Bob Zmuda (born December 12, 1949) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writerA writer is anyone who creates a written work, though the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, as well as those who have written in many different forms.-Profession:...
,
comedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain members of an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
,
producerThe primary role of a television producer is to control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and
directorA film director, or filmmaker is a person who directs the making or production of a film. Some also consider a film producer to be a filmmaker....
best known as the sidekick, co-writer and friend of cult personality
Andy KaufmanAndrew Geoffrey Kaufman was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one...
.
Bob Zmuda occasionally portrayed Kaufman's
Tony CliftonTony Clifton is a fictitious character created and often played by avant-garde stand up commedian Andy Kaufman in the late 1970s. Characteristic of the many elaborate hoaxes and practical jokes Kaufman concocted, Clifton was not exclusively played by Kaufman—others stepped into the role on...
character on stage and for television appearances (Zmuda has not confirmed the rumor that it was he and not Kaufman who appeared as Clifton on
Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to The Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O'Brien then filled the time slot...
).
In 1986, Zmuda founded the American version of
Comic Relief, an annual event that raises money to help the homeless in the United States.
Bob Zmuda (born December 12, 1949) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writerA writer is anyone who creates a written work, though the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally, as well as those who have written in many different forms.-Profession:...
,
comedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain members of an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
,
producerThe primary role of a television producer is to control all aspects of production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and
directorA film director, or filmmaker is a person who directs the making or production of a film. Some also consider a film producer to be a filmmaker....
best known as the sidekick, co-writer and friend of cult personality
Andy KaufmanAndrew Geoffrey Kaufman was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one...
.
Bob Zmuda occasionally portrayed Kaufman's
Tony CliftonTony Clifton is a fictitious character created and often played by avant-garde stand up commedian Andy Kaufman in the late 1970s. Characteristic of the many elaborate hoaxes and practical jokes Kaufman concocted, Clifton was not exclusively played by Kaufman—others stepped into the role on...
character on stage and for television appearances (Zmuda has not confirmed the rumor that it was he and not Kaufman who appeared as Clifton on
Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to The Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O'Brien then filled the time slot...
).
In 1986, Zmuda founded the American version of
Comic Relief, an annual event that raises money to help the homeless in the United States. The event was televised on
HBOHBO is a premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner, offers two 24/7 pay television services to over 38 million U.S...
, and was hosted by
comedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain members of an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
s
Robin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian.Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
,
Billy CrystalWilliam Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian, and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the box office successes When Harry...
and
Whoopi GoldbergWhoopi Goldberg is an American actress, comedienne, singer-songwriter, activist, and media personality....
.
In 1999, Zmuda wrote a book about Kaufman's life, entitled
Andy Kaufman Revealed!, which purported to unveil many tricks and hoaxes that the two pulled off in front of audiences and television cameras in the 1980s. The book has been criticized by some of Kaufman's fans, as well as Kaufman's family, for inaccuracies which cast doubt on some of Zmuda's anecdotal claims.
Later that year,
Miloš FormanJan Tomáš Forman , better known as Miloš Forman , is a Czech film director, screenwriter, actor and professor. Two of his films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, are among the most celebrated in the history of film, both garnering him the Academy Award as a director. He was also...
directed
Man on the MoonMan on the Moon is a 1999 biopic of the American entertainer Andy Kaufman.The film, starring Jim Carrey and directed by Miloš Forman, begins at Kaufman's childhood, where he is seen performing imaginary television programs for stuffed animals...
, the story of Kaufman's life. Zmuda created the "Tony Clifton" makeup for the film, and also made a brief appearance, portraying comedian
Jack BurnsJack Burns is an American comedian and voice actor.-Biography:In 1959, he began his career as a comedy team with George Carlin when both were working for radio station KXOL in Fort Worth, Texas...
, one of the producers, who gets into a brawl on stage during one of Kaufman's appearances on the 1980-82
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a weekly late-night sketch comedy and variety show filmed in New York City. It made its debut on October 11, 1975, under a slightly different title. The show features a regular cast of comedy actors, joined by a guest host and musical act...
-like show,
Fridays. Zmuda was also
Man on the Moons co-executive producer. On camera, the character of Bob Zmuda was played by Paul GiamattiPaul Edward Valentine Giamatti is an American actor and comedian. Giamatti began his career as a supporting actor in several films produced during the 1990s including Private Parts, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, The Negotiator, and Man on the Moon, before earning lead roles in several...
. Stanley Kaufman, Andy's father, criticized Zmuda's influence on the film shortly after its release, writing in the form of Andy speaking from beyond the grave.http://andykaufman.jvlnet.com/realmotm.htm
Filmography
Andy's Funhouse
(1977) TV
Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall
(1979) video
D.C. CabD.C. Cab is a 1983 comedy film, starring Mr. T, Max Gail, Adam Baldwin, Gary Busey and a special appearance by singer Irene Cara. The film was co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher. The R-rated comedy was controversial upon release due to Mr...
(1983) film
My Breakfast with BlassieMy Breakfast with Blassie is a film starring entertainer Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. The film is a mostly improvised parody of the popular art movie My Dinner with Andre and is set in a restaurant where Kaufman and Blassie have a discussion over breakfast. Also...
(1983) film
Comic Relief
(1986) cable TV special
Punchline
(1988) film
I'm from HollywoodI'm from Hollywood is a 1989 documentary film about the adventures of late performance artist Andy Kaufman in the world of professional wrestling. The film includes interviews with Taxi co-stars Marilu Henner and Tony Danza and interviews with comedian Robin Williams, wrestler Jerry Lawler,...
(1992) TV special
Man on the Moon
(1999) film
Andy Kaufman's Really Big Show (1999) TV special
External links