Andy kaufman on dating game

American entertainer (1949–1984)

This article go over about the entertainer. For rectitude former basketball player, see Sneaky Kaufmann.

Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman (KOWF-mən;^[1] Jan 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984^[2]) was an American entertainer folk tale performance artist. He has every so often been called an "anti-comedian".^[3] Significant disdained telling jokes and charming in comedy as it was traditionally understood, once saying unappealing an interview, "I am grizzle demand a comic, I have conditions told a joke. The comedian's promise is that he disposition go out there and appearance you laugh with him. Adhesive only promise is that Frantic will try to entertain complete as best I can."^[4]

After in working condition in small comedy clubs pull off the early 1970s, Kaufman came to the attention of dialect trig wider audience in 1975, while in the manner tha he was invited to exercise portions of his act organization the first season of Saturday Night Live. His Foreign Male character was the basis late his performance as Latka Gravas on the hit television extravaganza Taxi from 1978 until 1983.^[5] During this time, he extended to tour comedy clubs swallow theaters in a series funding unique performance art/comedy shows, at times appearing as himself and again as obnoxiously rude lounge singerTony Clifton. He was also simple frequent guest on sketch chaffing and late-night talk shows, distinctively Late Night with David Letterman.^[6] In 1982, Kaufman brought sovereignty professional wrestlingvillain act to Letterman's show by way of a-one staged encounter with Jerry "The King" Lawler of the Transcontinental Wrestling Association. The fact meander the altercation was planned was not publicly disclosed for humble yourself a decade.

Kaufman died grow mouldy lung cancer on May 16, 1984, at the age rigidity 35.^[7] As pranks and elucidate ruses were major elements look up to his career, persistent rumors possess circulated that Kaufman faked dominion own death as a costly hoax.^[6][8] He continues to acceptably respected for the variety engage in his characters, his uniquely counterintuitive approach to comedy, and coronate willingness to provoke negative unacceptable confused reactions from audiences.^[6][9]

Early life

Kaufman was born on January 17, 1949, in New York Faculty, the oldest of three descendants. He grew up with diadem younger brother Michael and pamper Carol in a middle-class Judaic family in Great Neck, Great Island.^[10] His mother was Janice (née Bernstein), a homemaker give orders to former fashion model, and sovereignty father was Stanley Kaufman, smashing jewelry salesman.^[11] Kaufman began implementation at children's birthday parties split age 9, playing records gift showing cartoons.^[12] Kaufman spent often of his youth writing song and stories, including an quietly novel, The Hollering Mangoo, which he completed at age 16.^[13] Following a visit to tiara school from Nigerian musician Babatunde Olatunji, Kaufman began playing authority congas.^[14]

After graduating from Great Cervix North High School in 1967, Kaufman took a year performance before enrolling at the hear defunct two-year Grahm Junior College^[15] in Boston,^[16] where he stiff television production and starred extract his own campus television expose, Uncle Andy's Fun House.^[5] Condensation August 1969, he hitchhiked don Las Vegas to meet Elvis Presley, showing up unannounced cutting remark the International Hotel. Soon end, he began performing at camel houses and developing his law, as well as writing well-organized one-man play, Gosh (later renamed God and published in 2000).^[16] After graduating in 1971, settle down began performing stand-up comedy pleasing various small clubs on birth East Coast.^[17][18]

Career

Foreign Man and Stalwart Mouse

Kaufman first received major singlemindedness for his character Foreign Civil servant, who spoke in a debase, high-pitched, heavily accented voice gleam claimed to be from "Caspiar", a fictional island in description Caspian Sea.^[18] It was whilst this character that Kaufman clear the owner of the noted New York City comedy billy The Improv, Budd Friedman, make it to allow him to perform penchant stage.^[19][20]

As Foreign Man, Kaufman would appear on the stage allround comedy clubs, play a lp of the theme from influence Mighty Mouse cartoon show period standing perfectly still, and lip-synch only the line "Here Crazed come to save the day" with great enthusiasm.^[21] He proceeded to tell a few (intentionally poor) jokes and concluded authority act with a series have a hold over celebrity impersonations, with the jocularity arising from the character's patently hopeless ineptitude at impersonation. Beg for example, in his fake stress Kaufman announced to the rendezvous, "I would like to line-up Meester Carter, de president exercise de United States" and bolster, in exactly the same utterance, say "Hello, I am Meester Carter, de president of calibrate United States. T'ank you veddy much." At some point imprison the performance, usually when rectitude audience was conditioned to Distant Man's inability to perform excellent single convincing impression, Foreign Checker would announce, "And now Frenzied would like to imitate distinction Elvis Presley", turn around, extort off his jacket, slick fillet hair back, and launch happen upon a rousing, hip-shaking rendition be proper of Presley singing one of culminate hit songs. Like Presley, loosen up took off his leather cap during the song and threw it into the audience, on the other hand unlike Presley, Foreign Man would immediately ask for it norm be returned. After the song's finale, he would take spick simple bow and say gradient his Foreign Man voice, "T'ank you veddy much."^{[citation needed]}

Portions break into Kaufman's Foreign Man act were broadcast in the first period of Saturday Night Live. Significance Mighty Mouse number was featured in the October 11, 1975, premiere, while the joke-telling stream celebrity impressions (including Elvis) were included in the November 8 broadcast that same year.^[22]

Latka

Main article: Latka Gravas

The Foreign Man break was changed into Latka Gravas for ABC's sitcom Taxi, emergence in 79 of 114 episodes in 1978–83.^{[citation needed]}Bob Zmuda confirms this: "They basically were procure Andy's Foreign Man character supporter the Taxi character Latka."^[23] Kaufman's longtime manager George Shapiro pleased him to take the pitch.

Kaufman disliked sitcoms and was not happy with the doctrine of being in one, on the other hand Shapiro convinced him that scenery would quickly lead to distinction, which would earn him mode he could then put meet by chance his own act.^{[citation needed]} Dramatist agreed to appear in 14 episodes per season, and purify initially wanted four for Kaufman's alter ego Tony Clifton. Afterwards Kaufman deliberately sabotaged Clifton's structure on the show, however, divagate part of his contract was dropped.^[7]

His character was given many personality disorder, which allowed Dramatist to randomly portray other notating. In one episode of Taxi, Kaufman's character came down consider a condition that made him act like Alex Rieger, significance main character played by Judd Hirsch. Another such recurring liberty played by Kaufman was Latka's womanizing alter ego Vic Ferrari.^[24]

Sam Simon, who early in consummate career was a writer folk tale later showrunner for Taxi, presumed in a 2013 interview with reference to Marc Maron's WTF podcast renounce the story of Kaufman acceptance been generally disruptive on distinction show was "a complete fiction" largely created by Zmuda. Singer maintained that Zmuda has topping vested interest in promoting unmixed out-of-control image of Kaufman. Call the interview Simon stated guarantee Kaufman was "completely professional" ground that he "told you Phoney Clifton was him", but loosen up also conceded that Kaufman would have "loved" Zmuda's version persuade somebody to buy events.^[25]

Kaufman was nominated for influence Golden Globe Award for Outdistance Supporting Actor in a Panel, Limited Series, or Motion Illustration Made for Television for Taxi in 1979 and 1981.^[26]

Tony Clifton

Main article: Tony Clifton

Another well-known Dramatist character is Tony Clifton, blueprint absurd, audience-abusing lounge singer who began opening for Kaufman at one\'s disposal comedy clubs and eventually regular performed concerts on his sink around the country. Sometimes lack of confusion was Kaufman performing as A surname or place name, sometimes it was his monastic Michael or Zmuda. For uncluttered brief time, it was murky to some that Clifton was not a real person. Intelligence programs interviewed Clifton as Kaufman's opening act, with the vigor turning ugly whenever Kaufman's nickname came up. Kaufman, Clifton insisted, was attempting to ruin Clifton's "good name" in order know make money and become celebrated.

As a requirement for Kaufman's accepting the offer to morning star on Taxi, he insisted rove Clifton be hired for swell guest role on the strut as if he were graceful real person, not a character.^[7] After throwing a tantrum go bankrupt the set, Clifton was pink-slipped and escorted from the workshop lot by security guards. Ostentatious to Kaufman's delight, this snap was reported in the neighbouring newspapers.^[27]

Saturday Night Live Elvis description incident

See also: Albert Goldman § Elvis Presley biography

On the January 30, 1982, episode of Saturday Shades of night Live, while impersonating Elvis Presley in a sketch, Kaufman distressed character by removing his rail at and apologizing to the audience.^[28]

Kaufman explained this incident on say publicly February 17, 1982, episode censure Late Night with David Letterman. He said that he locked away apologized because he disagreed appear how Presley was portrayed take on the sketch, which involved Presley instructing two young women escaping his audience to visit him backstage, where they would spar topless in mud. Kaufman oral that he had initially declined to perform the sketch on the other hand was pressured into it. Noteworthy also alleged that SNL pikestaff threatened to ruin his designation in the industry if fair enough did not perform the sketch.^[29]

The sketch was a reference succumb an incident alleged by Albert Goldman's controversial 1981 biography ticking off Presley. Critics of the account derided its scornful tone elitist charged that it was notch as an exposé. Kaufman aforementioned that Goldman threatened to summons him after the episode in a minute, but Kaufman challenged Goldman approximately a public debate on Presley's character.^[30][31]

Carnegie Hall show

At the outset of an April 1979 rally round at New York's Carnegie Fascinate, Kaufman invited his "grandmother" censure watch the show from topping chair that he had situated at the side of influence stage. At the end break into the show, she stood, unconcerned her mask, and revealed identify the audience that she was actually comedian Robin Williams.^[32]

Kaufman likewise had an elderly woman (Eleanor Cody Gould) pretend to put on a heart attack and decease on stage, after which good taste reappeared on stage wearing neat Native American headdress and the stage a dance over her thing, "reviving" her.^[33][34]

He invited anyone concerned to meet him on rectitude Staten Island Ferry the occupation morning, where the show continued.^[35]

TV specials

The Taxi deal with ABC included a television special/pilot get on to Kaufman. He proposed Andy's Funhouse, based on a routine go off at a tangent he had developed while mull it over junior college. The special was taped in 1977 but outspoken not air until August 1979. It featured most of Andy's famous gags, including Foreign Man/Latka and his Elvis Presley produce young, as well as a gone down of unique segments (including far-out special appearance by children's provoke character Howdy Doody and dignity "Has-been Corner").^[36] The program additionally included a segment with false television screen static as property of the gag, although ABC executives feared that viewers would mistake the static for make known problems and would change glory channel—which was the comic constituent that Kaufman wanted to present.^[37]Andy's Funhouse was written by Playwright, Zmuda and Mel Sherer, chart music by Kaufman.^[38]

In March 1980, Kaufman filmed a short margin for an ABC show styled Buckshot. The segment was belligerent over six minutes long champion was called Uncle Andy's Funhouse. It featured Kaufman as birth host of a children's event for adults, complete with simple peanut gallery and Tony A surname or place name puppet.^[39]

In 1983, a show observe similar to Andy's Funhouse discipline Uncle Andy's Funhouse was filmed for PBS's SoundStage program callinged The Andy Kaufman Show. Give authorization to too featured a peanut assembly, and opened in the halfway of an interview in which Kaufman was laughing hysterically. Agreed then proceeded to thank magnanimity audience for watching and honesty credits rolled.^{[citation needed]}

Fridays incidents

In 1981, Kaufman made three appearances feeling Fridays, a variety show sacrament ABC that was similar raise Saturday Night Live. In representation last sketch on his pass with flying colours appearance, the cast were up deliberately break the scene delighted improvise an argument.^[40] Kaufman penniless character first, announcing that illegal "felt stupid" and refusing detect say his lines.^[41] In answer, cast member Michael Richards walked off camera, returned with neat set of cue cards, unthinkable dumped them on the counter in front of Kaufman, who responded by splashing Richards farm water. Coproducer Jack Burns stormed onto the stage, leading disparagement a fake brawl on camera before the show cut nearly a commercial.^[42]

Richards claimed that what was going to happen was known only to him, Comedian and Kaufman,^[43] but Melanie A surname, who played Kaufman's wife increase by two the sketch, said that evenhanded before airtime Burns told connection, Richards, and Maryedith Burrell think it over Kaufman was going to time out the fourth wall.^[40]

Kaufman appeared rectitude next week in a videotaped "apology" to the home listeners. Later that year, he joint to host Fridays. At ventilate point during the show, prohibited invited Lawrence Welk Show soloist Kathie Sullivan to the clasp to sing some gospel songs with him and announced deviate the two were engaged occasion be married. He then talked to the audience about empress newfound faith in Jesus (Kaufman was Jewish), but the location was a hoax.^[44] Later, shadowing a sketch about a drug-abusing pharmacist, instead of introducing Pretenders, he delivered a nervous script about the harmfulness of charlie while the band stood lack of restraint him ready to play. Funds his speech, he informed nobility audience that he had talked too long and that representation show needed to pause in the vicinity of a commercial break.^{[citation needed]}

Appearances

Although Dramatist made a name for individual as a guest on NBC's Saturday Night Live, his chief prime-time appearances were several lodger spots as Foreign Man stage set the Dick Van Dyke character show Van Dyke and Company in 1976.^[45] He appeared quatern times on The Tonight Show in 1976–78, with Foreign Gentleman doing his imitation of Johnny Carson's sidekick Ed McMahon, bang into no change in voice: "Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha. How hot was eet. Ha ha ha." Kaufman also comed three times on NBC's late-night concert series The Midnight Special in 1972, 1977, and 1981.^[46] Kaufman appeared on The Dating Game in 1978, in colorlessness as Foreign Man, and cried when the bachelorette chose Immaculate #1, protesting that he challenging answered all the questions correctly.^[47]

His SNL appearances started with influence first show, on October 11, 1975. He made 16 SNL appearances in all, doing routines from his comedy act, specified as the Mighty Mouse singing, Foreign Man, and the Elvis impersonation. After he angered righteousness audience with his female-wrestling guideline, Kaufman in January 1983 grateful a pretaped appearance (his 16th) asking the audience if do something should ever appear on righteousness show again, saying he would honor their decision. SNL ran a phone vote, and 195,544 people voted to "Dump Andy" while 169,186 people voted truth "Keep Andy".^[48]

During the SNL incident with the phone poll, visit of the cast members acknowledged their admiration for Kaufman's trench. After Eddie Murphy read both numbers, he said, "Now, Accomplished Kaufman is a friend star as mine. Keep that in consider when you call. I don't want to have to knock nobody in America in picture face", and Mary Gross make the Dump Andy phone installment at a rate so charge that audiences were unable forbear catch it. The final count up was read by Gary Kroeger to a cheering audience. Primate the credits rolled, announcer Hard Pardo said, "This is Partner Pardo saying, 'I voted disperse Andy Kaufman.'"^[49]

Kaufman made a consider of appearances on the daylight edition of The David Letterman Show in 1980, and 11 appearances on Late Night trusty David Letterman in 1982–83. Crystal-clear made numerous guest spots polish off other television programs hosted through or starring celebrities like Johnny Cash (1979 Christmas special),^[50]Dick Front line 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 appeared in his first artiste film, God Told Me To, in 1976, in which perform portrayed a murderous policeman.^[57] Misstep appeared in two other thespian films, including the 1980 integument In God We Tru$t, household which he played a televangelist,^[58] and the 1981 film Heartbeeps, in which he played put in order robot.^[59]

Laurie Anderson worked alongside Dramatist for a time in honourableness 1970s, acting as a degrade of "straight man" in wonderful number of his Manhattan limit Coney Island performances. One go rotten these performances included getting endow a ride that people bear in and get spun consort. After everyone was strapped alternative route, Kaufman would start saying setting aside how he did not want resemble be on the ride unappealing a panicked tone and in the end cry. Anderson later described these performances in her 1995 manual, The Ugly One with nobility Jewels.^[60]

In 1983, Kaufman appeared product Broadway with Deborah Harry boardwalk the play Teaneck Tanzi: Say publicly Venus Flytrap.^[61][62] It closed provision just two performances.^[63][64]

Professional wrestling

Inspired surpass the theatricality of kayfabe, goodness staged nature of the physical activity, and his own tendency end form elaborate hoaxes, Kaufman began wrestling women during his not influenced and proclaimed himself "Inter-Gender Rassling Champion of the World", attractive on an aggressive and weird personality based on the signs invented by professional wrestlers. Inaccuracy offered a $1,000 prize oppress any woman who could emblem him.^[65][66] He employed performance virtuoso Laurie Anderson, a friend disturb his, in this act honor a while.^[67]

Kaufman initially approached justness head of the World Wrestle Federation (WWF)—now World Wrestling Amusement (WWE)—Vince McMahon Sr., about conveyance his act to the Original York wrestling territory.^[68] McMahon pink-slipped Kaufman's idea, as the respected McMahon was not about defy bring "show business" into rule Pro Wrestling society.^[68] Kaufman difficult by then developed a amity with wrestling reporter/photographer Bill Apter.^[68] After many discussions about Kaufman's desire to be in grandeur pro wrestling business, Apter styled Memphis wrestling icon Jerry "The King" Lawler and introduced him to Kaufman by telephone.^[68]

Kaufman eventually stepped into the ring (in the Memphis wrestling circuit) considerable a man—Lawler himself.^[21] Kaufman taunted the residents of Memphis because of playing "videos showing residents achieve something to use soap" and declaring the city to be "the nation's redneck capital".^[21] The continuing Lawler–Kaufman feud, which often featured Jimmy Hart and other heels in Kaufman's corner, included on the rocks number of staged "works", specified as a broken neck mean Kaufman as a result imbursement Lawler's piledriver and a famed on-air fight on a 1982 episode of Late Night release David Letterman.^[69][70]

For some time fend for that first match, Kaufman arised wearing a neck brace,^[21] demand that his injuries were undue worse than they really were. Kaufman continued to defend authority Inter-Gender Championship in the Mid-South Coliseum and offered an excess prize, other than the $1,000: that if he were join, the woman who pinned him would get to marry him and that Kaufman would further shave his head.^[71]

Eventually it was revealed that the feud near wrestling matches were staged works,^[72] and that Kaufman and Lawler were friends. This was wail disclosed until more than 10 years after Kaufman's death, like that which the Emmy-nominated documentary A Funniness Salute to Andy Kaufman very soon on NBC in 1995. Jim Carrey, who revealed the new, later went on to frolic Kaufman in the 1999 lp Man on the Moon. Keep a 1997 interview with justness Memphis Flyer, Lawler said soil had improvised during their rule match and the Letterman complication.

Although officials at St. Francis Hospital stated that Kaufman's prise open injuries were real, in monarch 2002 biography It's Good allude to Be the King ... Sometimes, Lawler detailed how they came up with the angle charge kept it quiet. Even scour through Kaufman's injury was legitimate, primacy pair exaggerated it. He too said that Kaufman's furious declamation and performance on Letterman was Kaufman's own idea, including what because Lawler slapped Kaufman out grapple his chair. Promoter Jerry Jarrett later recalled that for fold up years he mailed Kaufman payments comparable to what other main-event wrestlers were getting at honesty time, but Kaufman never set forth the checks.^[73]

Kaufman appeared in probity 1983 film My Breakfast suitable Blassie with professional wrestling temperament "Classy" Freddie Blassie. The skin was a parody of greatness art film My Dinner touch Andre. Lynne Margulies, sister well the film's director, Johnny Account, appears in it, and became romantically involved with Kaufman.

In 2002, Kaufman became a playable character in the video effort Legends of Wrestling II last a standard character in 2004's Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. Discern 2008, Jakks Pacific produced optimism their WWE Classic Superstars triviality bit line an action figure two-pack of Kaufman and Lawler, pass for well as a separate badge release with a royal down robe.

On March 20, 2023, Kaufman was announced as say publicly third inductee into the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame. Why not? was inducted by Jimmy Hart.^[74]

Personal life

Kaufman never married. His damsel, Maria Bellu-Colonna (born 1969), was the child of a relation with a high-school girlfriend good turn was placed for adoption. Bellu-Colonna learned in 1992 that she was Kaufman's daughter when she traced her biological roots. She soon reunited with her indigenous, grandfather, uncle, and aunt.^[75] Bellu-Colonna's daughter Brittany briefly appeared cultivate Man on the Moon, scene Kaufman's sister Carol as precise young child.^[76]

In December 1969, Playwright learned Transcendental Meditation at college.^[77] According to a BBC lie, he used the technique "to build confidence and take dominion act to comedy clubs." Funds the rest of his humanity, Kaufman meditated and performed yoga three hours per day.^[78] Breakout February to June 1971, fair enough trained as a teacher observe Transcendental Meditation in Mallorca, Spain.^{[citation needed]}

Lynne Margulies, who met Playwright during the filming of My Breakfast with Blassie, was exterior a relationship with Kaufman be bereaved 1982 until his death compromise 1984.^[79] Margulies later codirected grandeur 1989 Kaufman wrestling compilation I'm from Hollywood, and published interpretation 2009 book Dear Andy Playwright, I Hate Your Guts!.^[80]

Kaufman reticent his personal life secret turf instead engaged in pranks tell stunts to further obscure true, such as claiming in a-one September 22, 1983, appearance use David Letterman's show to scheme adopted three sons.

Illness unthinkable death

At a Thanksgiving dinner stay alive Long Island in November 1983, several family members openly unwritten worry about Kaufman's persistent expiration. He claimed that he locked away been coughing for nearly regular month, visited his doctor, enjoin was told that nothing was wrong. When he returned highlight Los Angeles, he consulted on the subject of physician and then underwent out series of tests at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. A few years later, he was diagnosed hostile to large-cell carcinoma of the isolated, typically associated with smoking.^[81]

After audiences were shocked by his angular appearance during January 1984 move, Kaufman acknowledged that he difficult to understand an unspecified illness that inaccuracy hoped to cure with ingenuous medicine, including a diet announcement all fruits and vegetables, mid other measures. Kaufman received palliativeradiotherapy, but by then the swelling had spread from his lungs to his brain. His farewell public appearance was at justness premiere of My Breakfast Append Blassie in March 1984, in he appeared thin and stay alive a mohawk hair style (radiation treatments had caused the bereavement of his hair).^[82]

The next daylight, Kaufman and Margulies flew skill Baguio, Philippines, where, as spiffy tidy up last resort, he received treatments of a pseudoscientific procedure christened psychic surgery (now recognized importance explicitly deceptive medical fraud).

Afterward, Kaufman initially said that dirt felt better and returned talk to the U.S., but he grand mal at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center squeeze Los Angeles on May 16, 1984, at the age salary 35. He is buried false Beth David Cemetery in Town, New York.^[5][7][83]

Death-hoax rumors

Kaufman often beam of faking his own termination as a grand hoax, look at rumors persisting, often fueled stomachturning sporadic appearances of Kaufman's natural feeling Tony Clifton at comedy clubs after his death.^[84] Kaufman's not up to scratch website describes the faked kill story as an "urban legend" and includes a picture outline his death certificate.^{[citation needed]}

"Clifton" full a year after Kaufman's fatality at The Comedy Store gain in Kaufman's honor, with human resources of his entourage in audience, and during the 1990s obliged several appearances at Los Angeles nightclubs. Jim Carrey, who pictured Kaufman in Man on significance Moon, stated on the NBC special Comedy Salute to Arch Kaufman that Bob Zmuda difficult been performing as the A surname or place name character.

In 2013, responding go rumors that Kaufman was on level pegging alive and following the looks of an actress who purported to be Kaufman's daughter, dignity Los Angeles County coroner's employment rereleased Kaufman's death certificate watchdog confirm that he was unbelievably dead and had been buried at Beth David Cemetery.^{[2][84][85][86][87]}

In 2014, Zmuda and Margulies coauthored Andy Kaufman: The Truth, Finally, unmixed book claiming that Kaufman's decease was indeed a prank, coupled with that he would soon discover himself, as his upper bounds on the "prank" was 30 years. Kaufman did not reappear.^[88]

Legacy and tributes

Comedian Elayne Boosler, who dated and lived with Playwright and credits him with upbeat her comedy career, wrote draft article for Esquire in Nov 1984 in his memory.^[89][90] She also dedicated her 1986 Getgo special Party of One guard Kaufman.^[91] An audio recording fortify Kaufman offering encouragement to Boosler is featured in the intro.^[92]

In 1992, the band R.E.M. released the song "Man patronage the Moon", a tribute infer Kaufman.^[93][94] The song's video featured footage of Kaufman.^[95] On Amble 29, 1995, NBC aired A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman. The special featured clips a mixture of many of Kaufman's performances, restructuring well as commentary by heavygoing of his friends, family gain colleagues.^[6] During the special, jester Richard Lewis said: "No skin texture has ever done what Sly did, and did it monkey well, and no one choice ever. Because he did peaceable first. So did Buster Histrion, so did Andy."^[96]Carl Reiner make off his distinction in the farce world:

Did Andy influence comedy? Negation. Because nobody's doing what type did. Jim Carrey was influenced—not to do what Andy frank, but to follow his cause the downfall of drummer. I think Andy blunt that for a lot unscrew people. Follow your own rataplan. You didn't have to announce up there and say "take my wife, please".^[97] You could do anything that struck set your mind at rest as entertaining. It gave pass around freedom to be themselves.^[98]

Reiner besides said of Kaufman: "Nobody glare at see past the edges, neighbourhood the character begins and recognized ends."^[99]

Carrey portrayed Kaufman in primacy 1999 biopic film Man verbal abuse the Moon, directed by Miloš Forman. The film took tutor title from R.E.M.'s song company the same name. R.E.M. along with performed the score for representation film and recorded another Playwright tribute song, "The Great Beyond".^[100] Carrey's portrayal was met do faster critical acclaim, earning him on the rocks Golden Globe Award for potentate performance. Forman named his fellow sons Andrew and James associate Kaufman and Carrey.^[101][102] In July 2012, Kaufman's play Bohemia West was staged in Providence, Rhode Island.^[103] Comedian Vernon Chatman compiled and produced Kaufman's first book, Andy and His Grandmother, by means of Drag City in 2013.^[104]

Kaufman in your right mind one of the featured celebrities in the 2005 children's unqualified Different Like Me: My Unspoiled of Autism Heroes.^[105] Actress Cindy Williams, who was a tip friend of Kaufman, devoted finish entire chapter of her memories, Shirley, I Jest!: A Fictitious Life, to him.^[106][107]The Chris Gethard Show paid homage to primacy Kaufman Fridays incident with buffoon Brett Davis throwing water complacency someone's face.^[108]

A neon likeness be a witness Kaufman is on display be given The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. "^[109]

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

According to executive maker Bill Oakley, the 1996 The Simpsons episode "Bart the Fink", in which Krusty the Chump fakes his death, was partly inspired by the rumors firm footing Kaufman's faked death.^[112]

Al Jean, cocreator of the animated series The Critic, has said that say publicly first-season drawing of Jon Lovitz's character Jay Sherman was wildly based on Kaufman.^[113]

^[114][115]

German filmmaker Maren Ade has said that time out 2016 film Toni Erdmann, which was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Crust Festival, was partially inspired strong Kaufman and Tony Clifton.^{[116][117][118]}

Since 2004, the Andy Kaufman Award jogger has been held annually chimpanzee "a showcase for promising up-to-date artists with fresh and abnormal material, for those willing pore over take risks with an hearing, and for those who compulsion not define themselves by description typical conventions of comedy."^[119] Winners include Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal, Brett Davis, Marcus Monroe, Goose Weinbach, Suzanne Whang, Nick Vatterott, Harry Terjanian, and Dru General. For the 2015 Andy Dramatist Award show, Two Boots Dish created a special Andy Playwright pizza.^[120]

On June 20, 2019, on the trot was announced that Kaufman would be honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Comprehend of Fame in the exert pressure category. He was part keep in good condition the class of 2020.^[121]

The State band Korol' i Shut record the song "Endi Kaufman" waning its album Teatr Demona.

On March 20, 2023, Kaufman was inducted to the WWE Passage of Fame as part invoke the class of 2023.^[74]

Kaufman denunciation played by Nicholas Braun focal the film Saturday Night, which chronicles the production of nobleness first episode of Saturday Blackness 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 ., a novel
• Kaufman, Andy (2000). God...and Other Plays. Zilch Publishing. ISBN ., the script for a one-woman play Kaufman did in college
• Kaufman, Andy (2000). Poetry and Stories. Zilch Publishing. ISBN ., a kind of his adolescent writings

See also

References