Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman

Born: January 17, 1949
Died: May 16, 1984
Andrew Geoffrey "Andy" Kaufman (January 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984) was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as acomedian, Kaufman did not consider himself to be one. He disdained telling jokes and engaging in comedy as it was traditionally understood, referring to himself instead as a "song-and-dance man." Elaborate hoaxes and pranks were major elements of his career. His act maintains a cult following and he continues to be respected among comedians for his original material, performance style, and unflinching commitment to character.

Movies for Andy Kaufman...

Thank You Very Much
Title: Thank You Very Much
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: August 31, 2023
Type: Movie
In his short, enigmatic life, Andy Kaufman entertained and transfixed audiences while simultaneously driving them away. His work dissolved the boundaries separating reality from fiction, and his commitment to performance, both on stage and off, rendered any distinctions between his characters and his real life useless. Was he a comic, an affable sit-com star, a washed-up lounge singer, a bus boy, a professional wrestler, a hoaxer, a provocateur or a pest? Nearly 40 years after his supposed death, one question still puzzles fans and haters alike: “was that for real?” Thank You Very Much is the definitive documentary look at how a shy, oddball kid from Long Island, New York, became the most polarizing performance artist of the 20th century.
bee
WWE Hall of Fame 2023
Title: WWE Hall of Fame 2023
Character: Andy Kaufman (archive footage)
Released: March 31, 2023
Type: Movie
The 2023 WWE Hall of Fame is scheduled to be held on March 31, 2023, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, the night before WrestleMania 39. It will air live at 10 pm Eastern Time on Peacock in the United States and on the WWE Network internationally, immediately after the airing of WWE's regular Friday night program, SmackDown. On March 10, 2023, Rey Mysterio was announced as the first individual inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
bee
Jerry Before Seinfeld
Title: Jerry Before Seinfeld
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: September 19, 2017
Type: Movie
Jerry Seinfeld returns to the club that gave him his start in the 1970s, mixing iconic jokes with stories from his childhood and early days in comedy.
bee
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond
Title: Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: September 5, 2017
Type: Movie
Offbeat documentarian Chris Smith provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Carrey adopted the persona of idiosyncratic comedian Andy Kaufman on the set of Man on the Moon.
bee
Title: O.J.: Made in America
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: June 11, 2016
Type: TV
The rise and fall of American football star, O.J. Simpson, from his days growing up in Los Angeles to his murder trial that polarized the country.
bee
It's Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler Story
Title: It's Good To Be The King: The Jerry Lawler Story
Character: Himself
Released: May 19, 2015
Type: Movie
You hear his voice calling the action every week on WWE's flagship show, Monday Night Raw, but there is more to being king other than having the best seat in the house! In this regal new documentary, Jerry "The King" Lawler shares the amazing story of his rise to royalty. Follow the WWE Hall of Famer from his early days to his championship-laden career in the ring, his incomparable reign at the broadcast table and a king-sized list of accolades along the way. Friends and peers also join The King for this revealing look inside the life of this enduring and revered figure in sports entertainment.
bee
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
Title: Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
Character: Self - Guest Performer (In Memoriam)
Released: February 15, 2015
Type: Movie
Former members of Saturday Night Live come together to remember the past 40 years of Saturday Night Live.
bee
The Demon: A Film About Andy Kaufman
Title: The Demon: A Film About Andy Kaufman
Released: May 16, 2013
Type: Movie
Andrew Kaufman (1949 - 1984) was an American entertainer, actor, writer, performance artist and professional wrestler. A charismatic persona poured out of a bucket.
bee
Andy Kaufman World Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion: His Greatest Matches
Title: Andy Kaufman World Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion: His Greatest Matches
Character: Himself
Released: April 27, 2010
Type: Movie
The story of famed performance artist Andy Kaufman's bizarre quest to find a woman who could defeat him in the wrestling ring. Footage taken from Kaufman's personal archives highlight his reign as the "World's Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion," a title that earned him the wrath of liberated females all across America.
bee
The Death Of Andy Kaufman
Title: The Death Of Andy Kaufman
Character: Himself (archive footage)
Released: July 26, 2008
Type: Movie
The Andy Kaufman Project explores the possibility that avant-garde performance artist Andy Kaufman may have faked his death.
bee
Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Title: Cutting Edge Comedians of the '60s & '70s
Released: April 10, 2007
Type: Movie
In the late 1950s, a fresh, unconventional style of standup comedy emerged in sharp contrast to the standard "Take my wife, please" approach. It tackled such previously taboo subjects as sex, religion, drugs, and politics, and ushered in an avant-garde era of comedy that was decidedly more cerebral, satirical, and improvisational than before. Here are many of the maverick comedians who took those big risks years ago and paved the way for today’s current crop of outrageous, in-your-face comics. Many of these rare television performances have not been seen in 30 or 40 years. Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks (1966) Jackie Mason (1961) Bob Newhart (1966) Shelly Berman (1966) Bill Cosby (1965) Jonathan Winters (1961) Smothers Brothers (1974) Steve Martin (1977) Rowan & Martin (1964) Lily Tomlin (1975) George Carlin (1967 & 1975) Richard Pryor (1967 & 1974) Andy Kaufman (1977) Hendra & Ullett (1966) Billy Crystal (1976) Jay Leno (1978) David Letterman (1979)
bee
Title: Legends
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: November 17, 2006
Type: TV
The story of the big names that have shaped the musical genres, plus an occasional stopgap for the new rock 'n' roll - comedy.
bee
R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.)
Title: R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.)
Character: Self (segments "Man on the Moon" and "The Great Beyond")
Released: October 23, 2003
Type: Movie
In View: The Best Of R.E.M. 1988–2003 is a DVD featuring videos by the rock band R.E.M. during 1988–2003, released as a companion to the Warner Bros. compilation In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003. All but two of the songs included on the audio CD made the DVD—the exceptions being "All the Right Friends" (which had no official music video) and "Animal" (the video not having been shot until early 2004.)
bee
The Real Andy Kaufman
Title: The Real Andy Kaufman
Character: Himself (archive footage)
Released: November 6, 2001
Type: Movie
The majority of the footage in The Real Andy Kaufman consists of a 1979 performance the actor/comedian/performance artist performed in the Catskills. In addition to some of his classic routines, the film offers interviews with friends and colleagues.
bee
Title: "Tank You Vedy Much!" - The Many Faces of a Comic Legend
Released: November 18, 1999
Type: Movie
Andy Kaufman was one of the most original comedians of the 20th century. He definitely danced to his own drummer. He could play a shy, lovable man like Latka Gravas on "Taxi", and then turn around and play Tony Clifton, an obnoxious, crude Lounge Lizzard. He was also one of the Great "Put on Artists" of our time. He also put on the world with his wrestling fiasco involving Jerry Lawler who eventually slapped Andy out of his chair on The Letterman Show. It was all staged!! Come on along with us and follow Andy's career from early childhood, with exclusive family shots, to his untimely death at 35. Even then, his close friends didn't believe it. They thought it was another Andy Kaufman "put on"!!
bee
I'm from Hollywood
Title: I'm from Hollywood
Character: Himself (archive footage)
Released: June 15, 1989
Type: Movie
I'm from Hollywood is about the adventures of late performance artist Andy Kaufman in the world of professional wrestling. This film includes interviews with Taxi co-stars Marilu Henner and Tony Danza and interviews with comedian Robin Williams, wrestler Jerry Lawler, wrestling commentator Lance Russell, and Kaufman's best friend, Bob Zmuda. Other people seen in the film include TV host David Letterman and Jimmy Hart of Continental Wrestling Association. The film's title refers to a phrase spoken by Kaufman to the Memphis wrestling audience.
bee
The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
Title: The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More
Character: Self / Various / Dr. Vinnie Boombatz
Released: November 29, 1983
Type: Movie
Rodney Dangerfield special, featuring stand-up and sketches.
bee
My Breakfast with Blassie
Title: My Breakfast with Blassie
Character: Self
Released: November 1, 1983
Type: Movie
My Breakfast with Blassie is a movie starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. It is a mostly improvised parody of the popular art film My Dinner with Andre and is set in a restaurant where Kaufman and Blassie have a discussion over breakfast. Also featured is Kaufman's partner Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, also plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera.
bee
Andy Kaufman: The Andy Kaufman Show: Soundstage
Title: Andy Kaufman: The Andy Kaufman Show: Soundstage
Character: Himself
Released: July 15, 1983
Type: Movie
From the PBS series "Soundstage" comes this special broadcast of Andy Kaufman's satirical talk show, which includes "The Has-Been Corner," a spoof segment with a washed-up celebrity, and a routine featuring his marionette alter ego, Tony Clifton. In other highlights, Kaufman and ex-girlfriend Elayne Boosler publicly expose their turbulent relationship, and one of Kaufman's guests is unmasked as a charlatan.
bee
The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Title: The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
Character: Tony Clifton
Released: September 17, 1982
Type: Movie
Taped in Toronto between August 9-24, 1982, Miss Piggy hosts her own variety show, with special guests John Ritter, George Hamilton and Tony Clifton (Andy Kaufman). Under the direction of Kermit the Frog, the Muppets work in the control room and, amidst chaos, manage to keep the show on the air. Throughout the show, a romantic triangle develops among Piggy, Ritter (who is smitten with the pig) and Hamilton (who is deeply uncomfortable with the star's romantic inclinations).
bee
Heartbeeps
Title: Heartbeeps
Character: Val
Released: December 18, 1981
Type: Movie
Two domestic robots fall in love and run off together.
bee
Andy Kaufman: The Midnight Special
Title: Andy Kaufman: The Midnight Special
Character: Himself
Released: January 23, 1981
Type: Movie
The big mystery about Andy Kaufman's work is in trying to figure out what's serious, what's an act, why he is doing what he's doing, and whether he even knows the differences himself. His performances are among those rare examples where you feel extremely uncomfortable watching them, but at the same time you can't pull yourself away because it's hysterical in a twisted and bizarre sort of way.
bee
In God We Tru$t
Title: In God We Tru$t
Character: Armageddon T. Thunderbird
Released: September 26, 1980
Type: Movie
A naive monk, named Brother Ambrose, is sent by the abbot on a mission to raise $5,000 in order to save their monastery from closing. He goes to Hollywood where he encounters a number of eccentric characters.
bee
Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall
Title: Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall
Character: Himself
Released: June 12, 1980
Type: Movie
Andy Kaufman's legendary sold-out Carnegie Hall performance, featuring all of Kaufman's classic routines, including Foreign Man, Elvis, conga drums, plus Andy wrestling women and even taking on a real male wrestler! Also appearing is a menagerie of Kaufman's collection of human oddities, including the infamous Tony Clifton, The Love Family (a sub-Partridge Family singing group who do a bang-up version of "The Age of Aquarius" complete with synchronized dance movements), Grant Bowman the "Happy New Year Man" (straight from Times Square, where Andy found him), "cowgirl" Eleanor Cody Gould and an uncredited, surprise big name guest as Andy’s grandmother. Bob Zmuda appears as Andy's referee, and at the end of the show, Andy takes the entire audience out for milk and cookies.
bee
The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1979
Title: The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1979
Character: Self
Released: December 6, 1979
Type: Movie
For the 1979 broadcast, Cash's annual CBS Christmas special returns to Nashville after taping the previous year's program in Los Angeles. This time he features his father, Ray Cash, and older brother Roy Cash in a visit to the small home in Dyess, Arkansas, where Johnny and his siblings were raised. Guests include Canadian pop and country star Anne Murray ("You Needed Me"), who was enjoying the most successful period of her career, and country music's Tom T. Hall, whom Cash introduces as "my very favorite songwriter" before Cash and Hall launch into a medley of Hall's hits "Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine," "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died," "I Love" and "Country Is." The show's comic foil is the late Andy Kaufman, who appears as his character Latka Gravas from the hit network show Taxi.
bee
Andy's Funhouse
Title: Andy's Funhouse
Character: Himself / Latka Gravas / Tony Clifton
Released: August 28, 1979
Type: Movie
This special was taped in 1977 but did not air until August 1979, on ABC. It featured most of Andy's famous gags, including Foreign Man/Latka and his Elvis Presley impersonation, as well as a host of unique segments (including a special appearance by children's television character Howdy Doody and the "Has-been Corner"). There also is a segment that included fake television screen static as part of the gag, which ABC executives were not comfortable with, fearing that viewers would mistake the static for broadcast problems and would change the channel—which was the comic element Kaufman wanted to present. Andy's Funhouse was written by Kaufman, Zmuda, and Mel Sherer, with music by Kaufman.
bee
Cher... and Other Fantasies
Title: Cher... and Other Fantasies
Character: Adam
Released: March 7, 1979
Type: Movie
Cher... and Other Fantasies is a 1979 prime time network special starring singer and actress Cher, featuring songs from her latest album "Take Me Home". In this special, Cher finds herself trapped in a strange building, where various fantasies await her behind every door. The memorable opening number “Aint Nobody’s Business” sees Cher on a tour of fashion from Eve in the Garden of Eden to disco at Studio 54 all while parading in dozens of stunning Bob Mackie creations. There's also a roller skating fantasy sequence and a second Garden of Eden moment when Andy Kaufman shows up as Adam and Cher plays the snake. Elliot Gould guest stars as a painter who resides in the building, Shelley Winters turns up in a skit about acting and Lucille Ball plays a cranky old washerwoman. To date this is Cher's last traditional variety-format special. The program was nominated for a 1979 Primetime Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series or a Special for Bob Mackie and Ret Turner.
bee
Title: Taxi
Character: Latka Gravas
Released: September 12, 1978
Type: TV
Louie De Palma is a cantankerous, acerbic taxi dispatcher in New York City. He tries to maintain order over a collection of varied and strange characters who drive for him. As he bullies and insults them from the safety of his “cage,” they form a special bond among themselves, becoming friends and supporting each other through the inevitable trials and tribulations of life.
bee
Title: Stick Around
Character: Andy, The Robot
Released: May 30, 1977
Type: TV
Stick Around was an unsold television pilot for ABC, starring Andy Kaufman. Only one episode was ever made, airing on May 30, 1977. Kaufman portrayed Andy, a run-down servant robot in the future. He used the same voice of his "Foreign Man" character that would one day become the signature voice of Latka Gravas on Taxi. The pilot also starred Nancy New and Fred McCarren as Elaine and Vance Keefer, a married couple in the year 2055. The plot of the episode revolves around Andy the robot's inadequacies as an older model, and whether or not they should replace him. Vance owns an antique store, and there are a lot of jokes that revolve around his misconceptions about the antiques he has, all of which are common household appliances of the 1970s. Vance is very frustrated by Andy's incompetence but eventually he and Elaine decide to keep him. Andy would revive the robot character to some degree in the 1981 film Heartbeeps.
bee
Stick Around
Title: Stick Around
Character: Andy, the Robot
Released: May 30, 1977
Type: Movie
It's the year 2055 and things are better for the human race, except for Vance. The Keefer family deals with daily life in the future and their older and malfunctioning robot servant, which Vance is tired of.
bee
God Told Me To
Title: God Told Me To
Character: Police Assassin
Released: October 22, 1976
Type: Movie
A repressed Catholic NYPD detective uncovers a netherworld of deranged faith, alien insemination and his own unholy connection to a homicidal messiah with a perverse plan for the soul of mankind.
bee
Title: Van Dyke and Company
Character: Self
Released: October 30, 1975
Type: TV
Short-lived variety show starring Dick Van Dyke and assorted guests. The show was best known for Dick's pantomime acting and a recurring skit about the dumbest family in the world, coincidently named "The Bright Family". Van Dyke & Co also featured appearances by the Los Angeles Mime Company.
bee
Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Special Guest
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
bee
Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Foreign Man
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
bee
Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Stand-up Act
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
bee
Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Self
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
bee
Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Andy Kaufman
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.