Twenty-two years ago, Andy Kaufman, co-star of the hit ABC comedy series “Taxi,” was
diagnosed with large cell carcinoma, the deadliest form of lung cancer
known to man. Kaufman, always optimistic, was determined to annihilate the
unholy disease that was mercilessly attacking his lungs with the help of
psychic surgeon, Jun Labo. Consequently, Andy flew to the Philippines accompanied
by his girlfriend, Lynne Margulies, to visit “Dr.” Laboratory.
Andy Kaufman, 35, spent 6 grueling weeks under the hands of
mr lab He came home changed. He thought he was cured friends
and relatives remembered. By the way. Kaufman thought that the “operations”
they were a success, and that he would be back to work in no time. That was,
of course, before his body proceeded to function in excruciating pain;
Consequently, he had no choice but to go see a real doctor…
Unfortunately, all of Andy Kaufman’s attempts to cheat death were in vain.
And he died on May 16, 1984, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in Los Angeles,
California.
Above is the standard conclusion regarding Song-and-Dance-Man’s death,
Andy Kaufmann. The prospect that Andy is, in fact, alive has fascinated
me for quite some time. That’s why I’ve decided to do something impromptu.
detective work. To delve a little deeper into the interior of the earth, and see, with
the help of one of his friends, if he really is gone.
The most frequently asked question from fans is invariably: “If he faked his death, he didn’t
Do you think he would have returned by now?” My assessment: No. His goal was never to entertain.
anyone but himself. For example: When Andy hates [Jerry] saga of the lawyer
was in his heyday, Kaufman did Jerry Lawler and (best friend/writer) Bob Zmuda
swore on their lives that they would never reveal the truth, that all the animosity
between Kaufman and Lawler was, in truth, false.
Before his death, Andy Kaufman felt angry and rejected: “Taxi” had been canned,
was expelled from his transcendental meditation courses because of his
the act of wrestling is too risky. And, most notably, being rejected as “Saturday Night.”
Live”, (the same place where he lip synced to the Mighty Mouse theme song years before) by
Iscariot-style Dick Ebersol.
It is quite plausible that all these painful situations provoked Andy Kaufman
to start a new life. A life away from Hollywood. A place where I could eat chocolate
ice cream and meditate constantly. A place like Aruba…
Not long ago, I had the privilege of interviewing one of Andy Kaufman’s old friends, Alan Abel,
by phone. Here is the transcript:
JB: Hi Alan.
AA: Hi, Jack.
JB: How are you?
AA: Very well, yourself?
JB: Good. Ok, let’s start with the first question: Where and when
Do you know Andy Kaufman?
AA: I met Andy in the summer of 1980 when he was introduced to me at
NY by a mutual friend, Bob Pagini. Bob had interviewed Andy on a cable access
TV show where they became friends… Andy and I hit it off right away and I
We were with him in New York a dozen times, we walked down Broadway for several
hours… stopped to talk to everyone… and had dinner, often at the Hilton
Hotel with room service so you won’t be interrupted by fans.
JB: [Coughs] Excuse me moi. What was that story you told me a while ago, about
that girl?
AA: You once told me about the time you got a call in Los Angeles from a high
mother of a school girl who said her daughter was dying in a hospital in Mat-
oon, IL from leukemia and wanted to talk to Andy, his favorite TV character-
ality called her on a Sunday afternoon, they talked for several hours, and she
asked if he would visit… Andy got on a plane that night to ch-
Ichago rented a car and drove to Matoon in the middle of a snowstorm. he stayed
with the girl for several days and nights until she died. Meanwhile, “Taxi”
was without it, had no idea where it was and had to write it out of that
script of the week When she got back to Los Angeles she explained everything to the producer.
but they still deducted $10,000 for that week he was away. I was quite mo-
watch for that episode which has never been revealed publicly but i confirmed
with one of the staff members at your program.
JB: Awesome… What did Andy think about your fake obituary?
AA: Andy was extremely fascinated by my obituary in January.
1980 and insisted on knowing every detail of my plan
that worked so well. Her persistence bothered me a bit.
and teased him that he had probably never done anything significant.
I can’t except his role in “Taxi”.
JB: What was your reaction to Andy’s untimely death? do you think he is
still alive?
AA: When Andy “died” I was really shocked. So in hindsight,
I remembered all the questions I had about my own departure.
So I am left with a little doubt; but not enough to lose sleep
over it. He would certainly be ecstatic if he appeared at some
island or on “American Idol” as a contestant.
JB: Hey, thank you very much for taking my call and giving me
the new information!
AA: I hope this information helps your article.
JB: Yes, be careful.
AA: Goodbye.
On May 16, 2004, Bob Zmuda [Kaufman’s best friend and writer]
financed a welcome party for the Man in the Moon in
House of Blues, in Los Angeles, California. Andy wanted
to do something big. Something gigantic, according to Bob
Zmuda and Lynne Margulies: Kaufman’s last girlfriend.
Andy was so obsessed with the concept of his “death” that
couldn’t hold back. He revealed his sinister plan
to at least five people: Bob Zmuda, Lynne Margulies, brother
Michael Kaufman, Alan Abel, and eventually John Moffit – producer
of “Fridays”. (Fridays, despite some of his young talent,
it was a miserable sight, and apparently, Andy, felt this and
decided to cheer him up by breaking character and causing
chaos on stage. America went crazy. Once again you couldn’t
tell me what was real….
May 16, 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of Andy Kaufman’s creation.
Surrender. The day was significant to the world of Kaufman fans.
wide because this was the day he told friends and acquaintances
he would “reappear”. Precisely 20 years later, Bob Zmuda convened
comedian Andy Dick, Jerry Lawler, Lynne Margulies, Tony Clifton,
and others, to The House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, in Los Angeles
CA, to tell some jokes, recite some funny stories and
hopefully, greet the entertainer from the dead.
I first heard about the event about a month before it happened.
My friend, Joe, called me. “Hears!” he said frankly. “There are
there’s going to be an Andy Kaufman tribute at House of Blues in
LA.” “Excellent,” I said, “who will be there?” “Jerry Lawler,
Bob Zmuda, Rodney Dangerfield and maybe Andy Kaufman.”
“You’re breaking my balls, aren’t you, Joe?”
“No I’m not.”
“Where did you hear this from?”
“The Internet.”
“The Internet?” I laughed. “Don’t believe everything
Read on the net, Joseph. That’s your problem, you are
too gullible. How much–“
“Would you shut up for a minute? I’m not an idiot, Jack!”
This is 100 percent authentic. You can even book tickets
at Ticketmaster.
Indeed, he was telling the truth. Tony Clifton was even
shed to play the last one, accompanied by their dancers, the Cliftones.
For a long time Kaufman-Freak felt that I was destined to see
the show. Besides, I thought, even if Andy doesn’t show up, I will.
still have a good time. But of course there was a big hurdle.
on the way: it was completely ruined. he had no money at all…
I wanted to go so much that I even tried to sell my Harley FXRT, but
unfortunately, there are no bites.
At least four days before Dead or Alive, I received an email
from my friend Stephen Maddox, mastermind behind one of the
Andy Kaufman’s most famous sites on the net: http://www.AndyKaufmanLives.com
He told me he had two spare tickets and if I wanted
they (which of course I did), were at stake. he feels them
soon (and expensive). I received them in one day.
The outside of The House of Blues was packed with Kaufman fans
all over the world. One guy was even displaying a t-shirt that said, ”
If Andy doesn’t come back, I’ll kill him.”
I was a little late because of the long line outside.
Bob Zmuda was on stage nostalgically reminiscing about funny
never-before-heard anecdotes about Andy. then he pulled out
Jerry Lawler, who reflected on Andy and his wrestling
days together in Memphis. Jerry looked the same as
in the early 80’s, with the exception of a few wrinkles.
He walked out on stage with a tight Superman shirt on his
back.
After Jerry, the always raucous Andy Dick took the stage. (Andy [Dick]
was deeply attached to Kaufman after seeing him by water water on the
head of a young Micheal Richards in “Fridays”).
Needless to say, the other Andy didn’t show up. The show
was funny and touching and a tribute to a comedic genius the
The world had never seen anything like it. Andy Dick didn’t play his part
the sober show, but what the heck? After his epitaph I was
quite moved and the sight of him moving back and forth to
the bathroom didn’t bother me at all… Was I consuming
crank? LSD? Or are you just having a bad bout of the flu?
The world will never know.
One thing I do know is that once I entered Kaufman’s old apartment, accompanied
by Tony Clifton, who was clearly Bob Zmuda that night, I both noticed
Postcards from Ventura Beach. One that said: Keep up the work. This is not over.
And another with a link to http://www.andykaufmanlives.com.
This is not everything. There have been many other experiences that night – and around it – that have truly
I was very surprised. Not to make me lose my mind, but to make me think. cast
made.