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Andy Kaufman

[Andy Kauffman Gallery]

Career Highlights

 

  • Andy Kaufman was a popular entertainer and comedian in 70s & 80s who was known for his unorthadox methods..
  • Andy Kaufman is most often associated with Latka Gravas, a character he played on the sitcom “Taxi”..
  • 1978: Andy Kaufman began wrestling women on talk shows, calling himself the Inter-gender Wrestling Champion..
  • ~~~Andy would offer prizes ($1000 for example) to any woman who could beat him in the ring, but none could pin his shoulders..
  • ~~~~~~~~~~~~One time he even offered that if any woman beat him that he would marry her and shave his head completely bald..
  • During one of Andy’s inter-gender matches, Kaufman was confronted by Memphis hero, Jerry “The King” Lawler..
  • Jerry “The King” Lawler challenged Andy Kaufman to a wrestling match, an offer Kaufman initially declined..
  • Andy Kaufman was billed from Hollywood, California and became the most hated man on the Memphis circuit..
  • April 5, 1982 – Memphis: Andy Kaufman defeated Jerry Lawler by DQ when Lawler used the outlawed Piledriver!
  • ~~~Jerry Lawler delivered two stiff pile-drivers, putting Andy Kauffman in the hospital with a “broken neck”..
  • ~~~Kaufman said he suffered an injury, a claim that is widely suspected to be a hoax perpetrated by Kaufman..
  • July 29, 1982: Andy Kaufman tried to apologize to Jerry “The King” Lawler on The Late Show with David Letterman..
  • ~~~Jerry “The King” Lawler refused to accept the apology and stood up and slapped Andy Kaufman across the face!
  • ~~~~~~Andy Kaufman retaliated by throwing a cup of hot coffee at Jerry Lawler and shouting obscenities at him!
  • May 16, 1984: Andy Kaufman died at age 35 of a rare form of lung cancer..
  • ~~~Andy Kauffman often said he wanted to fake his own death which led people to believe this was a hoax…
  • 1999: Man on the Moon, a Hollywood movie starring Jim Carrey about the life of Andy Kaufman is released..
  • ~~~Part of the movie covered Andy’s time in wrestling and revealed that his feud with The King was a work..

 

Updated:

Trained By

Jerry Lawler

Debut

1978

Birthday

January 17, 1949

Hometown

New York City, New York
Billed from Hollywood, CA

Gender

Height

5' 10"

Weight

175lbs

Finishing Move(s)

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Jerry Lawler

Status