Lost in the Funhouse
The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman
Published on 2. November 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-84115-230-1 (ISBN)
Description
First biography of the comedian Andy Kaufman, soon to be played by Jim Carrey in Milos Forman's new film Man On The Moon.
In the 1970s a handful of young American comedians revolutionised US comedy. At the forefront was Andy Kaufman. From his debut on Saturday Night Live, lip-synching Mighty Mouse's cry of "Here I come to save the day!", to his role as Latka on the sitcom Taxi, Andy was breaking new ground, and hiding a vastly darker side.
Whether creating an alter-ego - lounge lizard Tony Clifton - or wrestling women, whatever the "gag" was, Andy Kaufman was living it. Part performance artist and part prankster, Kaufman lived his life as a relentless performance, and he inspired, and enraged those around him in equal measure. So when he was diagnosed as having cancer at 34, hardly anyone believed him, not even when they saw his body in the coffin...
With the full cooperation of Kaufman's family, friends and colleagues, this is a trip into the dark side of a comic genius.
In the 1970s a handful of young American comedians revolutionised US comedy. At the forefront was Andy Kaufman. From his debut on Saturday Night Live, lip-synching Mighty Mouse's cry of "Here I come to save the day!", to his role as Latka on the sitcom Taxi, Andy was breaking new ground, and hiding a vastly darker side.
Whether creating an alter-ego - lounge lizard Tony Clifton - or wrestling women, whatever the "gag" was, Andy Kaufman was living it. Part performance artist and part prankster, Kaufman lived his life as a relentless performance, and he inspired, and enraged those around him in equal measure. So when he was diagnosed as having cancer at 34, hardly anyone believed him, not even when they saw his body in the coffin...
With the full cooperation of Kaufman's family, friends and colleagues, this is a trip into the dark side of a comic genius.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
(2 x 8pp b/w)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
307 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84115-230-1 (9781841152301)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Bill Zehme is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'. His celebrity profiles have appeared in Esquire, Rolling Stone and Playboy, among others. He lives in Chicago.