Andy Kaufman never considered himself a comedian. If given
the choice, he would rather have been introduced to audiences as a song-and-
dance man.
Andy felt being introduced as a comedian put pressure on the audience to laugh.
Besides,
sometimes they didn't laugh and Andy wanted it that way. Andy worked to create
real
reactions. He wanted people to laugh from the gut, get sad from the gut - or
get angry
from the gut.
No one could put a label on Andy
because he was more than a song-and-dance man -- some say he was a performance
artist. Perhaps they're right, Andy didn't tell jokes; he explored ideas. At
any given
moment he could be his invisible twin brother Dhrupick, a wrestler, a comic,
Elvis
Presley, an immigrant, a folk singer, Tony Clifton, an evangelist, Nathan
Richards, a fakir, Tony Piccinnini, a magician, Nathan McCoy, a robot
butler, a provocateur or a spy.
Dismissed by many as eccentric,
Andy's refusal to break character - to let the audience in on the joke -
sometimes pushed
his art over the edge. His performances were more avante-garde theater than
traditional
stand-up comedy. Offstage, he continued to push the limits of reality, and
casual
observers found it difficult to understand the real Andy Kaufman.
Yes, despite what you've heard, Andy
Kaufman is gone. Andy left us on May 16, 1984 -- decades later his legacy
continues.
Join us for a look into the life and times of Andy
"Troubadour" Kaufman.
(Rest in peace Stanley Kaufman who passed away in July 2013 at the
age of 90.)
ANDY'S FIRST EVER COMEDY ALBUM RELEASED JULY 16,
2013

Independent record label Drag City has released Andy Kaufman's first comedy
album,
"Andy and His Grandmother" a collection of recordings made by Andy
from
1977 to 1979 on a micro-tape cassette recorder. The album was edited and
created
from over 82 hours of uncut tapes and features narration from former
"Saturday Night Live" star Bill Hader with liner notes by Bob Zmuda.
To learn more about Drag City's release of "Andy and His
Grandmother" CLICK HERE.
ANNUAL ANDY KAUFMAN AWARD

The Andy Kaufman Memorial Trust hosts The Andy Kaufman Award Show every year.
More information can be found on the official website, www.theandykaufmanaward.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE KAUFMANESQUE?
Just what does it mean when you hear the word "Kaufmanesque" and how
has Andy Kaufman changed the cultural landscape of the past 25 years? Renowned
author and Kaufman biographer, Bill Zehme reflects on Andy's influence and how
his extreme public performance art foreshadowed many of today's cultural icons.
Read Kaufmanesque,
Circa 2009 - Notes on a Cultural Outbreak by Bill Zehme.
ANDY KAUFMAN I HATE YOUR GUTS!

Dear Andy Kaufman, I Hate Your Guts!
(Introduction by Lynne Margulies and Foreword by Bob Zmuda)
Publish Date: December 1, 2009
$19.95
Legendary performer Andy Kaufman provoked national outrage in 1979 by taunting
the
women of America to wrestle him live on television. Taking on the aggressive and
absurd
personality adopted by professional wrestlers, he offered a $1,000 reward to any
woman
who could pin him, with the additional promise that if beaten, he would shave
his head
bald; later adding that he would even marry the winning contestant.
Hundreds of fired-up females (and a few males) responded to the call, resulting
in a
torrent of impassioned challenges, hate mail and love letters from would-be
wrestling
contenders, and Andy kept them all. These fascinating and sometimes bizarre
hand-
written letters, photographs and illustrations from his challengers are
assembled here into
an astonishing Rorschach of the late '70s liberated female psyche.
This book commemorates the 25th anniversary of Andy Kaufman's death. Lynne
Margulies, Andy's loyal girlfriend, provides an introduction. Bob Zmuda, Andy's
long-
time friend, cohort, and writer, provides the foreword.
Download
amazing excerpts here.
Use this link to purchase your copy at a discount price.
5TH ANNUAL ANDY KAUFMAN AWARD - NOVEMBER 3,
2009
The Andy Kaufman Memorial Trust, in partnership with famed New York comedy club,
Caroline's, held "The Fifth Annual Andy Kaufman Award Show" on
November 3, 2009 at Caroline's on Broadway. This year's show was especially
poignant
as 2009 is the 25th anniversary of Andy's passing. The contestants were very
talented and Tony Clifton's abbreviated performance as host for the evening was
fascinating.
Read a first-hand account of the night's festivities
here.
LEARN THE TRUE STORY OF ANDY
KAUFMAN
Throughout The Andy Kaufman Home Page you'll find respectful, truthful
information
about Andy's short and extraordinary life. Once you've explored this site (use
the
navigation buttons on the lefthand side of this page to look further), you can
learn even
more about Andy by checking out the reference material listed below:
SEE RARE ITEMS HERE
Click here to view behind-the-scenes material, and
never before seen information about Andy.
LOST IN THE FUNHOUSE
Click here to learn more about the paperback
edition of Lost in the Funhouse which includes new and revised material,
an
enhanced bibliography and a never before seen look at Andy's 1969 letter to
Elvis
Presley!!
For an exclusive look at part of the actual letter Andy sent to Elvis, CLICK HERE!!

Book cover photo courtesy of Wayne
Williams
Click on the "Lost in the Funhouse" book cover (above) to learn more
about
the authorized biography. Use this quick and easy link to place your order
today!
CREDITS AND ADMINISTRATIVE
INFORMATION
The Andy Kaufman Home Page established October 3, 1995.
A sincere, "Dank you veddy much" to all the folks at JVLNET for graciously hosting The Andy
Kaufman Home Page.
We hope you'll find the time to read every part of our Internet tribute to
Andy. In
the event you cannot find the answer to your question, or just have a comment to
pass
along, please do not hesitate to contact us. Send your comments, questions, or
suggestions to The Andy Kaufman Home Page via: andykaufman@jvlnet.com