Andy Kaufman Revealed!

A memoir of the incomparable comic by his closest friend: "Heartfelt and funny . . . a great read . . . a riot." — Kirkus Reviews Best known for his sweet-natured character Latka on Taxi, Andy Kaufman was the most influential comic of the generation that produced David Letterman, John Belushi, and Robin Williams. A regular on the early days of Saturday Night Live (where he regularly disrupted planned skits), Kaufman quickly became known for his idiosyncratic roles and for performances that crossed the boundaries of comedy, challenging expectations and shocking audiences. His death from lung cancer at age thirty-five—he'd never smoked—stunned his fans and the comic community that had come to look to him as its lightning rod and standard bearer. In this book, Bob Zmuda—Kaufman's closest friend, producer, writer, and straight man—unmasks the man he knew better than anyone. He chronicles Kaufman's meteoric rise, the development of his extraordinary personas, and the private man behind the driven actor and comedian, and answers the question most often asked: Did Andy Kaufman fake his own death? "Zmuda has composed an often hilarious tribute to his best friend that does reveal many of this master trickster's secrets." — The New York Times Book Review "An intimate portrait of the enigmatic performer . . . highly absorbing." — Publishers Weekly "Thoroughly entertaining." — Booklist