Andy Kaufman: A Screwtube Crapilation

This video is crap. Watch it anyway.

Cliff Notes from a Death Diary

From Andy Kaufman Revealed! by Bob Zmuda:

"Kaufman continues to shake his head in disgust and disbelief that such a thing can be happening. I escort him around like a frail grandma. Lynne pointed out that he had gotten just like this when his parents were in town (L.A.) and perhaps it was some sort of an act for us. I had wondered the same thought and took note of the coincidences."

Why would a dying person need to put on an "act" if they were really sick? And what "coincidences" is Bob alluding to?

*There are several instances in which Andy's condition seemed to magically improve or deteriorate unbelievably, each eliciting befuddlement or doubt among his closest friends. Is this the natural course of terminal cancer that never goes into remission, or part of the roller coaster of emotions Kaufman used to make his death seem more legit?

For Skilled Mathematicians Only

Update:

It's just been brought to my attention by one PastyWhite81 that the area code for Great Neck, Long Island--Andy's place of birth and childhood home--is "516". After a little fact-checking, this appears to be correct.

Andy Kaufman died of large cell carcinoma on May 16, 1984.

May 16 = 5/16.

Five. Sixteen.

Num3r0l09y at 1ts m0st p3rpl3x1ng.

Party at Labo's Place!

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like they're having way too much fun in this photo given the circumstances. Just sayin'.

Will the Real Faith Healer Please Stand Up?

Dear Blogspot;

In Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman by Bill Zehme, Andy's psychic surgeon is referred to as "Jun Labo".

In Andy Kaufman Revealed! by Bob Zmuda, Andy's psychic surgeon is named "Jun Roxas".

On the Andy Kaufman homepage, at andykaufman.jvlnet.com, Andy's psychic surgeon is called "Ramon Labo."

...seems this guy has as many different identities as Kaufman himself.

Andy Kaufman's Arm(y)

By the time Andy made his last TV appearance on the ill-fated show, "The Top", his cancer had supposedly eaten through his left arm, making it so fragile it could break if anyone so much as touched it according to a number of sources.

So why is he able to use the arm without any problems on the show? During the course of the program, he uses it to wave, make gestures as he talks, and even do the famous ZZ Top "arm twirl" when introducing their video. If the arm was really so fragile, is it plausible that he could do anything but leave it motionless at his side...much less twirl it around? And why is he so twitchy?

See for yourself:


Part I (Waving, gestures, etc.)


Part II (Arm twirl, gestures, etc.)

Defying Jewish Law in a Jewish Temple Full of Jews

Andy Kaufman had an open casket funeral. This is unheard of in the Jewish religion. Both of his parents, as well as Andy himself, were Jewish. The funeral was at a Jewish temple; the service performed by a Rabbi.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say on the matter:

Jewish funerals are held soon after death, and the corpse is never displayed. As well, Jewish law forbids anyone to embalm the body of the deceased. Traditionally flowers (and music) are not sent to a grieving Jewish family as it is a reminder of the life that is now lost. (See also Jewish bereavement.)

Draw yr. own conclusions.