"I'm going to fake my death, go into hiding for ten years, and then reappear."                                          -  Andy Kaufman to 'Fridays' producer, John Moffitt

"If I was going to be a boy about it, I'd be in hiding for ten years. If I was going to be a man about it, I would be in hiding twenty years."                                                         - Andy Kaufman to girlfriend, Lynne Margulies

Welcome to Andy Lives! - the site dedicated to Andy Kaufman and the theory that he faked his death.  Why Andy Lives?  It's a hell of a lot more fun than Andy Dies!

Why do we believe that Andy Lives?

• He told at least eight people that he wanted to fake his death.
• In his script The Tony Clifton Story, he wrote that Tony Clifton died of lung cancer at Cedars-Sinai hospital.  Same cause and location of Andy's death.
• He met with renown hoaxer Alan Abel and inquired about how Abel got his obituary published in the New York Times.
• When he heard of John Belushi's death his reaction was "He stole my bit!"
• and many, many more obscure reasons you can read all about right here.

Actually, the crew here is about evenly split as to whether, literally or figuratively, Andy Lives.  Infidels and loyalists are welcome to come and look around.

We weren't involved with the original Andy Lives, nor are we funded by any corporate entity ;)  Enjoy your visit!

Old News

January 17th, 2006 - We miss you, Andy.  Excellent fan article added.  Facelift, tinkering to site.

December 25th, 2005 - Andy Kaufman: Wrestling with the American Dream is published by University of Minnesota Press.

January 17th, 2005 - Happy Birthday Andy!  A secret fun page was added to this site.  Search these webpages (links on left) to find the portal that will take you to the new page.

December 31st, 2004 - Updated with the 2004 Year-in-review page chronicling the events in Kaufman fandom through the year.  Got rid of the counter.

December 7th, 2004 - TV Land's 100 Most Memorable Moments ranks Jerry Lawler's slap to the face of Andy Kaufman on Late Night with David Letterman number 83!

November 11th, 2004 - Caroline's comedy club on Broadway hosts the first annual "Andy Kaufman Award" as part of the New York Comedy Festival.

May 17th, 2004 - Andy Kaufman is dead Lives!  Long Live Andy Kaufman!  Andy Kaufman: Dead or Alive show review added here.

May 16th, 2004 - 20 years to the day Andy Kaufman skipped town.  Tony Clifton appears at the House of Blues in Hollywood!  Review to come.  New pages added to this web site, such as: a/v room, tony lives and a revised text page featuring a new interview with Cranky Media Guy, Bob Pagani. General rewrites and surprises.  Stay tuned!

April 18th, or so, 2004 - Tony Clifton announces his show, "Andy Kaufman: Dead or Alive?" to be held at the Sunset Blvd. House of Blues on May 16th, 2004. Twenty years to the day.  Tony launches TonyClifton.net - the official Clifton website.  The announcement was also made on the Comic Relief website.

April 12-16, 2004 - Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups airs and lists Andy Kaufman at number 33, bracketed by Buddy Hackett and Albert Brooks.  Pretty good company.

February 22nd, 2004 - Updates to this site, including more Old News items, a bunch of links and some various corrections.  Thanks to Ken Bigley for providing many links!  New Forum and counter added.

February 2nd, 2004 - Tony Clifton appears in contemporarily taped segments on vh1's "When Stand Up Comics Ruled the World".  Andy Kaufman is discussed by many, including Bob Zmuda and George Shapiro.

Aug 25-31, 2003 - issue of Daily Variety, a tribute issue devoted to Chris Albrecht, President of HBO and former partner of Bob Zmuda, contains a page offering "Thanks for the Mammaries" from Tony Clifton and announces his "14 City 'I WILL SURVIVE' Tour".

June 2nd, 2003 - The "King of Men", Classy Freddie Blassie succumbs to the Grim Reaper.  Blassie was a pro-wrestling legend, both on the mat and off.  His recent auto-biography, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, is packed with remembrances of his wrestling days, including kind memories of his time spent with Andy Kaufman. Johnny Legend wrote and produced his novelty theme song, "Pencil Neck Geek" and later orchestrated the team-up with Kaufman that would be called, "My Breakfast with Blassie".  The "Fashion Plate" of wrestling leaves behind his wife Miyaka and a loving family.  Our condolensces to all family, friends and fans.  Rest In Peace.

May 16th, 2003 - 19 years since Andy Kaufman left us.  Gone, but not forgotten. Various updates to this web site.  The Celebrating Andy Kaufman Society (CAKS) webmaster hands his creation over to new managers who begin with a bold look. All the best to the multi-talented T. wEieR! & good luck to the new torch-bearers!

February 2nd, 2003 - Updates to this site with new links and some corrections.

January 17th, 2003 - Grand Re-opening of Andy Lives!  Under new management! Andy Kaufman's 54th birthday.  Jim Carrey's 41st birthday.

December 26th, 2002 - Pro-wrestler Jerry Lawler's biography It's Good to Be the King is released where he reveals that the match with Kaufman was faked.  What a hick.

October 20th, 2002 - "Man On The Moon" hits Comedy Central.

April 24th, 2002 - The Egyptian Theater in Hollywood screens "I'm From Hollywood" and "My Breakfast with Blassie" as well as several shorts, including "Buckshot".

February 17th, 2000 - "My Breakfast with Blassie" is rescreened at the NuArt Theater in West Los Angeles.  Johnny Legend, Lynne Margulies and Randall Carver are in attendance.

December 20th, 1999 - Los Angeles premier of "Man On the Moon".

December 7th, 1999 - New York City premier of "Man On the Moon".

October 25th, 1998 - E! Entertainment television network airs the E! True Hollywood Story of Andy Kaufman.  It is the 29th episode of season two.

March 29th, 1995 - "A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman" appears on NBC. Produced by Shapiro/West and Bob Zmuda, it is nominated for an Emmy award. Marilu Henner and Bob Saget host.

November, 1992 - REM's single "Man on the Moon" from their "Automatic for the People" LP is released.  It tops the record charts in the U.S. at number 30.

November 19th, 1989 to January 7th, 1990 - Exhibition "Kovacs and Kaufman" runs at the Long Beach Museum of Art.  Curated by Michael Nash, then Media Arts Curator.  "Andy's Fun House" and "The Andy Kaufman Show" are presented alongside archival videotape footage of Ernie Kovacs' work.

May 16th, 1985 - Tony Clifton appears at the Comedy Store in Hollywood, and performs before a packed house a year after Andy Kaufman had "left the building".  

May 16th, 1984 - Andy Kaufman steps into the Great Beyond.

 

 

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Classy Freddie Blassie  (right)  1918  -  2003.