But instead of carrey wearing the axe body spray, whiskey and human miseryscented tony clifton suit, it would be sleazy, desperate, unfuckable old bob zmuda playing clifton. Bob zmuda is an american writer, comedian, producer, and director best known for his friendship with cult personality andy kaufman. There seems to be far more tony clifton in bob zmuda. Kaufman was famous for pulling this stunt with the tony clifton character, sometimes played by good friend bob zmuda. Bob zmuda born december 12, 1949 is an american writer, comedian, producer, and director best known for his friendship with cult personality andy kaufman. Posted on october 16, 2014 updated on december 3, 2014.
Kaufman is quoted in oui magazine saying that zmuda was his writer, and they met in 1973 at the improv. Ground control to major bob the bob zmuda interview amc. And while the book is interesting, especially the chapters detailing how jim. Zmuda writes that andy asked him if he thought ken chase could make a wax figure of him to put in a coffin. When i wrote about bob zmudas the playboy mansion story for mondays big whoop blog, i came to it with a whole lot of baggage and personal history involving zmuda and tony clifton.
Zmuda shares his memories of the nights when andy as tony clifton opened for rodney dangerfield. The truth, finally book online at best prices in india on. Tdr 106 bob zmuda imterview 121114 andy kaufman alive. Also, if you want the whole andy kaufman story, as told by bob. Andy kaufman and his writing partner, bob zmuda, changed the worlds of comedy and performance in the 1970s, showing fans and friends alike a determination to follow putons into territory no one had ever even considered comic before. Andy kaufman by bob zmuda, 9781940363059, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Tony clifton is a character created by performance artist andy kaufman, who also portrayed him in the late 1970s. In the new book, the aids theory belongs to lynne margulies, whom. If clifton was the shy and selfconsciousness kaufmans id and alterego, on some level zmuda clearly is tony clifton. Tony clifton andy kaufman taxi incident unreleased. I loved andy kaufman, i hated tony clifton but got the joke, i think, most of the time. The truth, finally by bob zmuda and lynne margulies is a sometimes silly look at the comedian who, according to zmuda and others, faked his death in 1984.
Thank the entertainment gods that someone as erudite and articulate as bob zmuda crossed andy kaufmans path so that he could document the course of the kaufman tornado and all of the carnage left in its wake. Bob zmuda bio net worth, book, wiki, partner, family. Kaufman and his partner in crime, comic relief founder bob zmuda, regularly traded duties portraying the leisuresuited clifton, baffling talk show host david letterman and terrifying the late. Bob zmuda net worth 2018, biowiki celebrity net worth.
He is a producer and actor, known for man on the moon 1999, the number 23 2007 and batman forever 1995. His book andy kaufman revealed made top 10 lists nationwide. Bob zmuda, best friend of andy kauffman, stops by to talk with team totally driven about andy still being alive, his new book, and so much more. Andy kaufman is dead, but tony clifton still wants your. The pairs misadventures were showcased in milos formans 1999 biopic, man on the moon, which. Their fervor was so intense that when kaufman passed away suddenly in 1984, it seemed as if his death had been staged, with the reveal soon to come.
Zmuda does an excellent job of documenting andys rise to reluctant sitcom star and the. Silly little showbiz book club is nathan rabins ongoing. The truth, finally, bob zmuda, andys writer and best friend, and lynn margulies, the love of andys life, reveal allincluding surprising secrets that andy made lynne and bob promise never to tell until both of his parents had died. Tony clifton, at the age of fortyfive, died of cancer at cedar sinai hospital in hollywood, california. Where during one performance a knifewielding audience member bounded on. On june 26, 1980, universal pictures unanimously decided to support the countless actors, technicians, and various other production staff members, in the completion of the tony clifton story. A screenplay by andy kaufman and bob zmuda, about the venemous conflict between andy and his brash alter ego, the uncouth tony clifton. According to bob zmuda, kaufmans best friend and cowriter, several people hid beneath cliftons garish costume and outlandish wig, including zmuda himself. Characteristic of the many elaborate hoaxes and practical jokes kaufman concocted, clifton was not exclusively portrayed by kaufman. According to kaufman, he and clifton werent just different people they were archrivals. Others, mainly longtime kaufman friend bob zmuda, also performed the role.
One day we were shooting half tony clifton, half andy. Zmuda was basically kaufmans partner in crime back in the day, and often portrayed a character created by kaufman named tony clifton, a bumbling lounge singer. Zmuda, who often played kaufmans alter ego tony clifton when his friend was alive, has continued to perform as clifton since kaufmans death, while blurring the line. As bob zmuda, kaufmans close pal and collaborator, has written in a. Andy says fans should tune into his website for ongoing updates to. Bob zmuda was born in 1949 in the usa as robert zmuda. Hed be leading clifton around proudly, feeling like he was getting away with an outrageous prank when he was actually its. Bob zmuda plays andy kaufman playing tony clifton 10. Bob zmuda as tony clifton on letterman, february 18, 1982. As bob zmuda, kaufmans close pal and collaborator, has written in a recent book, it cannot be a coincidence that kaufman, famous for his ambivalence about. The tony clifton story by andy kaufman and bob zmuda. Bob zmuda occasionally portrayed kaufmans tony clifton character on stage and for television appearances.
Bob showing off the finished manuscript of his new book. As it turns out, tony was quite the character, and the personality had a serious affect on carrey, too. Avid andy kaufman fans know how closely connected to andys career that bob zmuda was, and for that reason, a new book by zmuda on kaufman is likely to grab their attention. In 1999, zmuda wrote a book about kaufmans life, titled andy kaufman. Tony clifton had got arrested in new orleans and the judge was going to throw the book at him, zmuda said, explaining the setup. Isnt bob zmuda the longtime campaign volunteer for donald j. Bob zmuda earned a permanent place in the comedy pantheon thanks to his groundbreaking decade as andy kaufmans best friend, writer, collaborator, righthand man, and alterego. The actual events took place on january 2931, 1981 at the warfield theatre. Join facebook to connect with bob zmuda and others you may know. Tere is nothing wrong wth beig cute and andy would not have had fans without it it is an appealing quality that anyone who is successful in show biz has to have, and whether or not you agree, or andy saying this back in the day, it is an. In one of the crazier experiences of my years at the a. Bob zmuda as tony clifton on letterman, february 18. Known best for his collaboration with fellow american comedian andy kaufman, this stage and screen entertainer sometimes took on kaufmans famous tony clifton.
The screenplay also contains many of andys classic standup routines, and several moments that will cause you to literally laugh out loud, which i did while transcribing the hunchback premiere, the jerry lewisinspired white house visit, and the. Theres a poorquality video someone uploaded some time ago. In a 2006 interview, zmuda told the opie and anthony show that he was masquerading as tony clifton with david letterman, and that letterman did not find out until years later in 1986, zmuda founded the american version of comic relief, an annual event that raises money to. Club, i accepted an invitation to interview tony clifton at chicagos legendary pump. Andy kaufmans writing partner bob zmuda reveals in his. But those same fans, knowing kaufman and zmuda as well as they probably do, will also know better than to expect the truth, finally from this book. Bob zmuda occasionally portrayed kaufmans tony clifton character on. Prediction, zmuda has someone perform as tony clifton, people assume it is zmuda in the makeup, but zmuda himself then comes onstage. Salary, married, wedding, spouse, family bob zmuda born december 12, 1949 is an american writer, comedian, producer and director best known for his friendship with cult personality andy kaufman.
When he performed as tony clifton, vestiges of the cuteness was there, still, but never was with zmuda. The only physical evidence of the event publicly available are a couple of still photos taken by kaufmans cowriter bob zmuda of andy as clifton being removed from the lot by security guards, as well as an actual photo from the set which was released in the recent book, andy kaufman. Born on the 12th of december, 1949, in the united states, he is widely known for being the producer and actor of movies such as number 23, man on the moon, and batman forever. Bob zmuda or robert zmuda is an american comedian, actor, producer, and author. And at his side the whole time was bob zmuda, kaufmans best friend, writer and partner in crime. Bob zmuda on gilbert gottfrieds podcast provided a. Bob zmuda born december 12, 1949 is an american writer, comedian, producer and director best known for his friendship with cult personality andy kaufman. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, clifton made several appearances on the tv talk show circuit. Says zmuda, andys contract with paramount said that tony clifton had to have a parking space next to kaufmans with his name on it, and he had to have his own dressing room. I secretly hope that andy and bob cooked this all up before he died. Be the first to ask a question about the tony clifton story. Check the comedy stores website for tony clifton revue show times and tickets. Zmuda was basically kaufmans partner in crime back in the day, and often portrayed a character created by kaufman named tony clifton, a bumbling.
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