About Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman (January 17, 1949 - May 16, 1984) was an American entertainer and performance artist, sometimes called an "anti-comedian." He disdained telling jokes in the traditional sense, once saying, "I am not a comic, I have never told a joke." After working in small comedy clubs in the early 1970s, he reached a wider audience in 1975 when he performed portions of his act on the first season of Saturday Night Live. His Foreign Man character, who claimed to be from a fictional island in the Caspian Sea, became the basis for Latka Gravas on the television show Taxi from 1978 to 1983, a role for which he received Golden Globe nominations. Kaufman also appeared as the abrasive lounge singer Tony Clifton and brought a professional wrestling villain act to Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. He died of lung cancer in 1984 at age 35, and persistent rumors have circulated that he faked his own death.
Videos (117)
Videos 1 to 24 of 117.
1:09If You’re Not Great at Communicating—Get Great
874 views
0:34When the Whispers Turn Into a Scream
382 views
1:23Here's how to get more traction with your projects (and PMO), with Stuart Taylor
260 views
51:20Becoming the Project Manager, with Stuart Taylor
236 views
54:17Neuroscience-Based Principles to Resolve Conflicts, with Dr. Jeremy Pollack
161 views
0:28It's easier to buy tools than get value from them
156 views
0:43The Leadership Habits That Build Trust, Culture, and High-Performing
128 views
2:32What if the goal was not to eat bitterness
117 views
0:37Sometimes you don't need commitment
116 views
0:28Why Feeling Overwhelmed Might Actually Be a Good Thing
113 views
48:17How Great Leaders See Differently, with Cornelia Choe
109 views
48:35Why More Discipline May Not Be the Answer, with 100 Days of Rejection expert Jia Jiang
107 views
0:32Universal Principles to Inspire
105 views
55:53Are You Removing the Wrong Friction?, with Maggie Sass and Ross Blankenship
95 views
0:10They won't trust your humor until you do
93 views
0:37Your breath is the only vital symptom you can control
81 views
48:07The Hidden Costs of Avoiding Difficult Conversations (And What To Do Instead), with Gustavo Razzetti
79 views
0:44The Fastest Way to Make Time Disappear
78 views
0:30Purpose over paycheck
76 views
1:08Integrators vs. Segmenters Which One Are You
75 views
42:47The Dangerous Drift Away from What Matters Most, with author Tom Rath
73 views
54:20The New PMP® Exam: What Project Leaders Need to Know Now, with PMI VP Kelly Heuer
70 views
0:40Be careful about jumping to conclusions, especially when you are experienced
68 views
0:51The Surprising Memory Trick: Forget More to Learn Faster
64 viewsGuest appearances (13)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Andy Kaufman.
Guest appearances 1 to 13 of 13.
6:28Andy Kaufman's Elvis Presley Impression | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
10.4M views
8:13Andy Kaufman Impersonates Elvis Presley and Foreign Man | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
3.9M views
2:39Andy Kaufman on Staying in Character | August 4th, 1977
Johnny Carson
1.3M views
3:00Andy Kaufman as Dr. Vinnie Boombatz (1983)
Jacob Rodney Cohen
994.6K views
15:02Andy Kaufman Talks About Foreign Man and Staying in Character | Carson Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
604.6K views
10:49Andy Kaufman's First Appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Pt. 2 - 01/21/1977
Johnny Carson
604.2K views
2:04Andy Kaufman Foreign Man Impression, Part 1 on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show
Johnny Carson
162.2K views
5:43Andy Kaufman's First Appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Pt.1 - 01/21/1977
Johnny Carson
109.5K views
0:44Rodney finally put a face to the name when he cast Andy Kaufman as Dr. Vinnie Boombatz.
Jacob Rodney Cohen
37.5K views
1:44WTF - Bob Zmuda on Andy Kaufman vs Tony Clifton
Marc Maron
21K views
1:18Kevin Nealon on Andy Kaufman
Neal Brennan
17.9K views
3:54Uncle Floyd Show: Ed Screwy and Sandy Kaufman
Floyd Vivino
1.9K views
1:00Andy Kaufman gets Star on Walk of Fame
Nick Vatterott
231 viewsChannels on this page: Johnny Carson, Jacob Rodney Cohen, Marc Maron, Neal Brennan, Floyd Vivino, Nick Vatterott
Frequently asked questions
Why was Andy Kaufman called an anti-comedian?
Andy Kaufman disdained telling jokes in the traditional sense and once said, "I am not a comic, I have never told a joke." The American entertainer is also described as a performance artist.
How did Andy Kaufman get famous?
After working small comedy clubs in the early 1970s, Kaufman reached a wider audience in 1975 by performing parts of his act on the first season of Saturday Night Live.
Who was Latka Gravas?
Latka Gravas was Kaufman's role on Taxi from 1978 to 1983, based on his Foreign Man character who claimed to come from a fictional island in the Caspian Sea. The role brought him Golden Globe nominations.
Who was Tony Clifton?
Tony Clifton was an abrasive lounge singer played by Andy Kaufman.
Did Andy Kaufman do wrestling?
Yes, he brought a professional wrestling villain act to Late Night with David Letterman in 1982.
When did Andy Kaufman live?
Andy Kaufman was born on January 17, 1949, and died on May 16, 1984, at age 35.
