Definition
Andy Kaufman (1949–1984) was an American entertainer, comedian, and performance artist who may have been the most influential figure in modern comedy despite never telling a traditional joke. Kaufman’s act was built on ambiguity: he wrestled women as the arrogant “Intergender Wrestling Champion,” he lip-synced to the Mighty Mouse theme song, he read The Great Gatsby in its entirety on stage, and he created the character Tony Clifton — a lounge singer so obnoxious that Kaufman would sometimes have other people perform as Clifton while he watched from the audience. Kaufman died of lung cancer at age 35, but conspiracy theories persist that he faked his death and will return, making him the Elvis of comedy.
Why It Matters
Kaufman invented modern anti-comedy and performance art as entertainment. Without Kaufman, there is no Sacha Baron Cohen, no Eric Andre, no Nathan for You, no Tim and Eric. He blurred the line between reality and performance so completely that audiences never knew if they were in on the joke or the joke was on them. His wrestling career — where he challenged women and claimed superiority — was simultaneously satire of machismo, genuine athletic competition, and uncomfortable provocation. The Tony Clifton character was so committed that Kaufman would sign contracts requiring Clifton to have equal billing. Kaufman’s influence is everywhere in internet culture: the commitment to the bit, the refusal to break character, the willingness to make the audience uncomfortable. He was not a comedian. He was a performance artist who happened to be funny, sometimes, accidentally. The internet would have loved him. Or hated him. Or both. He would have preferred both.
Example
“He watched Andy Kaufman read The Great Gatsby on stage. The audience booed. Kaufman kept reading. Someone threw something. Kaufman kept reading. He finished the book. The audience was confused. Some clapped. Some left. Kaufman bowed. He had not told a single joke. He had entertained them anyway. Or tortured them. He didn’t care which. The ambiguity was the art.”
Related Terms
- Tony Clifton — Kaufman’s most infamous alter ego
- Anti-Comedy — The genre Kaufman pioneered
- Sacha Baron Cohen — The modern heir to Kaufman’s performance art
- Wrestling — The medium Kaufman used for his most provocative performances
- Performance Art — The form Kaufman elevated to mainstream entertainment