Andy Kaufman

Early Life

Andy Kaufman was an American entertainer and performance artist with a difference. Although most people refer to him as a comedian, he often corrects them by describing himself as a song and dance man.

Born in New York City on January, 17 1949. His parents were Janice (née Bernstein), a homemaker and former fashion model, and Stanley Kaufman, a jewelry salesman.

Kaufman grew up with his two younger siblings in a middle-class Jewish family. By 9, Kaufman was already performing at birthday parties, playing records and showing cartoons. He also spent his youth days,writing poetry and stories. While in school, Kaufman got inspired to play congas after Nigerian musician Babatunde Olatunji visited his school.

Education & Career

Kaufman attended Great Neck North High School, where he graduated in 1967. He later went to Grahm Junior College in Bolton, where he studied television production.

While at Grahm Junior College, he starred in his campus television show Uncle Andy’s Funhouse. Kaufman had the opportunity to meet Elvis Presley in 1969. Before he graduated in 1971, he had started performing at coffee houses.

Kaufman progressed to performing stand-up comedy at small clubs on the East Coast. Kaufman gained prominence in the 1970s due to his various appearances on Saturday Night Live as well as his performance as Latka Gravas, where he displayed his foreign man character on the popular sitcom Taxi.

Aside from performing comic shows, Kaufman also had a career in professional wrestling but most of his matches are staged to elaborate hoaxes. And uniquely, Kaufman wrestled women and would refer to himself as Inter-gender Wrestling Champion of the World.

As an entertainer/wrestler, Kaufman was very good at blurring the lines between fact and fiction which often caused confusion and controversy among his fans.

One very good example of this was his feud with professional wrestler Jerry The King Lawler. The feud between the two men spread outside the ring and culminated in a violent confrontation on Late Night with David Letterman. Many people believed the feud was real but it was later revealed to be a hoax.

Personal Life

Kaufman was never married but it was noted that he had a daughter, Maria Bella-Colonna, with his high school sweetheart. The child was placed for an adoption but she later traced her biological roots. Kaufman also dated Lynne Margulies between 1982 till his death in 1984.

Death

Kaufman suffered from lung cancer and his life was cut short due to the Illness. He passed away in 1984 at the young age of 35