Bob Zmuda grew up in a Polish section of north Chicago, a self-described "greaser" (the kind you read about in S. E. Hinton books). He caught the Yippie bug when he saw Abbie Hoffman speak in Lincoln Park on August 27th, 1968.  During his speech, Hoffman said something that probably zapped Zmuda to the core of his kundalini.

"Theater, guerilla theater, can be used as a defense, and as an offensive weapon."

Zmuda got into the theater of the streets, practicing mass-suggestion with his group of experimenters.  After screwing up at Northeastern Illinois University, he booked to the Appalachias where he volunteered for the work-study program rather than be expelled.  Later he went into Carnegie-Mellon's drama department and fared better.  He also met Chris Albrecht there where they became friends and eventually moved to the Big Apple.  When acting jobs didn't present themselves, they formed "Albrecht & Zmuda: Comedy from A to Z".  Eventually Zmuda stumbled into the Improvisation comedy club, meeting owner Budd Friedman and weasled their way onstage.  About the same time Zmuda got a job assisting a screenwriter, Norman Wexler, who had a reputation as being a genius with gritty, realistic street dialog and also being a nut.

Zmuda saw Andy Kaufman performing as the Foreign Man at the Improv, and was fooled as everyone else was by this transformative trickster.   He also sensed a kindred soul.  While hanging out at the bar, Zmuda would tell of his tales of terror working for Norman Wexler.  Andy would listen in, amazed and entertained by the crazed stories about the madman writer.  Andy decided on taking Bob as his plant, a stooge, for a gig he had.  They talked on the way to the Italian restaurant and Andy asked for more and more Wexler stories.  When they got to the place, Bob took a seat in the audience and took the abuse of an early incarnation of Tony Clifton.  Their friendship and partnership was thus formed.

Over the years, Bob Zmuda was there for much of Andy Kaufman's career.  He helped come up with ideas, write, plan and devise stunts and switcheroos.  Bob is an excellent performer in his own right.  On an appearance on the comedy skit program 'Fridays', Bob played the role of a mad magician giving away the secrets of the Chinese Linking Rings. His stage presence is powerful and he's obviously in full command of the situation.  Another example of his acting ability is when he is brought up on stage to clap along with Tony Clifton's version of "When You're Happy and You Know It" on the 'Midnight Special'.  As Bob Gorski, Zmuda plays such a hapless boob that you'd swear it was his real personality.  Bob was at Andy's side through so many appearances, as well as Andy's final days with us here.

On May 16th, 1985, a year after Andy had left us, Tony Clifton appeared at the Comedy Store in a self-created fund-raiser that would later become Comic Relief.  One friend, Steve Towsley, tells us what it was like to be part of Clifton's goon squad that night in this article.

Bob Zmuda did go on to create Comic Relief which has since raised over 50 million dollars to aid the homeless population of the United States.  Bob credits Andy with leaving the Tony Clifton suit to him which in turn prompted him to finally do Tony at the Comedy Store that night. Bob says that night saved him and consequently saved hundreds of thousands more with the start up of Comic Relief.

In 1995, around the time that R.E.M.'s "Man On The Moon" single was getting radio air-play, Bob Zmuda and George Shapiro and Howard West produced "A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman".  It won an Emmy nomination.  When the feature film "Man On The Moon" was made, Bob served as co-executive producer and he portrayed 'Fridays' producer, Jack Burns.  Bob Zmuda was played by Paul Giametti in the film.

Bob Zmuda continues to carry on the spirit of his long lost friend, Andy Kaufman.

 

 

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