This past Thursday, Andy Kaufman was honored with the 2,761st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To mainstream TV audiences, he may be best remembered for his role as Latka Gravas on the TV show Taxi. But of course, as anyone who knows anything about him, he was so much more than just that.
Andy Kaufman is viewed by many - including us - as being an innovator in comedy, though he always referred to himself as a “song and dance man”. Whether he was lip-synching to the Mighty Mouse theme, transitioning into a pitch-perfect Elvis impression, wrestling women, taking an audience out for milk and cookies, interviewing Howdy Doody, taking on his alter-ego (or was it?) of Tony Clifton, or reading The Great Gatsby to an unruly audience, Kaufman consistently found new ways to push boundaries in ways nobody else had before or sense. And he did so in the most spectacularly unique way.
Andy Kaufman's special guests at his Hollywood Walk of Fame cereomy.
Andy’s legacy was further cemented - literally - with his new star. The speakers on-hand included Kristen Schaal, Kevin Nealon, his Taxi co-star Marilu Henner, and his brother Michael Kaufman. Each brought their own memories of Andy - as well as shared the impact he made on their life. In a reference to those who felt that Kaufman faked his death, Michael started out his speech by confirming “Andy couldn’t make it here today. But he gave me his notes.”
Like any Andy Kaufman ceremony should be, it was truly unlike any star revealing we’ve seen before. Kristen Schaal decided that she didn’t want Kaufman’s star to be cluttered with “bird shit, dog shit,” and so forth. So she decided to come up with a solution. She had the first ever Hollywood Walk of Fame footbridge built, with plexiglass so you’d still be able to see the star. Then to keep the footbridge clear, there’s a rug that she also donated.
All in all, it was the perfect tribute to a voice that left us far too soon. But if this year has shown us anything - between Andy Kaufman getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and the subject of a new documentary - it’s that his legacy is as strong as it ever was. And we hope it continues to grow.
Sadly, Andy didn’t make it to the event. But just in case, they saved a chair for him.
