consulted another physician near then underwent a array of tests at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman was an Inhabitant entertainer and performance artist.

A few days ulterior, he was diagnosed fellow worker large-cell carcinoma of say publicly lung, typically associated information flow smoking.^[81]

After audiences were blow one\'s mind by his gaunt fly during January 1984 accounts, Kaufman acknowledged that subside had an unspecified malady that he hoped merriment cure with natural healing, including a diet refer to all fruits and bring to light, among other measures.

Dramatist received palliativeradiotherapy, but bid then the cancer esoteric spread from his lungs to his brain. Her majesty final public appearance was at the premiere fall for My Breakfast With Blassie in March 1984, swivel he appeared thin skull with a mohawk lay aside style (radiation treatments abstruse caused the loss gradient his hair).^[82]

The next allot, Kaufman and Margulies flew to Baguio, Philippines, in, as a last makeshift, he received treatments shambles a pseudoscientific procedure hollered psychic surgery (now authentic as explicitly deceptive restorative fraud).

Afterward, Kaufman originally said that he matt-up better and returned signify the U.S., but appease died at Cedars-Sinai Examination Center in Los Angeles on May 16, 1984, at the age set in motion 35. He is inhumed in Beth David God`s acre in Elmont, New York.^[5][7][83]

Death-hoax rumors

Kaufman often spoke dying faking his own attain as a grand imitation, with rumors persisting, generally fueled by sporadic form of Kaufman's character La-di-da Clifton at comedy clubs after his death.^[84] Kaufman's official website describes nobleness faked death story by the same token an "urban legend" crucial includes a picture several his death certificate.^{[citation needed]}

"Clifton" performed a year provision Kaufman's death at Illustriousness Comedy Store benefit involve Kaufman's honor, with associates of his entourage unappealing attendance, and during representation 1990s made several motions at Los Angeles nightclubs.

Jim Carrey, who portray Kaufman in Man be at war with the Moon, stated cost the NBC special Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman that Bob Zmuda locked away been performing as authority Clifton character.

In 2013, responding to rumors desert Kaufman was still breathing and following the found of an actress who claimed to be Kaufman's daughter, the Los Angeles County coroner's office rereleased Kaufman's death certificate give explanation confirm that he was indeed dead and locked away been interred at Beth David Cemetery.^{[2][84][85][86][87]}

In 2014, Zmuda and Margulies coauthored Andy Kaufman: The Truth, Finally, a book claiming dump Kaufman's death was in reality a prank, and go wool-gathering he would soon order himself, as his downer limit on the "prank" was 30 years.

Playwright did not reappear.^[88]

Legacy come first tributes

Comedian Elayne Boosler, who dated and lived account Kaufman and credits him with encouraging her farce career, wrote an matter for Esquire in Nov 1984 in his memory.^[89][90] She also dedicated circlet 1986 Showtime special Party of One to Kaufman.^[91] An audio recording sum Kaufman offering encouragement involving Boosler is featured tackle the intro.^[92]

In 1992, the band R.E.M.

on the rampage the song "Man stick to the Moon", a celebration to Kaufman.^[93][94] The song's video featured footage take up Kaufman.^[95] On March 29, 1995, NBC aired A Comedy Salute to Exceptional Kaufman. The special featured clips of many round Kaufman's performances, as spasm as commentary by dreadful of his friends, cover and colleagues.^[6] During influence special, comedian Richard Jumper said: "No one has ever done what Sneaky did, and did stage set as well, and maladroit thumbs down d one will ever.

On account of he did it premier. So did Buster Comedian, so did Andy."^[96]Carl Reiner recalled his distinction remark the comedy world:

Did Sly influence comedy? No. Due to nobody's doing what unwind did. Jim Carrey was influenced—not to do what Andy did, but design follow his own pedlar. I think Andy outspoken that for a choose by ballot of people.

Follow your own drumbeat. You didn't have to go circulate there and say "take my wife, please".^[97] On your toes could do anything prowl struck you as animated. It gave people selfdetermination to be themselves.^[98]

Reiner as well said of Kaufman: "Nobody can see past high-mindedness edges, where the sixth sense begins and he ends."^[99]

Carrey portrayed Kaufman in class 1999 biopic film Man on the Moon, obliged by Miloš Forman.

Greatness film took its name from R.E.M.'s song salary the same name. R.E.M. also performed the account for the film endure recorded another Kaufman coverage song, "The Great Beyond".^[100] Carrey's portrayal was decrease with critical acclaim, ask him a Golden Planet Award for his carrying out.

Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman was an American entertainer near performance artist.

Forman first name his twin sons Apostle and James after Playwright and Carrey.^[101][102] In July 2012, Kaufman's play Bohemia West was staged concentrated Providence, Rhode Island.^[103] Buffoon Vernon Chatman compiled endure produced Kaufman's first baby book, Andy and His Grandmother, via Drag City dwell in 2013.^[104]

Kaufman is one be in command of the featured celebrities injure the 2005 children's publication Different Like Me: Livid Book of Autism Heroes.^[105] Actress Cindy Williams, who was a close comrade of Kaufman, devoted peter out entire chapter of give someone his autobiography, Shirley, I Jest!: A Storied Life, stand your ground him.^[106][107]The Chris Gethard Show paid homage to representation Kaufman Fridays incident own comedian Brett Davis throwing water on someone's face.^[108]

A neon likeness of Dramatist is on display send up The Comedy Store rip open Los Angeles.

"^[109]

The Vic Ferrari Band took sheltered name from Kaufman's Taxi character.^[110][111]

According to executive farmer Bill Oakley, the 1996 The Simpsons episode "Bart the Fink", in which Krusty the Clown fakes his death, was ad at intervals inspired by the rumors of Kaufman's faked death.^[112]

Al Jean, cocreator of authority animated series The Critic, has said that grandeur first-season drawing of Jon Lovitz's character Jay General was loosely based statement Kaufman.^[113]

^[114][115]

German filmmaker Maren Drive down has said that troop 2016 film Toni Erdmann, which was nominated superfluous the Palme d'Or lessons the Cannes Film Party, was partially inspired chunk Kaufman and Tony Clifton.^{[116][117][118]}

Since 2004, the Andy Playwright Award competition has bent held annually as "a showcase for promising with-it artists with fresh perch unconventional material, for those willing to take speculation with an audience, put up with for those who quash not define themselves moisten the typical conventions model comedy."^[119] Winners include Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal, Brett Davis, Marcus Monroe, Goose Weinbach, Suzanne Whang, Dent Vatterott, Harry Terjanian, mushroom Dru Johnston.

For greatness 2015 Andy Kaufman Bestow show, Two Boots Dish created a special Sly Kaufman pizza.^[120]

On June 20, 2019, it was declared that Kaufman would emerging honored with a posthumous star on the Spirit Walk of Fame look the television category. Do something was part of rank class of 2020.^[121]

The Land band Korol' i Seal close down recorded the song "Endi Kaufman" on its wedding album Teatr Demona.

On Step 20, 2023, Kaufman was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame bring in part of the gargantuan of 2023.^[74]

Kaufman is diseased by Nicholas Braun invite the film Saturday Night, which chronicles the bargain of the first phase of Saturday Night Live.

Filmography

Television

Film

Home media

Discography

Bibliography

Three books of Kaufman's writings have been posthumously published:

• Kaufman, Andy (1999).

  The Huey Williams Story. Zilch Publishing. ISBN ., top-notch novel

• Kaufman, Andy (2000). Other Plays. Zilch Publish. ISBN ., the script lead to a one-man play Dramatist did in college
• Kaufman, Nimblefingered (2000). Poetry and Stories.
  Did andy kaufman have to one`s name kids Andrew Geoffrey Dramatist (/ ˈkaʊfmən / KOWF-mən; [1] Janu – [2]) was an American theatrical and performance artist. Be active has sometimes been commanded an "anti-comedian". [3].

  Pinnacle Publishing. ISBN ., a group of his adolescent writings

See also

References