Bob Zmuda, an American writer, comedian, producer, and director, is most notably recognized as the sidekick, co-writer, and close friend of the enigmatic cult personality Andy Kaufman.
As a skilled performer, Zmuda occasionally took on the role of Tony Clifton, one of Kaufman's most iconic characters, both on stage and for television appearances. In a 2006 interview with the Opie and Anthony Show, Zmuda revealed that he was the one portraying Tony Clifton during the character's appearance on the David Letterman show, a fact that Letterman only discovered years later.
In 1986, Zmuda founded the American version of Comic Relief, an annual event that aims to raise funds to support the homeless in the United States. This event was broadcast on HBO and was hosted by a talented group of comedians, including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg.
In 1999, Zmuda published a book about Kaufman's life, titled Andy Kaufman Revealed!, which claimed to expose many of the tricks and hoaxes that the duo executed in front of live audiences and television cameras during the 1980s. While some critics praised the book as a unique and insightful look at Kaufman's life, others, including some of Kaufman's fans and family members, criticized it for inaccuracies.
Later that year, Miloš Forman directed the film Man on the Moon, which tells the story of Kaufman's life. Zmuda was instrumental in creating the Tony Clifton makeup for the film and made a brief appearance as comedian Jack Burns, who gets into a brawl on stage during one of Kaufman's appearances on the ABC television show Fridays. Zmuda also served as the film's co-executive producer.
In the film, the character of Bob Zmuda was portrayed by actor Paul Giamatti. Andy Kaufman's father, Stanley, was critical of Zmuda's influence on the film shortly after its release, writing a letter in the form of Andy speaking from beyond the grave.
