# Man on the moon
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 15, 2000, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469 "2000-06-15T12:35:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Athorita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athorita)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2000, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/1 "2000-06-15T12:35:24Z")
I just watched Jim Carrey’s “Man on the Moon” last night and thought it was pretty good, but was left a little confused. Maybe this question has already been asked, but I am real curious about the last scene. What was the purpose of all of Andy’s closest friends watching Tony Clifton preform at the end of the movie. Was it a hint that Andy did indeed fake his own death? I didn’t know a whole lot about Kaufman before watching the movie and still don’t completely understand the connection between Clifton and Kaufman. I do understand that Kaufman played Clifton, but was there actually a Tony Clifton?
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### Author:  [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2000, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/2 "2000-06-15T12:47:57Z")
I believe that Tony Clifton was played not just by Kaufman, but by his friend as well. This was done so that Kaufman could be seen somewhere at the same time that Clifton was seen, and he could say the he and Clifton were _not_ the same person. I guess this would be like Clark Kent hiring someone to play Superman to dissuade those that thought they were the same person.
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### Author:  [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2000, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/3 "2000-06-15T13:27:47Z")
I think the scene was definitely intended as a hint that Kaufman didn’t die. Tony Clifton was played by both Andy Kaufman and Bob Zmuda, but, if you watch that last scene in the movie, Bob Zmuda is in the audience watching Clifton. Now, I don’t actually believe Kaufman is still alive, but that’s what I think the intention of that scene was.
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### Author:  [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/4 "2000-06-15T17:26:20Z")
There is a death certificate on file with the state of California for an Andrew G. Kaufman who died in Los Angeles County: May 16, 1984. Born in New York, died at age 35.
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### Author:  [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/5 "2000-06-15T17:41:10Z")
It should be noted that this actually did happen; there was a performance by Tony Clifton after Kaufman’s death. As to whether Bob Zmuda was in the audience or on stage, he doesn’t divulge. But Zmuda does admit that he played Clifton a lot of the time (though the character was originally Kaufman’s).
The ugly truth is that Andy Kaufman is Cecil Adams.
panama jack
* * *
If you believe they put a man on the moon …
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### Author:  [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2000, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/6 "2000-06-15T18:54:27Z")
> [@](#):
>
> originally posted by BobT:
> There is a death certificate on file with the state of California for an Andrew G. Kaufman who died in Los Angeles County: May 16, 1984. Born in New York, died at age 35.
And you can see a copy of the death certificate [here](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/kaufmandeath1.shtml).
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### Author:  [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2000, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/7 "2000-06-16T00:49:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> It should be noted that this actually did happen; there was a performance by Tony Clifton after Kaufman’s death. As to whether Bob Zmuda was in the audience or on stage, he doesn’t divulge. But Zmuda does admit that he played Clifton a lot of the time (though the character was originally Kaufman’s).
> \*\*
Actually in the recently published book, Zmuda admits to playing Clifton as a benefit show for cancer after Kauffman’s death. (Kauffman died of lung cancer.) The support he found in the comedy community in this event inspired him to join up with Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams to start Comic Relief. A live concert shown on HBO that aids the homeless.
pat
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### Author:  [@argyle87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/argyle87)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2000, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/8 "2000-06-16T07:49:45Z")
When I saw the film the impression that I got from the final scene was not that Andy was alive, but that Tony Clifton was in fact a real guy, not played by Andy or Bob. Prior to seeing the movie, I had seen many programs and documentaries on Andy (“I’m From Hollywood”, "Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, etc.) and none of them revealed the fact that Andy and Jerry Lawler were working together the whole time. Was this just added for an ironic twist in the film or was I in the john when that part of the documentary was on? Or was it a new fact only divulged in the film? That and the bit about Clifton threw me when I saw the movie because I wasn’t sure about their veracity.
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### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2000, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/9 "2000-06-16T13:39:55Z")
I think it was supposed to be a metaphorical kind of scene. Not literal. Yes, Clifton did ACTUALLY appear after Andy’s death (prob. played by Zmuda). But I think placing all of the friends, including Zmuda, in the audience is just one of those cheesy statements that Andy’s spirit will never die, his legacy will live on, yatta yatta yatta.
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### Author:  [@Athorita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athorita)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/10 "2000-06-16T15:50:34Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*
> Prior to seeing the movie, I had seen many programs and documentaries on Andy (“I’m From Hollywood”, "Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman, etc.) and none of them revealed the fact that Andy and Jerry Lawler were working together the whole time. Was this just added for an ironic twist in the film or was I in the john when that part of the documentary was on? Or was it a new fact only divulged in the film? That and the bit about Clifton threw me when I saw the movie because I wasn’t sure about their veracity.
> \*\*
How long ago did you watch these documentaries? I know that it wasn’t until the last 5 or so years that wrestling and wrestlers in general let people in on “the joke”. Before that wrestling still wasn’t fake so maybe telling people that Lawler and and Kaufman were in on it together would’ve been a bit taboo. What do you guys think?
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/11 "2000-06-17T00:48:36Z")
Authorita wrote:
> [@](#):
>
> I know that it wasn’t until the last 5 or so years that wrestling and wrestlers in general let people in on “the joke”. Before that wrestling still wasn’t fake so maybe telling people that Lawler and and Kaufman were in on it together would’ve been a bit taboo. What do you guys think?
Professional wrestling wasn’t fake _when_? It has been a staged athletic entertainment since its inception. I presume you mean that it wasn’t generally admitted to being fake by its participants. I still think Gorilla Monsoon could take The Rock, no problem…
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### Author:  [@argyle87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/argyle87)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2000, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/12 "2000-06-17T07:17:16Z")
The greatest pro wrestler of all time has always been and always will be the venerable Andre the Giant. The world was a sadder place the day he died.
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### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/13 "2000-06-17T17:42:21Z")
No more rhyming now I mean it!
Does anybody want a peanut?
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/14 "2000-06-17T23:34:44Z")
Now stop that! Or would you rather be back where I found you? Unemployed? In _Greenland_???
Inconceivable.
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### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-on-the-moon/22469/15 "2000-06-18T00:12:44Z")
I do not think that word means what you think it means.