Bob Zmuda
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Bob Zmuda is an American writer, comedian, producer, and director.
Zmuda is best known as Andy Kaufman's sidekick, co-writer and friend. Zmuda occasionally portrayed Kaufman's Tony Clifton character on stage and for television appearances (It's rumored that it was actually Zmuda playing Clifton when he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman).
In 1986, Zmuda founded the American version of Comic Relief, an annual event that raises money to help homeless men, women and children in the United States. The event is televised on HBO, and is hosted by comedians Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.
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 having inaccuracies which may cast doubt on Zmuda's anecdotal claims.
Later that year, Miloš Forman directed Man On The Moon, the story of Kaufman's life. Zmuda created the "Tony Clifton" make up for the film, and also appeared briefly as Jack Burns, one of the producers, who gets into a brawl on stage during one of Kaufman's Fridays television appearances. Zmuda was also the co-executive producer for the film. On camera, the character of Bob Zmuda was played by Paul Giamatti. Stanley Kaufman, Andy's father, criticized Zmuda's influence on the film shorty after it's release, writing in the form of Andy speaking from beyond the grave.[link]
Filmography
- Andy Kaufman's Really Big Show, (1999) tv special
- Man on the Moon, (1999) film
- Batman Forever, (1995) film
- I'm From Hollywood, (1992) tv special
- Punchline, (1988) film
- Comic Relief, (1986) cable tv special
- My Breakfast with Blassie, (1983) film
- D.C. Cab, (1983) film
- Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall, (1979) video
- Andy's Funhouse, (1977) tv
External links
- [Zmuda's "Revealed" - Revealed] Site documenting the inaccuracies in Zmuda's book.
- [Zmuda Interview] SPLICEDwire
- [Zmuda Interview] filmcritic.com
- [Bob Zmuda] at the Internet Movie Database.
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