Andy Kaufman

This article is about the entertainer. For the former basketball player, see Andy Kaufmann.

Andy Kaufman
a black-and-white photo of Kaufman in a military uniform
Kaufman in 1979, playing his "Foreign Man" character
Born
Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman

(1949-01-17)January 17, 1949
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 16, 1984(1984-05-16) (aged 35)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeBeth David Cemetery
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • singer
  • dancer
  • performance artist
  • professional wrestler
Years active1971–1984
Style
PartnerLynne Margulies (1982–1984)
Children1

Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman (/ˈkaʊfmən/ KOWF-mən;[1] January 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984[2]) was an American comedian and performance artist. He has sometimes been called an "anti-comedian".[3] He disdained telling jokes and engaging in comedy as it was traditionally understood, once saying in an interview, "I am not a comic, I have never told a joke. The comedian's promise is that he will go out there and make you laugh with him. My only promise is that I will try to entertain you as best I can."[4]

After working in small comedy clubs in the early 1970s, Kaufman came to the attention of a wider audience in 1975, when he was invited to perform portions of his act on the first season of Saturday Night Live. His Foreign Man character was the basis of his performance as Latka Gravas on the hit television show Taxi from 1978 until 1983.[5] During this time, he continued to tour comedy clubs and theaters in a series of unique performance art/comedy shows, sometimes appearing as himself and sometimes as obnoxiously rude lounge singer Tony Clifton. He was also a frequent guest on sketch comedy and late-night talk shows, particularly Late Night with David Letterman.[6] In 1982, Kaufman brought his professional wrestling villain act to Letterman's show by way of a staged encounter with Jerry "The King" Lawler of the Continental Wrestling Association. The fact that the altercation was planned was not publicly disclosed for over a decade.

Kaufman died of lung cancer on May 16, 1984, at the age of 35.[7] As pranks and elaborate ruses were major elements of his career, persistent rumors have circulated that Kaufman faked his own death as a grand hoax.[6][8] He continues to be respected for the variety of his characters, his uniquely counterintuitive approach to comedy, and his willingness to provoke negative and confused reactions from audiences.[6][9]

  1. ^ "I-L". NLS.
  2. ^ "Certificate of Death, State of California: Andrew G. Kaufman". Country of Los Angeles Resigtrar-Recorder/County Clerk via TheSmokingGun.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  3. ^ Givens, Ron (December 23, 1999). "Andy Kaufman recalled as bizarre, gifted". New York Daily News; Reading Eagle. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  4. ^ Brennan, Sandra (2008). "Full Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2012. I am not a comic, I have never told a joke. ... The comedian's promise is that he will go out there and make you laugh with him. ... My only promise is that I will try to entertain you as best I can. ... They say, 'Oh wow, Andy Kaufman, he's a really funny guy.'
  5. ^ Prial, Frank J. (May 18, 1984). "Andy Kaufman, A Comedian Known For Unorthodox Skits". The New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference beloved was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference clifton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Tip-off". Lakeland Ledger. March 30, 1995. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  9. ^ Handler, David (June 9, 1984). "Kaufman Blazed New Trails". Ocala Star-Banner. Retrieved August 27, 2016.