Andy Kaufman on Letterman , February 17, 1982

[@75Veritas]

He was so unpredictable with his genius that you really never knew when he was acting. Such a legend!!

[@FlockOfHawks]

Defending Elvis' Honour , challenging the wimp in front of millions of eyes - he has my 💖 for all eternity

[@jugaajugaa3447]

This Kaufman fella - the more I learn about him, the more I care for him.

[@mikelee3371]

He's a nice guy

[@albertfish1227]

Hii Norm

[@justinsteffey4004]

His face looks like a flower.........a cauliflower!

[@dollydagger4306]

I know what you mean. He's a very beautiful man.

[@wgaff6313]

That Albert Goldman sounds like a real jerk!

[@changingviewspc]

This was one of Dave’s finest hours. He gave a fellow comedian a platform to speak. Peal away the onion and this is beautiful. 🇺🇸✌️

[@11UncleBooker22]

STILL the undefeated Inter-gender champion of the multiverse.

[@poopoogigolo]

Her foot was on the rope though. It shouldn't have been a 3 count

[@XCRiders]

🗣Come on ref

[@royferguson3909]

so ahead of his time. love him

[@richardmcmasky5638]

@The Wit Shut up, Hannibal.

[@pamieintexas2012]

Hell yes brother!

[@1974beats]

Made me cry a little...His defence of Elvis is admirable....E got us all through some hard times

[@toddtr5520]

I believe Andy was sincere when it comes to his Elvis impersonation and his defense of Elvis after his death.

[@dawnjones82]

me too

[@MarkTarmannPianoCheck_it_out]

Like somebody famous said (a comic. Dana Carvey I think it was) . "When I'm on the talk shows I am never myself. If your are a comic you are "on" and just trying to "kill" for 5 minutes. That's what you do on talk shows. You're never yourself having a conversation". That's what Kaufmann did. It's not that deep or seamlessly genius. It's just his schtick, and he always does it. Duh.

[@Oceantreasures24]

He was obviously passionate about Elvis. This interview where he talks about that is probably the closest to the real Andy that we see in an interview.

[@yellyman5483]

@@Oceantreasures24 The book he was referring too was written by a fucking douche who did a nasty hit job on Elvis. A couple of years later he came back with another book. This time of John Lennon where he did the exactly same thing. He made Lennon look really bad. McCartney went out to Lennons defense and said almost the same thing about the author as Kaufman said here. That asshole really liked to smear people who was no longer alive to defend themselves. He was a wimp and a coward. I think Kaufman was 100% authentic here.

[@srldwg]

@@Oceantreasures24 It is definitely genuine Andy.

[@dan_hitchman007]

Andy took performance art to a whole new level.

[@jadezee6316]

to bad it wasnt a good level

[@haroldfarthington7492]

cheese @@jadezee6316

[@junkscience6397]

@@jadezee6316 And yet...here you are? lol.

[@vervor]

@@junkscience6397 yep I'll watch it once and instantly forget it

[@johnnybravado7141]

@@jadezee6316 Too bad your comment wasn't a good level.

[@enjoyitbro]

You could tell his love and admiration for Elvis was legit. The one time in an interview he was being sincere and not trolling

[@srldwg]

AGREED!!!

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

His impersonation of Elvis was always complimentary.

[@muhgubby]

Nah i think it was a bit

[@farenmareeramos]

This is the most sincere side of Andy I have ever seen! Love you Andy!!

[@caphaddock1126]

He's acting

[@santasangre996]

@@caphaddock1126 no

[@mollymojave484]

I love how respected Johnny Cash is in every area of entertainment. Makes me like Andy Kaufman even more

[@tammyhansen5956]

What does Johnny Cash have to do with this video?

[@4B4Me]

@@tammyhansen5956 Ca. 2:12

[@hanlouwiesse6064]

This guy is one true legend, RIP Andy, thanks for everything you did !

[@genecoppedge5972]

First time hearing his actual voice. He was extremely hilarious and he is missed, RIP.

[@harrychalcraft9711]

Man on the moon

[@charleswilson9480]

This was my first time hearing his real voice … the dude had deep mental problems …

[@Sacrive33]

Why they did killed him?

[@GammaRayBill]

@@Sacrive33he died of lung cancer but there has been rumors that he faked his death as a grand hoax, the more I watch his material, the more the rumors make sense

[@raincloud7817]

@@GammaRayBill That's what I've been feeling since I began to read Bill Zehme's book. Still, I'm sure Andy is deceased. You could also see at his last appearance 1984 that he was feeling bad. He couldn't lift his arm when he was on the phone because he had a large tumor there too. But he didn't show any signs of it and showed a happy face. That makes it all the sadder.

[@Marymead2]

God bless Andy Kaufmann; he was absolutely correct about Goldman. Bless him for defending Elvis.

[@briteness]

There are not many figures in pop culture who occupy a space that is truly all their own. Andy Kaufman was one of them. He was touched.

[@evilinnnn]

love, love, love him! thank you for uploading!

[@Tehownilator]

I really didn’t expect to hear this from Kaufman, really nice to hear.

[@TheIgnatzz]

When talking about Goldman and Elvis, he is not joking AT ALL.

[@NathanLJustice]

Yeah. He was dead serious.

[@jcee6886]

Or.... is he?

[@kimthurston9192]

I don't think he was ever serious about anything.

[@dhornjr1]

Yep. He was dead serious but nobody could tell when he was being serious.

[@jenfletcher9641]

He probably told Goldman to write the book how he did, just so he could do this.

[@Thejoeordinary1]

A very nice older gentleman I knew through my line of work was, for a time, involved with entertainment booking at the Playboy mansion in the 70’s and 80’s and gave me several pieces of memorabilia from back in the day. Never got anything involving Andy except stories. He said when going to Andy’s dressing room he would often find other characters there instead like Tony Clifton, foreign man , and among others of course, Elvis. He had to deal with the persona Andy was portraying as if he was real and not a character. He said there was definitely something strange and mysterious going on there, but, Andy was one of the sweetest , nicest people in show biz.

[@RenzWilde-Muzik]

I read the comment about audiences laughing even when Andy appears to be serious. That's exactly how Kaufman wanted it, in my opinion. He always wanted the audience guessing, no matter what he was doing. He thrived on always keeping an audience off kilter. I highly doubt he was offended.

[@RyanSchweitzer77]

Oh indeed, he knew he was making his audience "take the piss" in a way, and quite well--he pranked the crowd brilliantly. I too was fooled when I first saw Andy's standup on TV waay back when, but then later it clicked as I got to see more of his acts--I was then a fan. Andy was a comedic legend. :)

[@rawhydemusic8620]

Andy was so brilliant. You can tell he was sincere about Elvis' passing and when he defended Elvis. He was a great talent. It is a shame he passed the year I was born.

[@darrenwalshe8513]

We don't know if he was really sincere that was his brilliance

[@srldwg]

@@darrenwalshe8513 Agreed. But I truly believe that he was being sincere here.

[@luthercase9001]

This man was one of the most brilliant comedians, an entertainers in history!

[@arlenroth8373]

I did SNL with Andy in 1978 and he was GREAT

[@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044]

It's Arlen Roth! Hi, Arlen! You're great too!

[@mrdgg949]

I was the producer

[@mrfake675]

I cleaned up the blow

[@katherinehayes9110]

this guy has to be the most genuine person i have ever seen on a tv talk show

[@mmb2211]

I'm trying to understand why. I`m already up to the middle of the video and I don`t see it. Help me out here.

[@guynorth3277]

What are you some sick trump voter, this guy got what he needed - he killed himself, wish trump voters would follow him.

[@sethbishop6890]

@@guynorth3277 wow what a scum bag hypocrite you are. If Trump cured cancer you would still hate him and everything about him, you know what that is? That's an ideologue. That's what you are little Timmy, an Ideologue.

[@gts8361]

All a schtick

[@SisyphusQuit]

Andy never did anything on screen that was sincere

[@jessiejames7492]

thanks for the upload. great interview...so nice to see him speaking seriously

[@ernestkinas5973]

I like how he's got the balls to stand his ground against that Goldman creep.

[@MichaelDouglasSkewes]

Andy was the greatest showman ever ! And he is dead serious here ! My Mom and her friend knew Elvis and his Friends , and they love Andy!

[@robbieh1899]

One of the MOST special and incredibly misunderstood people to ever walk the earth. A mind that just had no limits, but, with hints of darkness.

[@goldenflux5761]

This Andy is so great, because the passion seems to come from a real place, but there's still that twinkle in his eye making you wonder whether he agrees with what he's saying. The best part is him acting like the SNL staff said he would never work in this business again lolol.

[@gallery7596]

Yeah, I watched SNL the night Andy said he disapproved of the book on Elvis, and also of the sketch. I always assumed that was just part of the script, too. And even after hearing this, I still find it hard to buy what he's saying here because this is Andy Kaufman and he was always trying to prank us.

[@1vengefulheart743]

Gall ery I saw that too. But I’m not sure...at the time, most people..including the people close to him, knew that he was joking. I’m wracking my brain trying to remember any other entertainer that did that..(. I’m not talking about wrestling or fighting) I mean stage and tv entertainers...He May have been the very first to try that.

[@danhermon4922]

Goldenflux Lorne Michaels and/or his staff for sure said that to Elvis Costello before ejecting him from the building following the Radio Radio incident. It’s not always so nice behind the scenes there.

[@1vengefulheart743]

Gall ery I saw that too ! Lord, lol now I’m going to feel all nostalgic. I’m trying to remember exactly how old I was 🤔 I know I couldn’t have been 15 yet, but I was old enough to love SNL and “ get “ the humor.

[@imambaybars3405]

Andy Kaufman must be a great guest because you never have to prepare any questions for him

[@mmojorissen]

One of the most gifted and honest people in show business!! ALWAYS LOVED "ANDY KAUFMAN!!" RIP

[@dannyconnell4533]

Andy was my favorite comedian when I was growing up....he was so talented plus I loved his Elvis impersonation and his wrestling career too 😀

[@LilbearRomance]

I was a teenager when Andy rose to fame and I didn’t get what I understand now. He was a genius!

[@safetydave720]

I love seeing a real man stand his ground!

[@chopshoprob7173]

A legend.. a genius.. Andy Kaufman forever!

[@josha.8290]

"I don't need to read the book to know what it says" 😂😂

[@JohnnyD5]

I think Trump said this too.

[@winninggambler]

was always my philosophy on reading books also

[@petercelle1796]

Andy means that he hadn’t read the whole book, but was very familiar with the section that he felt besmirched Elvis’ character.

[@rgwebb5165]

@@JohnnyD5 they both love wrestling and playing a heel.

[@DavianSinner]

I love how even when he was probably being sincere, speaking of the Elvis/Goldman thing, it still seems like a bit.

[@ghost3337]

r2blank2 it is probably not even intentional, some funny people have a hard time being seen as serious.... Now you take Kaufman, who is one of the biggest bullshitters... and it is damn near impossible to see him as not joking.

[@winninggambler]

he got a bang out of confusing people

[@caseypalmer5583]

I really love this guys spirit. He seemed so conflicted and convinced at the same time. There are not that many people like this rising up to fame these days. So serious and sincere. What drove this man to be this way? ,maybe madness. and genius maybe love of art and creativity

[@kev_whatev]

“I always believe in being honest. I always believe in telling the truth.” - the only actual joke Andy ever told. Such a genius.

[@srldwg]

He may have trolled and confused people and his audience, but the was all part of his performance. Andy as a person, not performing, really believed in being honest, telling the truth, and had true integrity.

[@neilwhetham8978]

As a ‘newbie’ thank f@ck I’m not a Jew

[@danielanguiano722]

I love how Andy called out that whimp!

[@TheJames-Edward]

One thing I always find that even when he seems to be serious about something in a live interview the audience still seems to laugh.

[@apolinary29]

because people are morons

[@LordZordid]

Everything was part of his act. The way he constantly changed pace between nearly witty and serious to get a reaction out of people was trolling of the highest grade. Most people of course , as the years went by, did caught on to this.

[@joeylantis22]

It's because they're in on it. He's playing a character. The Jim Carry movie makes it seem like no one knew, but at the time a lot of people got Andy Kaufman and so they'd laugh when he was being 'serious' (he was really in character).

[@VanIsleNuckFan]

He's doing a promo as the heel gimmick...classic

[@soonerthanlater8206]

because his Character(s) finally got bigger than the person and people couldn't see him anymore. It's hard for people to understand but comedians aren't always performing.

[@m.a.martin_official]

Funny how Andy cuts a better promo than most wrestlers today.

[@beasontech]

Youve got that right. He LOVED wresting and you only see promos like that from wrestlers who love their job...Randy Macho Man Savage was another with mad promo skills you just dont see these days.

[@achilleseye9320]

His face when he said "Saturday Night Live Pressured me to do this or I won't work in this business again" that was a "serious" face, 3:29

[@WRAYTHE187]

Everyone thought he was funny. "They don't do that kind of stuff." We know very well now thats exactly what they did to people. Actively try to ruin their career.

[@BabyBoomerChannel]

It's nice to see the real Kaufman talking without doing schtick.

[@depaola63]

This was the " set up to that LAWLER SLAP 6 months later !! CLASSIC !!

[@willmiles100]

Great interview. Nobody should try to destroy another’s reputation. Good for Andy.

[@timpmurph71]

It’s a bit, buddy

[@tiagombg]

"Shut up, I'm talking right now" 🤣🤣 Andy was something else 😂😂

[@ricardo53100]

It's almost like his characters take him over. It's a fine line between performance and reality.

[@DavidLopez-gd7gg]

We loved this guy, always waited when he was to be on TV. Very funny person , loved this guy

[@johnh4143]

No one did what Andy Kaufman just did. No one

[@lego4271]

Andy Kaufman did.

[@lurchileb]

so great!

[@TheCymbalProject]

I was born in 74 so a bit too young to appreciate him during his prime... I feel like I missed out.

[@lawrencefranck9417]

You did…

[@ToneeRhianRose]

I was 4 when he died, but I didn't discover him till they reran Taxi on Nick at Nite in 94. I didn't even know he'd died till his E! True Hollywood Story came out in 98 which was about a yr before Man on the Moon starring Jim Carrey came out. But that's the great thing about YT is there are so many clips from things he's done that we can now enjoy.

[@stephenandrew8387]

As Jim Carey said ‘this is different, this doesn’t care’, and lightbulb went off in his head, thanks Andy for awakening another genius.

[@jwalkin5123]

lol.. what a lovely guy. I wish Andy was my friend.

[@LenHummelChannel]

sardonic-surreal. truly brilliant in his own way.

[@johnbull1568]

Andy's opinion on Goldman is the one time I've ever believed Andy wasn't putting on a schtick and this was 100% his real opinion.

[@fatkidfrontflip]

Shame they cut him off. Such disrespect to such a unique talent. Andy was one of a kind.

[@iamvulgar8188]

I'm pretty sure that's part of his bit, they always cut him off or escort him off the sound stage XD

[@guynorth3277]

One of a kind alright, like that fool trump.

[@joejoejoejoejoejoej]

God Bless you Andrew..... You’re too sincere for Hollywood and this audience AND this presenter ...... Love and blessings xx ❤️❤️

[@Entedeficción]

He was the perfect troll. Internet trolls are shite comparing to him. :) And I'm relaxing.

[@bit1733]

What the hell is a shite?

[@Entedeficción]

@@bit1733 Look in the Cambridge dictionary.

[@bit1733]

@@Entedeficción Okay. British and Irish version of shit.

[@CN-xt7hj]

Andy took over the show...very difficult to do

[@smaktalk94]

It sucks that Kaufman died a little over 2 years later. He was such a freaking legend

[@beecher92099]

Slight cough at 9:42, possibly already the beginning signs of his lung cancer.

[@sensimania]

He was so young when he died 😕

[@dh-uo4lt]

Beecher Adams I caught that too! But maybe it’s a joke...his name is COUGH MAN

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

Good for Andy defending Elvis's reputation. Elvis is a hero of many for his accomplishments and talents.

[@depaola63]

I LOVE WHAT ANDY says here about that book ( * I have read).* on ELVIS ( who I love too , I am 54 and remember this when it was live !! )..ANDY was telling it like it is !! ( Howard Cosell)...The 70's and 80's were my youth and it was aLL THAT AND MORE in the east bay !!

[@whatnow9159]

Andy Kaufman sounds like a good man in the midst of demons. Hollywood is done 2021.

[@garrett6076]

Andy is the ultimate embodiment of irony being carried so far that you don't know if he is being serious or not, exemplifying the law known as Kepler's Law.

[@DavidGarvinTechnophile]

This is the first time I've seen this interview. This is a side of him I've not seen. Very candid interview.

[@sweeabn6736]

such a gift

[@kupotan9]

Impossible to know when he was being genuine, he goes back and forth so effortlessly.

[@frankiewoodhouse2914]

The next day Tony Clifton was on this show! Awesome

[@UMAMIMAMU]

Lol "one of the finest Elvis Presley impersonators in the business". Ummmm no. More like he INVENTED that shit. He was literally the FIRST Elvis impersonator, down to the level that he was doing it while Elvis was alive. Elvis absolutely loved it and thought it was hilarious.

[@markburch6253]

UMAMIMAMU try again moron. There were Elvis impersonators decades before Kaufman

[@MadMetalShop]

That was probably the myth andy himself started. There's nothing that actually backed that claim up other than andys own word.

[@doncristobalaspee5925]

@@markburch6253 There were Elvis impersonators before Elvis. In fact Elvis was one.

[@beasontech]

@@doncristobalaspee5925 exactly, Who we all knew as Elvis was actually impersonating someone who never even became famous. This person is actually who was spotted after the original impersonator died.

[@Kinobambino]

@@beasontech what do you mean

[@musicjunkie421]

This guy is simply unpredictable

[@nevermindshort3]

I don't know why, but this is the greatest interview ever

[@michaelnoller3441]

One of my favorites from the 70's and 80's. Not your average guy but what a genius, he left us way to early. Groovin' on Elvis Baby, Are you haven' fun?

[@andydudley1775]

i won that match fair and square love it :)

[@josephabrams4002]

He was probably one of the greatest comedic Minds in history... but he was so good at what he did, it's kind of hard to tell 😎

[@dylankidd7986]

10:06 one of very rare times that dave was legitimately nervous/thrown/unsure what was going to happen

[@travosk8668]

He reminds me of Gene Wilder

[@stephenkennedy8767]

Gene was talented

[@crumplezone1]

Andy was the ultimate Chameleon

[@guynorth3277]

Not remotely, wow that's disgusting, this guy a complete suicidal freak.

[@nathanbellamy3308]

Jew

[@glenhaywood7620]

except Wilder was funny...

[@Boris-xs2eq]

This was on my first birthday

[@tapolna]

6:21- 6:31 I laughed at David Letterman's nervous response, however staged it might have been, after Andy Kaufman issued his challenge

[@sweetcell8767]

Whoever lived next door to this guy, they’d never need to go out to buy milk, they’d never even need to mow their lawn!

[@marilynogorman5468]

What a great guy! God rest him.

[@samuelskillern7365]

God, please rest this man's soul. He is/was a genius.

[@amyntut]

You know you were great at what you did when nobody , even your family could tell when you were being yourself or acting !

[@kevlarvesty1195]

rhoads' girl is that no just having a split personality?

[@Kinobambino]

@@kevlarvesty1195 what

[@iamvulgar8188]

Only two years from his death and he looks so healthy, crazy.

[@charlottebruce979]

He sounds quite breathless

[@janettejohnston339]

Andy was way ahead of his time

[@ChristopherLightfoot-zu3kb]

He was being dead serious here ❤❤

[@katystewart4337]

Andy , you and Frank Zappa 2 originals that did it there way. I miss you. Both so much,

[@acerjackson4579]

Absolutely love Andy. Still nobody to stand in his many shoes

[@Skygreen89]

This is the first clip I've seen of him where it seems he's not being a total troll

[@pukika88]

+Justin Kennedy i think he is being an absolute troll here. but you can never tell with him :D

[@Worldofbubba]

Justin Kennedy I spoke with lynne Margulies his ex and she told me to watch the Tom cottle interview. She said Andy is fully himself and out of character. Same with his interview at Kutchers and dvd called the real Andy Kaufman

[@vilebuddha883]

I came here because I’ve heard of how much of a troll he was but he seems so genuine lol

[@Gethebestfamilyever]

Justin Kennedy but he is lol

[@TheJames-Edward]

He did a few serious interviews, but those are hard to find.

[@_v-.]

Love this guy. 😂😂😂

[@neilswift2203]

The guy was hurtin and every time he made an honest and heartfelt comment the audience thought he was trying to be funny and laughed. So sad.

[@dongiller]

It was an act. Andy excelled in manipulating his audience.

[@DRATER469]

I think the reason it worked so well was that he was sincere. Or at least came from a sincere place that he would then craft into an act. I dont think he would feel sorry for himself though as he used it to experience a greater range of social situations and got to express his feelings more publicly and honestly than anyone else has ever managed to do. The comedy comes from his ability to take real human emotion and show how absurd they often are. Would have been great to know what he was like when he wasnt trying to put on a show. I get the feeling he would be polite and normal most of the time due to the cathartic performances he put on.

[@coryshaw7810]

He's autistic clearly but not bad just slightly my opinion

[@hass7709]

Cory Shaw its an act

Don Giller, you know NOTHING.

[@JJ33438]

love Andy Kaufman...an anomaly - a decent human being in an immoral business. loved him.

[@stephanwatson7902]

4:36 How I feel about all the Bruce Lee haters who haven't even read his books or studied his art (which was actually a mixed art 20 years before ufc 1)

[@louiejohnson1351]

Love how Andy rocks up and changes the agenda of the show.

[@unamilan2978]

This is the very first time i have heard Andy Kaufman speak with his own voice. I liked him in the Taxi voice.

[@liberTvalance]

damn i remember hating this dude as a kid. it's sooo funny now.

[@FoundSonofMary]

Wow... what an amazing dude. Moral.

[@RustinChole]

What a FUCKIN genius. Wonder if that's true about Johnny Cash.

[@amyntut]

Yes it was. there are a few videos on here that actually show the special he's referring to.

[@Heathermcamera_iscool]

I just love Andy, hes so talented ❤

[@manifestgtr]

Andy was the living embodiment of “lovably weird” lol