Here's what they're saying about Andy!
Links:
The Official Andy Kaufman Homepage
Official Man on the Moon Website
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Unlike a majority of your visitors, I was fortunate to grow up watching Andy on television. I remember the first time I saw him. Andy was doing a stand up routine and my first reaction was "is this guy for real". It took me a few times to get use to his humor and it helped me to open my mind to endless possibilities. P. Buotte Andy Kaufman was a pioneer in entertainment with a creative spirit that can never die. Jerry and Anita Esposito ANDY KAUFMAN WAS A GREAT MAN.I DID NOT LIVE TO WATCH HIM PERFORM BUT HAD SEEN AND READ ABOUT HIM,AND THINK THAT IT WAS TRAGIC ABOUT THE FACT OF HIS DEATH,IF HE REALY IS DEAD.IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO SEE WHAT STUFF HE WOULD COME UP WITH NOW.AND I REALY ADMIRE HIM IN MANY WAYS. THE DUDE I just got seriously into Andy about a month ago, and I can't believe it took 17 years to happen. He is a comedic genius, and everyone should have the opportunity to see some of his work. I just finished Bob Zmuda's book, Andy Kaufman Revealed, and it is the greatest book I have ever read in my life. I only wish I was old enough to have seen some of his work live. From Latka to Tony Clifton to the Lawler fued, Kaufman was a man of perfection. Andy, you are the king. Charlie Andy was evrything all at once. He was a genius, we was freaking nuts, we was himself. Nobody will ever compare to this man. He was the most incredible person to ever step foot on this earth, and I wish to God that he hadn't taken such an awesome person. I miss you Andy and I never even grew up watching you. I am only 18, but i feel like I have known you my whole life. Teddy Owens Watching videos of Andy Kaufman recently, I am struck by what a beautiful man he was inside. I wish I had known him. Most people don't "get" Andy. I feel sorry for them. I think the best way to describe Andy is as a "reality illusionist" Leisa Maserang Heitman Love Andy LOVE HIM LOVE HIM LOVE HIM miss him. great website! i am extrordinarely impressed and greatful! Amy I was three years old when Andy died. i don't remember a thing about it. But I can only be thankful that being a Kaufman fan is hereditary in my family. My parents loved his work on SNL and I finally discovered him for myself one day after they had attempted to describe the Mighty Mouse bit to me. He was on TV all sweaty, bloody, and screaming about Jerry Lawler and for god sakes, I dont know what's wrong with me, but I feel head over heels in love. So that's just great, now Im in love with this dead guy. Just great right? Well I cant help it, I will love you forever Andy, for everything you did(and did not) do. ;) If you were still around I'd chase you around the world challenging you to "wrassle" and then winning so I could marry you!! I love you Andy! You make me think and laugh! Becky Andy was the most amazing mind I've ever witnessed. A.C.A. I have always admired Andy Kaufman and always loved his work. Jon Anderson i love Andy Kaufman soooo much. He was so beautiful and i'm so sad he's not alive any more because now i have no chance of marrying him when i grow up. But he will live forever in my heart and the hearts of all his fans. Rachel Andy is one of the biggest inspirations in my life. As many have said before me, the man was a genius and his legacy will live on. After experiencing Andy's art, I am a different person with a very different approach towards life. I only wish I could tell him this my self, but alas he died when i was only 2. nice site and always keep andy in you heart. Jess enjoyed your site. andy was way ahead of his time. there will never be another like him. for a chronology of andy's life, check out http://www.iag.net/~rassilon. nick bombino ANDY Kaufman is my idol. John I saw the Movie last night, and I always thought that Andy was just this really goofy nut, but now i know that he was a really sensitive person who was trying to break barriers, and get through all the fakery that sometimes plagues Hollywood. He was trying to communicate his deep convictions about his personal art and his sensitivity, and he sometimes crossed the line between what was acceptable and what was off limits. He was just different from everybody else. Was he perhaps a kid who was plagued with a great need for love and acceptance, was he overly sensitive, was he emotionally unbalanced? He was perhaps all of the above, but he was a great human being with the gift for expressing himself well and impersonating others. He was also unwilling to compromise his art, a belief that I feel all great artists share. I left the film with a greater admiration for him and for Jim Carrey who portrayed his life. Byron Barsamian I think Andy was and still is one of the best actors that there has ever been. He know what he needed to do to make it in the acting world. He might have been one of the most controversial actors to grace us with his presence’s, but that is what made him great. jason I am 14 years old and I had seen very little of Andy Kaufman's career, until I heard about the film 'Man on the Moon'. So I got out an old tape of Andy Kaufman that my father owned. I watched it and I fell in love with his comic genious. I love how he made up the characters Tony Clifton, The Foriegn Guy, Lip Synced Mighty Mouse, fought women, double crossed a wrestler, and made many irate when recited the whole great gatsby when he began mad at college students. I saw Man on the Moon and I loved it. And I wish that Andy was still with us, because everything jsut seems so dull with out him. Kevin McKeon Andy Kaufman was an extremely brilliant star. Those of us who understood or at least appreciated his art lost something very special the day Andy died. I don't think Andy much cared if we liked him or if we hated him he just wanted to keep us guessing and he was very successful! Those who labeled him as being eccentric, stupid, crazy, etc. have no imagination and probably no sense of humor either. It's funny because whether people liked him or not they're still thinking about him 15 years after his death. Andy Kaufman is a prime example of "you don't know what you've got until it's gone". He was a loving, kind, intelligent and extremely talented human being. We should feel blessed to have enjoyed this angel for the brief time he walked the earth. I hope that more people will learn from this movie "Man on the Moon" and open their hearts and minds to new experiences and different people, after all "It's A Friendly, Friendly World". Katrina Andy Kaufman was the greatest actor/comedian/trickster to ever live! R.I.P. Paul I love andy kaufman. he is still alive.. in case you didn't know..or maybe it's just wishful thinking of mine heh. conni Andy Kaufman was a genius. Everything he did was wonderful. And he just had so much doing all of it. He was just a big kid. Kyle Hi, I recently saw the movie Man on the Moon and it was intriguing. Over the past few days I have looked up everything I can on him, and he was such an interesting and inspiring person. That's why I am here. To learn more about Andy Kaufman. Kristina i am so glad there is a great website on andy.he has been my idol 4ever! jo Andy was a GENIUS!!!! Nobody had the guts of Andy! Who else would engage a crowd for personal kicks? He mastered the art of deception and we were all part of his hoax.I am proud of it!!! The brightest stars burn out the fastest and Andy is sheer proof!!Please post this! If you don't I will come down there and put your frickin head in the soap!!! El Quieso Andy is an inspiration. Funny, compassionate, and fanatical all rolled into one; creating one of the most true entertainers i have ever seen. I have been changed. tim schober Andy is the kewlest. Rock on! May Andy is my inspiration, my mentor, and my reason. I think it's so great that people still react to his work. He'll return one day and thank all of his fans. Long live Andy. Sarah People need to be more like him, that's all I have to say, although we might only get one every couple of thousand years! Mauricio i would like some more information about Andy Kaufman.I`m very interested in his life and i like your website. Cynthia Knight Andy Kaufman was an artistic genius who was as sane as you or me. The only thing that was different was that he had a certain innocent, childlike way of thinking that he exploited to make the audience look at themselves. jacob ramseyer Andy Kaufman is one of the most outstanding performance artists. He is truely brillant. I hope that it is true that he faked his death. And i foundly beleive that it is true. AJ WOOO!!! ANDY WAS THE KING!! MATT Andy Kaufman was a true expressionist, and I think his talents went beyond that. Each time I watch him, I feel his energy. W. Magdalene The audience showed up expecting to be entertained, and instead wound up entertaining HIM!!! What a visionary! Holly Andy was just so outstanding, the more i learn about him, the more i cry because he is not on this earth anymore. Allison Levitan I just recently saw man on the moon and it really opened my eyes. I used to think andy was just the guy on taxi, but he isn't. None of my friends know who Andy Kaufman is, but they're only 13, which made me realize I couldn't compare notes. So, I read Bob Zmuda's book, and I'm still reading it. IT IS SO FUNNY!!! So have to read it. Well, talk to you later. Kate I loved your web page as I love Andy Kaufman. May he rest in Peace. Tony Clifton lives tho! Leonard Bruce Andy Lives! I jumped the bandwagon about a month before "Man on the Moon" opened-- I went crazy- studying Andy Kaufman. I read "Lost in the Funhouse" as well as Bob Zmuda's book on Andy. I went nuts, I tell you, nuts. I wrote reviews of the movie- for a local magazine- and a knee-jerk review can be found at my website: http://www.zyworld.com/spookymo at the movie reviews link. Andy was fantastic. A few loose marbles- either that or he was saner than the rest of us. I was only 4 years old when he died, but better to join in the fun late than never. Molly Marco To the man on the moon... To the leading Space Cadet... Out of orbit and spinning... not in any time zone- perhaps the Twilight Zone... To the mysterious maelstrom: Mr. Andy Kaufman I pulled a Kaufman a few months ago...but before I even knew about Andy (it seems we are all one a first name basis with him), before I too jumped the cultish bandwagon with Milos Forman's "Man on the Moon". One evening at an MSU Improv Club meeting/performance-- I blanked out. I couldn't perform. I wasn't funny. I didn't get it. I had stage fright. I was involved in a scene with two other kids, the situation chosen at random by the "audience" (other club members). I couldn't get into it. And as I stood impotent and humiliated-- I fell to the ground, just laying there as if I were dead. I stole the scene, as the other two kids tried to go on-- I didn't move. That was my moment. Now, after studying Kaufman- a life lived on the fringe: I have been inspired. At a bar on karaoke night, I got up and sang "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" like a cowboy after dedicating my song to "Mister Andy Kaufman...and Mulder and Scully" and *deliberately bombing* (on purpose, I swear!) as I *missed* the first 6 lines or so of the song...craziness Thank you, Andy. Molly Marco andy kaufman was insane but he was also a genius. johnboy I am a big Andy Kaufman fan. I remember seeing him on Saturday Night Live reruns when I was much younger. I didn't know who he was then, but I remember his as the strange man who would always come out on his own and leave me laughing harder than the whole rest of the show. I am trying to collect videos of his work. Anyone who's been able to get in touch with the Rhino company about the Soudnstage performance - email me. Matt Sheahan a man that inspired us to think. jon Kaufman was an entertainer with comic genius timing. Jack Grinhaus i luv Andy. Aaron Asses andy next to jim carrey is the best there is was and ever will be. gary martin I think Andy was a brilliant performer. A good actor never breaks character to say, "Excuse, what I am doing up here is acting; it is only joke". That would be ridiculous! In addition, Andy was one of the pu-on artists of this time. So good in fact, that I am not entirely convinced that he should be mentioned in the past tense (if you know what I mean). :) Angi I'm a university student stuck with studying Swift, Shakespeare and all those other geniuses who were never fully understood and appreciated while they lived. Andy falls into this category. Years later, people will be studying his revolutionary form of... uhh... entertainment? I hope to be one of those who seeks to understand that the joke is on us. P.S. Andy- Now I wanna be your dog. Jen Dunford Andy Kaufman is the greatest guy. He had a way to make you think and make you want to understand him more. Man I wish I was alive and able to meet him when he was still around!!!!! Thomas J. Wofford Andy just happened to be the original wierdo. A talented, lucky wierdo. He's the most creative entertainer of the century. Max Andy Kaufman was his own person. He wasn't owned by anyone--except himself. There are many people who try to figure out what he was all about. To those people: Relax and don't bother. Andy is a puzzle that will never be solved. Just enjoy brilliant, self-centered lunacy and wish you could live the life he did. Nik Hollywood I am 14 years old, and have just recently discovered Andy. He is now my idol. Of course you may think I'm just getting in with what's hot now, but the reason im so obsessed now is because he is not only funny, but it turns out, he was much like me. I could not believe (this was in Man On the Moon) that he had the same view of the world as me. I truly enjoy watching people's reactions as they discover the tricks i pull on them. (ex. School fieldtrips- the teachers cant find me because im off hiding at a different place) Several coincidences- The principal, my parents, everyone i know says im excellent with kids (because as i say, i AM one) TAXI started on September 12, thats my birthday. He had a yorkshire terrier (dog) so do i. I weighed 7'11" when i was born and so did andy. I have a strange love for children's songs, andy obviously did. Now, I'm working on being an entertainer just like he so well was. Greg I miss you Andy. Thanx for all the fun... Chip Great web-page. Helped me a lot for a speech I had to do on Andy's Life. thanx. Mike Man dont know where to start, Andy Kaufman is a genius. He is one of the most amazing comics and people i have ever seen. The things he did, only someone who is a genius or crazy could do them. Andy's legacy will never be forgotten and the chance he is still alive, well, i will be waiting if he is. Go Andy. Andy Zourides Andy Kaufman's greatest characteristic was his sucess at everything he wanted to do. He once said that he wanted to make people laugh, be sad, and be angry--all from the gut. He ALWAYS did that. He always knew exactly what to do to make people feel a certain way, or to react in a certain manner. That was the true genius of Andy Kaufman, and he still has a huge impact on people today. Tom Griglock i was born in 1984, so, unfortunatly, i was never able to see andy live and up close. however, i can remember as a young child watchimg re-runs of andy's stand up preformences. he made me laugh harder than i ever laugh before. andy kaufman was probably one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) genious in entertainment history. he didnt go on stage every night to make people laugh, sometimes, as tony clifton, quite the opposite. i find that everyone has a little bit of insanity in then, and andy was brave enough not only to show us his "crazy side" , but to bring it out of each and every one of us. i find myself more and more acting like andy in trying to entertain my friends, family, and even total strangers. (i am even told that i am the re-encarnation of andy [if yoou beleive in that sort of thing] because he died and i was born on the same year. bottom line, andy kaufman was a great man, and im still waiting for him to appear on T.V. late some friday night and show us how gullible we are for buying his "dying act". pete choke Andy Kaufman is my hero. He was a genius and I would give anything to meet him just to tell him thank you. Thank you for turning my world upside down and back again and showing me the true meaning of LIFE. He was brilliant and I love him and there will never be another like him. Words cannot describe him. His light will never burn out. Andy--wherever you are, thank you for bringing so much joy to my life. And if you're out there somewhere--alive--well...You amaze me.... Alissa Culp I think Andy Kaufman is a genius. I'm only 16, and the mans talent has drawn me to taxi ever since I can remember. I work in a cinema now and have seen Man On The Moon 6 times, and each time I learn something more about him. Genuis, true genius. Stephanie Andy Kaufman- "King of Mind-Screwers" That's his brilliance; to be able to turn reality on its ear, and to screw with your head. He's the originator of questioning reality. DKat AKLIF Andy Kaufman Lives Immortal Forever! Words cannot explain...but yet we try..why?? For Andy.. Hey Andy Did you hear about this one? Hey Andy Are you locked in the punch? Hey Andy did you hear about this one..? Simplicity's words fill the world to spout your story. And your ideals. Andy Kaufman Lives Within Us For All Eternity. We are Andy. And Andy is everyone and everything. Mer One Word Genius... Yes That's Right Andy Kaufman was a Genius. Vincent Barbara FABULOUS PAGE---i can't sress that enough. I really want to talk to Andy Kaufman fans so please e-mail me. Holly Golightly Nice page. It is a good resource for us lonely fans. Leisa I've seen Man on the Moon 3 times because I'm a huge fan of Jim Carrey. The movie really opened my eyes to the life of Andy Kaufman. I always thought of him as the guy on taxi and a stand up comic, but I learned that I was terribly mistaken. I love the movie and Tony Clifton is awesome no matter who he really is. Matt Huf I started reading about Andy kaufman for a book report, but I became really interested in him. I think Andy was an great song and dance man. monica I just discovered Andy's work and antics not too long ago. He has changed the way I look at things and he has touched me in a special way. I will always remember him, and wish he was still alive-he deserves the praise! Sandi Moore Fantastic, Andy was pure misunderstood genius who took absolutely nothing seriously except making the rest of us think! Steve Russo i miss andy, he was awesome. james clifton ANDY IS A TRUE GENIUS. TO THIS VERY DAY HE STILL IS A PART OF OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. thanks nick at nite. JIM CARREY OF WHOM I AM ONLY AN AVERAGE FAN, BROUGHT US THE MOST SPECTACULAR ILLUSION OF ANDY THAT WILL EVER EXIST WITHOUT THE MAN HIMSELF. quite an achievement jim. ANDY IN THE TRUE KING. LIVE ON. LEIGHE My name is Joseph J Morris. Though I have an office based 9-5 job, I am a qualified Actor and Musician. I am in the middle of scriptwriting for a live comedy revue, for a production in Windsor. My stage name, which I have been using for sometime is Blue Kaufman - Blue being my colour of choice, and Kaufman as a tribute to my hero, Andy. I regard him as one of the most innovative and underrated comedians to come out of the 70's comedy stable, that housed Steve Martin, John Belushi. Unfortunatly, I was only 10 years old when he passed away, and it wasn't until 8 years ago when I heard REM's "Man On The Moon", that I started to find out more about this comedy enigma, beginning with re runs of Taxi, etc. Simply the greatest. Let's hope more people read 'Lost In The Funhouse' and get an insight into one of the greatest comedy performers of all time. Kind regards, Joseph J Morris / Blue Kaufman Andy Kaufman is my only idol.I try to do the things he does.I play jokes on people at school. Once I faked a cut on my forhead and some people think I was faking and some people think I was serious.But thats the reaction I want from them.I want them to be confused and don't no how to react to the situation.i try to model everything about Andy that I can and i'm doing a pretty good job.I'am going to be the next Andy Kaufman! Mitchell Lewis andy is the king of the world. alicia burbridge PROCEED - I AM IN LOVE WITH A CAT - I ALSO LIKE ANDY KAUFMAN - HE WAS HILARIOUS - I LIKE HIM A LOT AND I DON'T SEE WHY PEOPLE WERE SO OFFENDED BY THE THINGS HE DID - YOU GUYS HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SITE HERE BUT ID LIKE YOU TOO ADD A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BUY STAPLES AND OTHER OFFICE ACCESSORIES. ANDREW everything about andy was an understatement. No one knows what was really happening, ans no one will, just the way andy wanted it. brian Andy Kaufman is my ideal man. He has made a guest appearance in a few of my poems, which you will find at www.loveblender.com. If there were more men like Andy Kaufman in this world, the world would be a much better place. Thank you veddy much. Misti Velvet Rainwater I am just trying to learn more. Corey Cohen great website. Andy's name will hopefully last for centuries...We love you Andy. rain ronald hoover i think it is a great movie and everyone should see it!!!!!! it's a very surprising special movie. tal.p Andy Kaufman, as I see it was a genius that knew life as well as the game we all play, and I also think that people went mad because he somehow revealed or reflected what they really were and how the world was cut by the same people... maybe we don't like what we do, so when we see it... maybe we despise it?! And seeing Andy was like taking a look into a mirror that stood in front of them. I think he meant it as a way of telling everybody how not to live. Oscar J. Acosta Andy Kaufman was absolutely BRILLIANT and I am sorry that I am too young to have really known who he was in his lifetime. I will always consider him one of the best comedians ever! ~`*`~G~I~N~A~`*`~ andy kaufman is cool. rob reep jr I SAW THE MOVIE AND I THINK THAT ANDY KAUFMAN WAS A GREAT MAN AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE HIS WORK AS A "COMEDIAN" I WAS 4 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED AND I WISH I WAS ABLE TO MEET HIM. DOYLE Well I really never knew who Andy Kaufman was till a few years ago watching wrestling, but when I saw the movie and I thought what a brilliant entertainer this man was. I am getting all of the books on him and trying to read up on this amazing entertainer. I only know bits and pieces of Kaufman, but I wish I could of met him and got to know him on the personal level, he seems a little out there, and I think that is awesome. George Phillips ANDY Kaufman was a graet man and still is a great man the movis Man on the Moon showed Andy for who he really was. There will never be another Andy Kaufman. Ron Richards Andy Kaufman is cool. joey andy + josephine 100% true love. josephine i love Andy Kaufman hes the king. douglas "trashman" cameron there will never be a person like andy...he was great!!! Lana Jade he is a legend! Tom d tony clifton is the best zak This site is great! Andy Kaufman is a true legend! Jonathan Hawkins Marry me when I get to heaven, Andy !! Bren in Ireland I saw the movie Man on the Moon and I wanted to see who Andy kaufman really was. Jon Gerard Andy was often criticized for being stupid. . . tell that to the "stupid" people today who are trying so hard to follow in the genius's footsteps. Crazy About Andy since man on the moon, my friend and i have become andy's biggest fans. he's the greatest! a comical genius! thanks andy! if anyone has alot of andy pictures please send them my way. andrew black Andy Kaufman rules! mac Andy Kaufman is (was) my idol! I love him and plan on following in his footsteps dedicating a bit of my shows to the underrated genius! Beck I think Andy had one of the greatest comedic minds there ever has been and there ever will be. brandon Andy Kaufman was a genius and was not appreciated until his death. Felicia Rangel He was a comedic madman genius! Period! Aldo Jamal Falbo Great Page. I think Andy Kaufman was great! Madison We're The Joke. Chris Long live Andy!!!! Kathryn Andy RULES! Jen Wainwright Andy Rocks! Barbarino Andy Kaufman is our idol. An'ni HE IS THE BEST!! TEDSON he is the funniest and craziest guy out there. Ryan E. A genius, thats what Andy Kaufman was. Colin Love the work on his site. ray rodriguez He was a very talented man ahead of his time. Tucker Duncan Andy, you are my favorite comedian in the whole universe! Wilson Hu Andy - liquid reality Angie I love andy kaufman. beth Andy Kaufman is alive... Geoffrey I liked the movie "The Man On The Moon"!! Julien St-Cyr I still don't know who Andy is!!! Katie The only comment I have to offer is ANDY RULESS AND LIVES ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dusty Langley The Brotherhood & Sisterhood of the Temple of Andy Kaufman Welcomes YOU! We're a non-denominational, non-profit support group of Andy fans who recognize the healing power of Laughter and the saving properties of Andy. Thank you and Everything with Andy, Pastor John I'm a young catalonian -Catalonia is a deeper country, lost in the middle of Asia- that saw the sitcom "Taxi" in childhood. Now, after to see "Man on the Moon" I think is necessary Andy returns. World is too bore and sad without him. Jordi Garriga I'd just like to say that all my life I have been an AK fan.He opened my eyes to new forms of comedy that I as yet did not know of. He made me see that there is more than cheap laughs to be had in comedy. Like I said before and will say again, he opened my eyes. Peter Childs Andy was an entertainer who didn't care what people thought. He would do something that would make one person laugh and one person frown but he didn't care as long as he got a laugh out of it. Andy Hubert Andy Kaufman is god!!!!!!!!!!! Cam Croteau You've already posted my comments on your page. Thanks for giving us this forum. Please check out the Andy tribute page on my site: http://members.aol.com/scarybari/index.html Gracias por hacer un sitio mas de este polifacético genio, creo que todo lo que hizo fue buscando una reacción si tuviera que definirlo lo vería como un profeta, una persona completa compleja y dividida en si misma conteniendo dos mitades y a su vez dos mundos enteros y perfectos. Creo que estaba cuerdo como pocos y seria difícil decir por su complejidad que era un humorista. Fijense sino en la pequeña parodia con los bongos en el show de Johny Carlson. Creo que perdimos a este niño adulto con esa ternura "extraviada" y mi temor es que se lo olvide o maljuzgue sin conocerlo. Saludos Lidia Donn what can be said about Andy that hasn't already been said. He was a genius who took our normal perception of things and turned it upside down until we could not tell the difference between what was real and false Charles Van Heck I am from the UK and have seen a Preview of MAN ON THE MOON, This is the BEST FILM I have ever seen, and I want to know more about ANDY, Does anyone know where I can get books, or vidoes?? Thanks Chris Cox Just wanted to say that I'm a really big fan of Andy Kaufman's and have continued to be.I'm sure Andy has continued Goofin off on the other side!I love you Andy!!!!! Gina Personally, I think Andy is just hiding out in a trailer somewhere with Elvis. But that's just me. Coyote Gin Andy Kaufman Was/is the greatest entertainer Ever!!! Sebastian Refshammer Andy Kaufman has moved me in every sense of the word. His extrodinary and often insane antics have shown me that reality is what you make of it and innocence, htough elusive,is always important. Thanks to a late night viewing of Kaufman's shows and also a tribute to him on Comedy Central, I now practice TM. Andy Kaufman is the real American Hero. He is my hero. I don't trust him, but I respect him as a genius of our time. Hopefully, he has pulled the greatest prank of all time and will come back to confuse and inspire us again. Probably not, but wouldn't it be wonderful to have the wool pulled over our eyes once again? Jill Howe andy rocks my world jim I watched Taxi when I was little, Andy Kaufman and Christopher Lloyd were my favorite actors on the show. I didn't know much about him though. My husband took me to see man on the moon. Since I saw the movie I have been more interested in who Andy Kaufman was. I have watched a few biography shows and read some articles. I know that what you watch on T.V. and read in books and magazines aren't always completely accurate, but he seemed like such a fascinating person. As for the conspiracy about his death, I think he's dead. I don't think he was the kind of person who would pull such a cruel hoax. Mind you I didn't know him, all I know is what I see and read. Kaufman Fan i just seen Man on the Moon by Jim Carrey, and infact, i never knew who Kaufman is, but now i am more than interested into knowing Andrew Kaufman. He's brilliant. RedBox I had never heard of Andy Kaufman before I saw the film "Man on the Moon" but now I want to find out all I can about this mysterious man, what made him tick and what his motives were - I am inclined to believe in the "genius" theory. Mollie Pepper I remember seeing man on the moon and coming home and getting on the web and trying to find more information on Andy. All I can say is Andy was a genius. He followed his own rules. He didn't care if people loved him or hated him. How many people are around like that? He was alot more than people made him out to be. freedom Andy was a great entertainer, who not only made us laugh, but got us interested, for whatever reason in absolutely everything he did. Whether you liked him or hated him, you hung on his every word, to try to figure him out. Rebecca Andy is a hero of mine. He inspired a lot of other comedians to succeed and it's too bad he had to leave so early. Dan I'm looking for comments/info about Andy Kaufman's "appearance" (?) through a medium on Fox's psychic show. Mandy I remember Andy as Latka from Taxi from when I was a kid. Now I'm begining to discover 'him'. I'm looking forward to the journey. Peter Getty Andy Kaufman is one of the few celebrities that I wish I could have known personally. He was and is an inspiration to those who want to be different and show hollywood that conforming isn't always the correct thing to do. Hopefuly his genius will live on through the sites like this, MAN ON THE MOON, and Bob Zmuda's book. Andy, we miss you. Amanda Keith I would like to suggest that you put Man on the Moon lyrics on, but explaining the verses because i can understand few things about the lyrics. Lisa Andy Kaufman was a genius and is an insparation to me.The way he could wrap the world around his fingure was amazing, there was indeed no 'real' Andy! Ed Coleman Tony Clifton kicks some asses!!!! pit I am one of those people who insist that Andy faked his death. How about you? I think don't belive everything you hear. amanda I think Andy made those jokes to pleasure himself. I think he laughed to the stupid people who didn´t know what to believe. Samppa Mehtonen The traffic is terrible. My wife's cooking is so bad, it's terrible. I want to do the impression of the Archie Bunker. John Kula I'm a really big Kaufman fan! I even wrote a report on him.This man was incredible.Take it from me.I have both of his biographies and have read them.I can wait to see man on the moon."Tenk you vedy much". Wayne Bailey andy is the biggest influence of my own performance pieces. kennybigley Andy...simply, THE BEST . Tony Clifton... my hero. cristian I read this poem recently and thought it would be a good tribute to Andy: "God saw he was getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms around him and whispered 'Come with me.' With tear-filled eyes we watched him suffer and fade away. Although we loved him deeply we could not make him stay. A golden heart stopped beating, a brilliant mind put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best." Kristy I saw the movie. I think that he is a genius. Felipe Barreira I just watched the Movie "Man on the Moon" and I think that it is a great movie and I also think that Andy is a Great Guy and I think that it is very sad that such a young great person of talent and a man that knew so much of the way that life was and still is passed so young. It makes me sad. Andy if your out there--The world still needs people like you! A fan Forever. Wilma Jean Shepherd Andy was a comic genius. Unfortunately, very few people were as ingenious as Andy. Our world could not comprehend this man's wit, and that was why people "hated" Andy. He fooled them into thinking that he was merely an a*$**hole. The joke was on them, and they didn't even know it. Andy, your comic genius came too soon for our pre-cyberspace world. You also left our world too soon. To a comic, timing is everything, isn't it? Steve Hartz Andy Kaufman was ( and still is ) the biggest genius ever. It's so sad to realize that such a talented person died without being completely understood. But, as many other brilliant people, he left his legacy to a few that have the brain and the sensitivity to know what he meant. Well, that's it, that's all I had to say. Andy Kaufman rules!!! And "Man on the moon" is a wonderful movie. Jim Carrey was Andy Kaufman! Juliana ANDY KAUFMAN RULES!!!!!!!!!!!! Juliana Andy was an unparalleled genius and truly one-of-a-kind. Henry Hanks Funniest man who ever lived! Trevor R.I.P Andy Mike Hodges I believe I'm the next Andy Kaufman. I will say what he ment. He told me. Look out for the future Andy is back!!!!! Billy Hart I don't know..there was just something so different and unique about Andy..Miss him..Miss his talents and innovative genius. dawn johnson Andy knew the game very well...... he had nothing up his seeleves.... Adeel I just checked out "Man On The Moon" and I have to say, it's number one on my list! Andy seemed like a guy everyone would want to meet. I'm just wondering one thing. How he managed to take everybody in Carnegie Hall out for milk and cookies Sam Vicari Andy Kaufman was a unique individual to say the least. I really enjoyed his strange sense of humor, although some didn't understand him. He was a t.v. star, a wrestler, a comedian, and a complete loon. poe Uncle Andy has quickly become one of my greatest heroes. I would go as far as to say, I look to Andy the same way Andy looked to Elvis. He even influenced me into sitting back and enjoying the king every now and again. Does he live? Of course he does. He live in the hearts of all those he has/ is affecting as we speak. Was he nuts? Yea, but aren't we all. At any rate, I like the guy, and um, that's fine. Yours Truly Chris Politz I'm 13 years old and ever since I saw the movie "Man on the Moon" starring Jim Carrey, I've started to do research on him. I have seen sites that say he's alive some say he's dead, but my final conclusion is he lives. Why do I say that. The reason is AK was a joker who liked to pull pranks. He even told friends and family how funny it would be to fake his death. However if he is really dead I would like to say he was a great funny guy and I'd like to be just like him. Jared Lunde(Andy Kaufman WannaBe) andy kaufman was one of the funniest men alive. he is my favorite actor too! He was kind of strange but in a good way. brandon macadangdang Andy Kaufman is a true comic genius, and I don't toss the word genius around lightly. He touched so many people in his short life. He also angered quite a few people in his time. I love it! Andy, we miss you and love you. I hear that Tony Clifton's gonna start a comeback tour at Harrah's in Reno but that's just a rumor... Rick West Since I saw Andy perform in SNL, I thought that he was a comic genious.....the things that he and his friend and writer Bob created like "Tony Clifton".... I don't know what else to say than "he's my favorite preformer" Artie I believe that Andy is still playing a game with us even after he has gone, but are we even sure he is gone, the master of prank could fake his own death to make us love him more , but I dont believe that this is the case, but you never know???? JB I think that we need another Andy Kaufman in todays entertainment. His originality and spantanuity really worked. Movie was great!! kenwax This site rocks! Andy is ALIVE and he is the master! Alonso Varas Being an Andy fan in Liverpool ,uk is not easy !I'm slowly ammassing a nice collection of Andy memorabilia , and have begun work on a fictional story "starring"Elvis , Graham Chapman , Marty Feldman , and Andy , the main subject !I am seeking suggestions & input from Andy fans everywhere !please e-mail me .. KENNY BIGLEY I do a great impression of the legendary Andy Kaufman, as well as his characters Tony Clifton, Elvis Presley, and Latka Gravas from Taxi. Andy Lives on!! Dylan Gatenby Andy Kaufman rules! I love the guy! Tony CLifton is cool too. What a genius! Thats all I can say! What a genius! The Digory Andy was funny, not funny "HAHA", just funny. lydia well i hope my best friend alyssa and andy have met in heaven. and are both doing ok . angel Ijust watched the movie last night on tv and now i am more curious to find out about who this man was and what he's all about. Nicole andy was funny as hell.... i love his work on snl.... most people dont get it by i did. andy god damn it .... jim carry in man on the moon was great. he did andy excelent. he is the funnisest man "alive." this is the greatest hox ever he really has people fooled about being dead... but someday soon he will come cback and suprise us all. love yeah and .. andy Hi. My name is Michael V. and like Andy Michael V. I obsess with Andy !! He is unique person in the world! Abby What can I say... Andy was just Brillant !!! Truly A Genuis we'll never see someone like him again James Ayala Andy seemed to be very good at what he did. The weird thing to me is no one else believed it about him. An interesting fact is that he died on my birthday when I turned 6. Nick Andy Kaufman was a comic genius to say the least. Im only 19 years old and I have seen many many of his performances. Personally I don't think he is dead. I think that he is playing another big practical joke on the entire world!! One day he will return to shock us all. Dennis Shy we have to keep the Andy's spirit alive Mauricio This is a great page i think andy was the greatest live on he is not dead chad miller after andy died who was it that appeared live on stage as Tony Braxton a year later? are there rumours that andy isn't even dead? and that hes playing a joke on all of us a gain? and will he return? Lance Andy was the one who lighted our way, and open our minds to a new way of understanding life. Andy is not dead, he´s alive in every person who love him. Jimmy I love,love,LOVE Andy!!!It's so sad that he died so young.I wish I could have met him.I'm so happy that so many people love him like I do.Everytime I think of him I get chills!He was a very special person.He had the courage to do whatever he wanted despite what some people might have thought of him.He's an inspiration.After reading about him,I feel as if I know him(as do a lot of people I'm sure)!One more thing:Andy is GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jennifer Stepien I saw the movie with Jim Carrey and I was kind of confused, Is it a big mystery where Andy really went? Is there reallly talk of "did he fake his death?" If he did... when did he die a second time... if not who portrayed his alter ego "tony" at the end , one year after his death.? Stu I was just reading through a lot of these messages(BTW,this IS the grooviest place to go to see what really dedicated fans think of Andy!)and I am EXTREMELY glad that someone mentioned that Andy was INCREDIBLY sexy!! He may be a lot older than me,but he's a mega-hottie!!!!! Jennifer Stepien Andy kaufman was definately one of the most daring artists around. There was nothing like him and I doubt there ever will be again. That's a shame. Simon Lomax O.K. I don't mean to be a pest but I want Becky to see this message!(Becky's comments were posted on this dedication page)I don't think there's anything wrong with you!I know EXACTLY how you feel. I,too am head over in heels in love with Andy.My family thinks there's something wrong with me because I'm in love with a dead guy,but they don't understand.So what if he's dead?Look at it this way.You can talk to him at night and send him your love and he might hear you!I don't care what my family or anyone else thinks.I,too will love Andy forever!!!!! Jennifer Stepien I found out this little piece of info on the AKA website. The following is damn strange, but quite true....I'm tempted to go further into the story's defense, but I'd rather just tell it exactly as it happened.. I purport it as fact, but I understand it might be viewed as fiction, it's up to the reader's discretion. I was on vacation on St. Thomas, doing my best alcoholic impersonation when I met a person who changed my life in such a bizarre manner that my only catharsis is to write about it, so here it goes: It was a typically beautiful, warm and sunny St. Thomas day, with a slight breeze. A perfect day for drinking, so I was, at an outdoors bar I'd become familiar with since arriving 3 days ago. I was being treated to fruity drinks and local humor by the bartender, Timmy, a short little native who was good natured and very sincere in odd ways, such as; compliments, island legend stories and statistics. My name is Alfred Samuels, a sports writer for a national magazine. I write short stories about small town athletes who do something outstanding in the previous month. This is as far as I will go with this magazine, at least until some writer above me dies, which I hope doesn't happen just so that I don't get promoted. Lately I haven't been feeling very unfulfilled with my current lot in life, so I've been A) drinking, and B) taking mini-vacations. A 4 day weekend via a carefully planned sick day right before a holiday, a 3 day weekend two weeks later and now this, one of my two week vacations for this year. All this by the first week in March. All have been heavy drinking and deeply introspective days. I am making good money, but I resent the fact that I haven't followed my own chosen path to write the next great book. Lethargy abound, I've just been too damn lazy. So, I've decided this vacation was going to be used to drink and seriously think about what I need to do, what I want to do, where I want to go, etc., etc. I was right in the middle of a deep thought (I'm sure) and my third drink (at least), when a rather fat, sweaty mustachioed older man, wearing big Elvis like sunglasses walked up off of the beach and sat down at the end of the counter around the corner from me. Everything he did was loud, sitting down, breathing, ordering lemonade, patting the sweat off of his forehead, his volume was just turned up. I immediately thought of Laverne's Italian father on Laverne and Shirley, good initial point of reference, but Laverne's dad was much more docile than this guy turned out to be. "Whew', he said, "god-damn, frickin' hot out there today. How hot izzit Timmy ?" "It's 89 degrees Fahrenheit, with 80 percent humidity, 40 percent chance of rain after 6pm, Mr. K." Timmy answered. "Tony" The fat man almost hissed. "Oh, Si.Tony." Timmy quickly said. "It's the frickin humidity that kills me, Timmy, ya know dat ? Heat I can hack, but get me where it's humid and I go frickin nuts !" Tony states, while mopping his face and neck. "I should live in Arizona, dry heat I can handle." Having three drinks in me, and being who I am, I let out this sound like air being let out of a tire and the word 'shit' combined. This brought Tony's attention to me; "You got something to say, mista ?" "Heat is heat, Tony" I slur, saying Tony like TOE-ney. "An oven is dry heat, and it's still pretty fucking hot, ain't it ? Heat is heat. Plain and simple." "Oh, wise guy, eh, know alot about Arizona from your travels looking for your whore mother?" Tony asked. Now this didn't offend me or catch me off guard, it simply made me realize I had a playmate, albeit a fat, ugly 50-something playmate. "Actually, I was looking for your mother, I needed to return her diaphragm, it fell out when she was getting it from me and my five brothers." And Tony realized he had a playmate too, so I offered to buy him a shot, which he declined, but he accepted another lemonade. And this is how we sat for the next 2-3 hours, him talking, me listening, for the most part. Initially just about general shit, I told him of my current frustration with my job and life, explained that this vacation was for me to basically screw my head on and get serious about my own writing. Him giving me shit for whining, telling me to get my ass in gear and write the frickin book. I found his abrupt and rude behavior as good humor, just an imperious East Coast personality, times ten. He was extremely insulting, but I was just buzzed enough to find it entertaining, especially while watching others squirm when getting 'it' from Tony. A waiter bringing fresh fruit was told to shove it up his ass by Tony because he "...don't eat no frickin' fruit, ever." A girl from the hotel that the bar is in front of was reduced to tears when she asked Tony if he would like some sunscreen. She was ugly, otherwise I would have had felt bad. I'm an asshole, but Tony is a true, absolute bastard, and you could tell he relishes in that fact. About an hour after he had sat down I let him know that he reminded me of Laverne's T.V. dad. "So, you think I look like Frank frickin' Defazio, great compliment kid" Tony barked. "Well, I thought you kinda looked like him, but more your demeanor than anything else." I explained, surprised he knew Laverne's dad's name from the T.V. show. Tony puffed on his cigar and stared at me silently for what seemed like forever, yielding no clue of his thoughts. Then suddenly you could see an idea hit him and him agreeing to it. He shared it with me like this: "Kid, I've got a story for ya. It's long and twisted, something I haven't talked about in years. But, it's something that I think might be of interest to someone. I used have an 'act' that played in lounges all over the U.S. I usually didn't play in places for more than one night; I tend to piss off my audience, on purpose. That was my whole act, insult my audience and see how many of the audience I could piss off and make leave. Eventually I found a lounge in Las Vegas that appreciated me enough my talent, so I was booked regularly and found a home. Nice dry heat, in Vegas, smart-ass." He said, raising an eyebrow. "Two shows a night, five nights a week, it was perfect for me; verbally abuse people and get paid for it. I billed myself as a 'Las Vegas Lounge Legend' after a week. Then, one night after I finished up my act, this skinny, little nerdy guy visits me backstage and tries to make like good with me, says he likes my act, can he buy me a drink. I think to myself 'Free booze,hell yeah!'. So, I let him buy that drink, plus a few more. As soon as I'd finish one, he'd order me another right away. The whole time he's telling me how much he loves Elvis Presley, that he just saw him in concert and that he does a great Elvis impersonation, shit like 'dat. And that he has plans on making it in show biz as a stand-up comic, but after seeing me in concert he had a different idea. He wanted to be an entertainer, that he wanted to push to envelope 'of life', get people to react to him, not just laugh. He asks if I would mind if he just sat and 'observed' me? I said only if he buys me as many drinks as I want, which he agreed to. So I sat there and got drunk and he sat there and 'observed' me be me getting drunk. Back when I was drinking I used to just get mean and insulting, not real nice, ya know?" Tony says this, showing no indication of the fact that he's mean, insulting and sober right now. "Well, dis guy loved how I treated people and was actually bouncing up and down after awhile, telling me how great I am, and how I'm perfect for Hollywood and that when he 'makes it' he will get me work." "I said, 'Yeah, sure, whatever kid.' I did my second show of the night, went home and passed out and forgot about it by the next day. But sure enough a while later I get a phone call from him, telling me how he's made it in Hollywood and he wants me to meet a producer friend of his. Well, he flies me out there and I meet these two at a bar for drinks. My friend is trying to sell me to the producer, says I'm perfect for Hollywood. But it becomes obvious real quick that the producer thinks his shit don't stink and that I do. I already had a few under my belt so I say a few things about his mother that apparently weren't appreciated. The producer ended up taking a swing at me and to make a long story short, we didn't get along too well. O.K., so Hollywood ain't for me, that's fine by me, I've got my gig in Vegas.. Then about a year later, Laverne and Shirley comes on T.V. and Laverne's dad resembles me a little too frickin' much. I recognize the name of the producer, Gary Marshall as the prick that took a swing at me that night a year before. Now he frickin sells my ass, my personality nation wide, and not one thin dime goes into my pocket, not one!" Tony screams 'not one'; just like Frank Defazio would, pounding the table with his fist. "Bullshit! People probably always compare you to him so you've conjured up this big bullshit story." I hiss. "Bullshit, yeah, frickin bullshit, you think it's a frickin compliment to be compared to Frank Defazio? I want some frickin money for my creative influence. I just wish Kaufman would've never even came backstage that night, he ruined my act, my whole life, actually." Tony hissed back. "Kaufman?" I ask, not recalling any comic named Kaufman. "Andy Kaufman, the guy from the T.V. show Taxi, he played that little, 'E-bee dah' foreign guy, Latka." "Oh, yeah, I remember him, what, you knew him? You're saying Andy Kaufman set that up?" I asked, but something was now familiar about this man beyond the Laverne and Shirley connection. "Knew him, hell yes, I knew him. I feel I discovered him, but he claims he discovered me. Even though that meeting didn't work out, a few years later Andy actually got me a deal with the producers of Taxi, but those bastards didn't know who the hell they were dealing with and I walked out of the frickin' deal." Tony blurted out. And then it hit me, the person sitting and sweating before me was Tony Clifton, a character that Andy Kaufman supposedly made up, an alter ego of sorts, but how could it be? Tony was just a character that Kaufman made up and Kaufman's dead. From what I could recall, Kaufman used to dress up as 'Tony Clifton', and open up for himself in some of his concerts. Andy would come on stage dressed up as Tony Clifton, supposedly to do stand up comedy, but he'd insult pretty much everyone in sight and get booed off stage. Then 'Tony' would get off stage and Andy would come out to do his act. Andy was a pretty bizarre comic, but he's been dead for years. And Tony Clifton was supposedly just one of Andy's characters. This I pointed out to Tony. "Kid, I wish it was all made up, it really happened and I lost my frickin career, my life and my identity because of Kaufman, the poor bastard." The poor bastard? I was completely dumbfounded, this made no sense in so many different ways. Drunk enough and always looking for a good story, I probed him to tell me the whole story. "Now, Tony, you have to understand a few things. Well, first of all, I'm drunk. Secondly, I don't know too much about you or Kaufman, but I do remember him from Taxi and a few other things, like didn't he end up wrestling women?" I asked. "Yeah, 'Inter-gender champion', that crazy bastard, no one knew how to take him, he, he." Tony laughs, indicating that he knew how to take him though. "Kid, let me tell you something. I haven't talked about this for years, but I'll make you a deal: I'll tell you the whole story, absolutely everything and you get my story out there, get it published. I don't want to be remembered as something Andy Kaufman created, I'm real baby, I'm 100 % pure Tony Clifton." "Lay it on me, I'm in the mood for a good story, tell me everything, baby. We'll see at the end if it's publishable." I said, grinning my ass off, convinced of nothing other than that an interesting afternoon was ahead for me. "You probably want to wipe that smart-ass grin off your face, kid. I just may have something here. Like I said, Andy saw my act and thought that I was something Hollywood could use. The whole frickin' producer thing was a disaster and led to nothing for me, zippo. Which was fine by me, I didn't really want to be there in the first place anyway. But, Kaufman, went on to do 'Saturday Night Live' and became famous. He always thought my act was great, and that I could open up for him on his concert tour. My act, basically, was to piss off people, get a gut reaction from taunting them. This I did well. People would actually throw shit at me, get angry with me, scream death threats, true hatred, it was frickin great. Make people react, make 'em wake up and smell something real, their own feelings of anger. So I'd do this, get the audience all hyped up, pissed off, angry and ugly. I usually got booed off stage. Then Kaufman would come on and do his bit; that E-Bee-dah shit, or his Elvis impersonation." "So, you're famous. You opened up for a nationally know comic. What's the tragedy?" I asked. "This arrangement would have been fine by me, if it had lasted. But, Kaufman screwed me. He had me open up for him for one month. For one month I made good money, for one month of my life I was somebody. Then Kaufman pulled the rug from underneath, he canned me." Tony's voice rising. "What are you talking about one month? I, seem to recall that Kaufman and Clifton worked with each other for at least a few years, there Tony, this I'm pretty sure of." I stated, nearly sure of my statement, still disbelieving I was even having his conversation. "Well, kid, that's the story. I was canned, but Tony Clifton kept on opening for Kaufman to no one's surprise more than my own. I saw it with my own two eyes. It turned out to be Kaufman himself, dressed up as me, doing an impersonation of me. He did this his whole tour without anyone catching on. I was so pissed off, I wanted to legally stop him, but I couldn't afford a lawyer. So what happens is that people figure it out to be Kaufman and think that he did it the whole time, even when it was really me! So, he really rides this for awhile, using me as his newest gag. He goes around dressed as me doing interviews denying he is Kaufman or that Kaufman is Tony Clifton. In no time this got big, so I decided to take advantage of the situation and booked some gigs during this period, declaring that Kaufman is a boob. Kaufman heard about it and got a kick out of the extra coverage of two Tony Cliftons. So he gets ahold of me, tries to make good and apologizes to me and offers me work doing just what I was doing, going around being me, denying that I'm Andy Kaufman or that he's me. He offered me good cash, so sure, why not. And then all of a sudden there's yet another me, which some say was his manager Bob Zmuda, going around denying that he's Kaufman. It got pretty weird around this time, but again, I made some good cash from this little schtick" "Hmmmmm, I do remember seeing clips of you, or someone dressed up like you denying that you were Kaufman in disguise." I said, getting into his story. "Yeah, well, sometimes it would be me, other times it'd be Kaufman or his manager, Zmuda. They were really good, I'll admit that. They were a really quite a pair, I've never seen a comedy team work the way they did. They could come up with schemes quicker than shit. Schemes, not comedy bits. Kaufman didn't consider himself a comedian, he felt it put pressure on the audience to laugh. He said he wanted people to react from the gut at his performances. Laughter, anger, sadness, whatever, he wanted real reactions. I, of course, take credit for this." Tony said, matter of factly. "Kaufman got into the mainstream, he did Saturday Night Live several times then Taxi, he was one of the hip comedians at one point, that I remember. But he was always a little out there, wasn't he? I heard he didn't break character sometimes, or would do just bizarre bits. Didn't he screw up a skit once on live T.V., he just refused to do this lines, or something like that?" I mention, surprised at all the Andy Kaufman facts I knew. "Oy, he would do shit all the time. You're talking about a T.V. show called 'Fridays'; it was on only for a short time. Andy was a big star then, he already had been on Saturday Night Live several times, on the very first one, he lip synched to "The Theme from Mighty Mouse" Tony biographed. "Yes, yes, I remember seeing that. Hilarious! So, now what happened on 'Fridays?" I asked, getting quite enthused. "That's all controversial. He was doing a skit and stopped right in the middle saying that he 'felt stupid'. Now this was a live T.V. show, so tension rose quickly. Another actor in the skit, Michael Richards, 'Kramer', you know, from 'Seinfeld', jumped up, grabbed a cue card, threw it at Kaufman and a mini-fight ensued. This made headlines the next day. Some say Kaufman planned it to happen that way and that he had the producers O.K. to 'self-destruct' on live T.V. That's how it was with Kaufman, some just never knew how to take him. But, I'll tell you this, Kaufman was way ahead of his own time. He was always trying something 'different'. I'll even say that Andy Kaufman was the greatest performer that ever lived, ever!" Tony exclaimed. That surprised me, considering how Kaufman screwed Tony at one time and I said this to him. "Kid, one thing don't got nothing to do with the other. He did screw me, but he also made it up to me, but that doesn't have anything to do with what I think of what he did on stage. He was brilliant. Everything he did was genius, pure and simple." Tony stated. "Whatever happened to him? Didn't he die several years ago?" I ask. "Andy Kaufman died May 16, 1984." Tony said, emphasizing the word 'died'. "Of lung cancer." He threw in. "Nineteen-eighty four, huh, well then he must've died when he was about at the height of his popularity." I commented. "I'd say so, but some would say he was at rock bottom when he died." Tony said, somewhat sullenly. "Why's that, because of his deal with wrestling women?" "For the most part, yes. Now here's where it gets interesting, kid. Here ya got one of the top stars during the late 70's, early 80's, he's got fame, a role on a T.V. show, several appearances on Saturday Night Live, all the magazines had stories about him, all that kinda shit. So, he's popular, famous, rich and really frickin unhappy. Andy did some crazy shit usually with only himself and his manager, Zmuda, in on the joke. So, people had a hard time dealing with Andy in any situation, which put pressure on him to always 'perform'. He had fame and fortune but he was could't enjoy himself. He felt 'labeled' as a comedian, but he never considered himself one. He liked to 'explore ideas', he once said to me. So, whatever fame he got from his career, he ended up resenting it and wanting out." "Wanting out, of what, being famous? He's on a sitcom on national T.V. for chrissakes! He was all over T.V. and magazines you said, I'd have to say he sure did a shitty job of avoiding fame." "Listen, it was right around then that he started getting sick of anything to do with Hollywood. He ended up hating being famous so much so that he came up with a way use his fame to end his own career." "What are you talking about, Tony? Andy Kaufman, we agreed, died while still very popular." I countered. "No, Kaufman died while very well known, but not particularly well liked.. A very calculated move on his part." Tony stated. "His death or his popularity level was well calculated?" I ask, arching my eyebrow, remembering some of the claims that Kaufman faked his own death. "I was talking about his popularity, his 'death' we'll talk about in a bit. Andy hated being considered a comedian. He felt it put pressure on his audience to laugh. Andy was a good manipulator of the media. 'People' magazine did an article about him because he kept a job at Jerry's Famous Deli as a busboy in between schticks. Everything he did, he did on purpose, remember that. Well, Andy, pulled a three year long joke that most people didn't get because he never delivered an obvious punch line." "You mean the wrestling thing?" "You got it, kid. It started out as just one of those things he was exploring, he claimed he could beat any woman in the audience one night and that pissed off some of his audience, mostly broads. And the women took it damn serious. But to him, it was an act, all planned out." Tony explained. "Bullshit. If anything he probably took the wrestling very seriously, ended up alienating most of his audience, lost popularity because of that and this is some bullshit story to make him look great." I said with vigor, oblivious to the fact that, again, I was speaking to a character that up until an hour ago I thought was a Andy Kaufman creation, a joke. Now, here I am, arguing some wild theory about the very man I thought he was, dressed up as him.....strange indeed. "Look, kid, I was there, I'm telling ya what happened. He was famous, but unfulfilled. He wanted to do something else. He had always loved professional wrestling, loved watching it T.V. and seeing the feuds that would break out between fighters and he loved the evil wrestlers. He absolutely loved them. He loved how certain wrestlers were hated by the audience and would be booed and jeered. I don't know how or with who, most likely Zmuda, but Andy came decided to become a professional wrestler, but he definitely wanted to be a 'bad guy', as he used put it. He would become one of those obnoxious and flamboyant wrestlers that he grew up watching. So, he declares himself 'Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion and over the next few years he ends up wrestling hundreds of women. Now I don't know who was all in on this, but very few people were that's for certain. Kaufman, Zmuda and later Jerry Lawler, the professional wrestler." Tony said. "Oh yeah, Jerry Lawler, that's the guy that slapped Kaufman on David Letterman, right?" I butted in,"You're saying that he was in on the whole thing?" "See, kid, ya remember more than you thought. Lawler might have been in on it, no one knows for sure, Kaufman's dead, Lawler publicly claims it was real and Zmuda ain't talking. Anyway, so, Kaufman, in the 3 or 4 years that he wrestles all these women, really pisses off a lot of people, and he never breaks character. Not even to his friends who were in the business, so everyone thinks he's dead serious about this. Well, one night in Memphis, Kaufman is wrestling some big black woman when Lawler interfers and almost costs Andy the match. They get into a huge feud that culminates into a main event match between them in Memphis, where Lawler knocks Kaufman out with a few pile drivers and puts him in hospital for three days." "Yep, I remember seeing that, that made me feel ill, the whole thing. Then the Letterman thing was after that, wasn't it?" I ask. "Yep, after Kaufman gets outta the hospital, he continues to insult Lawler and the entire South, calling them hicks, shit like that. And he would antagonize Lawler in the media; make fun of him, saying what he did was cheap. Then they get invited onto Letterman and that's when all hell broke loose. During the interview Kaufman insults Lawler to the point where Lawler gets up and slaps Kaufman right outta his chair. This sends Kaufman off on a cursing, screaming tangent, he grabs a mug of coffee and throws it on Lawler and walks outta the studio. Letterman is caught in the middle of the whole thing, frickin' speechless. This makes the news the next morning. Everyone is convinced Kaufman is a madman out of control. Brandon Tartikoff, then head of NBC threatens to ban Kaufman from the network for life. Kaufman responds by threatening to file a two hundred million dollar lawsuit against NBC and Tartikoff." "No shit? Yes, yes, wasn't there a call-in as the whether or not he should be banned from T.V.?" "That was on Saturday Night Live, they had viewers call in to vote whether or not he should be 'banned for life'. He lost, pretty damn close vote though, but he lost and never went back on there again. He did send a video of himself a few months later thanking all the viewers who had voted for him." "What years are we talking about here, when did he get voted off and when did the Letterman thing happen?" I asked, trying to piece together some kind of time line. "He wrestled Lawler probably April of '82. Then they went on Letterman together, oh, July of the same year. He was voted off of Saturday Night Live November of '82 as well. Bad frickin' year for him, huh?" Tony chuckled. "And he died, when again, 1984?" "May 16, 1984." "So, what happened after he was banned from NBC at the end of '82 to when he died?" I asked, damn excited. "Well, for about a year he carried on with his wrestling fantasy. He basically joined professional wrestling, and continued his feud with Lawler. He did a few short films, and a Rodney Dangerfield special. He also did a special on PBS, where he did kind of a tribute to me using a marionette of me. His way of saying, 'Sorry about when I screwed ya, Tony." Tony said, somewhat proud. "Bizarre. So he had it all, fame, a popular T.V. show, movies, but he blew it. Whew, did he blow it, but on purpose, you think? And then he died soon after?" "Yeah, Thanksgiving of '83 he had a cough that his family and friends got worried about, by May of '84 he was dead. The strangest thing about dying for him was that the fans that he had left thought it was all a big joke. Some actually thought this was another schtick that he was pulling. But, on my honor, he's dead." Tony declared, arching an eyebrow. "So what happened to you, did people keep thinking you were him and that he really wasn't dead?" I asked. "I worked for about a year after that back in Vegas, but it just wasn't the same. It didn't feel right. People would always ask me if I was Kaufman, assume I was him, give me shit about wrestling women. They didn't come to see me, they came to see him as me, it just didn't work. I retired to Reno where no one knew or cared about me. Which is where I am heading to today, holy shit in less than an hour! Timmy, call me a cab!" Tony bellowed, checking out his watch. "Si, Mr. K." Timmy responded. "C, C!" Tony hissed "Oh, si, Mr. C. Lo siento." Timmy apologized. "Well hot damn, I can't thank you enough, who ever the fuck you are, you have entertained me beyond the norm. I don't quite buy it, any of it for that matter, but you sure have made this a better than usual drinking day and I thank you." I slur, downing my most recent drink. "What?! Listen you little prick, you promised me you would get my story out there. Let the people know that Tony Clifton ain't no frickin' Andy Kaufman. I'm real, damnit! And that I influenced Kaufman, I was the one that inspired him." Tony shouted, pounding on the table. "Look, who the hell is going to believe me? Kaufman's dead, he's history. You are supposedly him, he's you, whatever the fuck. I have no proof of who you are, and I seriously doubt that anyone would buy your frickin' story anyway. I'm just going to sit here, have Timmy whip me up as many fru-fru drinks I can drink until I have to go back to work, Monday, shit, in less than three days." I sullenly said. "Kid, I'm telling ya, there is an audience out there, write my story. I don't want no cut, all I'm asking is that you let the people know I was the influence of one of the greatest entertainers of all time, Andy Kaufman." Tony declared. "It is a good story." "No, it is a good truth. It is the truth." "Cab's here....Mr. C." Timmy said, slyly. "I'm outta here, ya goin' write it or what?" Tony asked. "Yeah, I might write about it. Kaufman sounds bizarre twisted. He still has an audience though, huh?" I ask, weighing the possibility of writing about this. "Kid, he still does. There are alot of people out there that believe he faked his own death. Some peope got his 'schtick', and his fans are devoted.. Yes, Kaufman was bizarre, but he was a genius. Get it published. I'm outta here." Tony said, sliding off of his barstool. "Well, I don't think it'll float, but thanks, Tony." I said Tony like before, TOE-ney extending my hand. "Alright, smart-ass, do what you frickin' want to, I don't care. I'm set financially, no one messes with me where I'm at, screw you, smart-ass. Do what you want." Tony spat, waddling towards the cab. "TOE-ney, if it were only a little more believable, I'd do it, I swear. Cheers!" I said, lifting my new drink in his direction, taking a swig of my new fru-fru drink. Tony got to his cab and called out to me. "Hey, smart-ass, up yours...and" His voice suddenly changed, from obnoxious New York twang, to a perfect Latka impersonation. "E-Bee-dah, tank you berry much." He folded his hands in prayer like fashion and did a slight bow to me and climbed into the cab, which then quickly took off. I was blown away. I turn to Timmy, mouth hanging wide open, and he speaks. "You know what just happened, don't you?" His island naiveté suddenly gone. "I...I don't know, I'm not sure..." I stammered. "Yes, you do. Now go write about it. Go, now." Timmy demanded. And so I left, right up to my room and started writing about it. I've been up here for several hours, writing about it and going over it through my head. This leaves so many questions begging for answers, too many to list. So I've decided to document it just as it happened, and let the reader decide his or her conclusion. Screw 'em if they don't get it. This Bizarre story was written by Alfred Samuels. Zach Stamey continued - pages |