1999
Andy Kaufman, a performance artist, begins his career with unconventional acts, including his Foreign Man persona and an Elvis impression, which catches the eye of talent manager George Shapiro. Shapiro helps Andy land a role as Latka Gravas on the sitcom *Taxi*, but Andy's desire to challenge audiences leads him to create the obnoxious lounge singer alter ego Tony Clifton and engage in a staged wrestling feud with Jerry Lawler. These antics, including a notorious incident on *Fridays* and a physical altercation on *Late Night with David Letterman*, alienate network executives and lead to Andy being voted off *Saturday Night Live*. After *Taxi* is canceled, Andy is diagnosed with lung cancer, which he attempts to cure through various alternative therapies, including psychic surgery in the Philippines. Andy dies, and a year later, Tony Clifton appears at the Comedy Store, leaving the audience and Andy's friends to wonder if Andy faked his own death as his ultimate performance art piece.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Man on the Moon follows Andy Kaufman’s journey from a mischievous performer in his family home to a boundary-pushing comedian battling the business establishment and his own mortality.
Open full beat sheetAndy Kaufman is listed as Protagonist / Performer. A complex, enigmatic performance artist and comedian known for his unconventional acts and alter egos. In the parsed data, Andy Kaufman is connected to 47 scenes, 39 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
47 scenes / 39 dialogue linesGeorge Shapiro is listed as Talent Manager. Andy's dedicated, often bewildered Hollywood talent manager. In the parsed data, George Shapiro is connected to 20 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
20 scenes / 11 dialogue linesLynne Margulies is listed as Andy's girlfriend. A woman who becomes Andy's partner and supports him through his illness. In the parsed data, Lynne Margulies is connected to 13 scenes, first appearing around scene 23.
13 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBob Zmuda is listed as Andy's friend and collaborator. Andy's close friend and creative partner who often performs as Tony Clifton. In the parsed data, Bob Zmuda is connected to 11 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
11 scenes / 3 dialogue linesStanley Kaufman is listed as Andy's father. A responsible, well-meaning man who struggles to understand his son's career choices. In the parsed data, Stanley Kaufman is connected to 8 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
8 scenes / 2 dialogue linesJerry Lawler is listed as Professional Wrestler. A Memphis wrestling star who engages in a long-running, staged feud with Andy. In the parsed data, Jerry Lawler is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 28.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJanice Kaufman is listed as Andy's mother. Andy's supportive and loving mother. In the parsed data, Janice Kaufman is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 3.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMaynard Smith is listed as Network Executive. A powerful ABC executive who manages Andy's career on the network. In the parsed data, Maynard Smith is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 14.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAndy Kaufman introduces his movie in character as Foreign Man, then drops the act to speak directly to the audience about his life story.
Andy KaufmanStanley Kaufman returns home to find his son Michael playing t-ball, but becomes angry when he realizes Andy is inside.
Stanley KaufmanStanley confronts Janice about Andy's behavior.
Stanley Kaufman, Janice KaufmanStanley confronts Andy about his performing and demands he play with real people.
Andy Kaufman, Stanley KaufmanAndy recruits his baby sister Carol to be his audience.
Andy KaufmanAdult Andy performs his singalong act at a nightclub and is fired by the manager.
Andy KaufmanAndy is mugged but uses his Foreign Man persona to confuse the thugs.
Andy KaufmanGeorge Shapiro watches Andy perform at the Improv and is impressed by his Elvis impression.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroAndy and George discuss Andy's career goals over a bizarre meal.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroGeorge receives a threatening phone call from Tony Clifton.
George ShapiroAndy discusses his progress and career with his meditation teacher.
Andy KaufmanAndy performs the Mighty Mouse theme on SNL, confusing the audience before lip-syncing.
Andy Kaufman, Stanley Kaufman, Janice KaufmanGeorge offers Andy a role on a sitcom, which Andy initially rejects.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroGeorge negotiates Andy's demands with network executives.
George Shapiro, Maynard SmithGeorge watches Tony Clifton perform a disastrous set.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob ZmudaGeorge discovers that Andy is Tony Clifton.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob ZmudaGeorge tells Andy that the network agreed to his terms.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroAndy films his first scenes as Latka on Taxi.
Andy KaufmanAndy argues with technicians to manipulate the broadcast signal for his special.
Andy Kaufman, Maynard SmithAndy and Maynard negotiate the duration of a technical glitch in Andy's TV special.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroAndy reads fan mail and connects with a fan named Mimi.
Andy KaufmanAndy goes on a date with Mimi and makes her uncomfortable by suggesting they wrestle.
Andy KaufmanAndy and Lynne wrestle in the ring on the Merv Griffin show, ending with Andy winning and mocking her.
Andy Kaufman, Bob Zmuda, Lynne MarguliesLynne receives her guest gifts and Andy tries to explain his behavior as a performance.
Andy Kaufman, Lynne MarguliesGeorge confronts Andy about the hate mail he is receiving due to his wrestling antics.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroA montage of Andy wrestling various women.
Andy KaufmanAndy and Lynne go to a movie theater but leave before the film starts.
Andy Kaufman, Lynne MarguliesAndy challenges women to wrestle him in Memphis, but Jerry Lawler intervenes.
Andy Kaufman, Lynne Margulies, Jerry LawlerAndy wrestles Foxy Jackson and gets into a confrontation with Jerry Lawler.
Andy Kaufman, Jerry LawlerLynne confronts Andy about his behavior.
Andy Kaufman, Lynne MarguliesGeorge urges Andy to stop wrestling and guest-host 'Fridays'.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroAndy causes chaos during a live broadcast of 'Fridays'.
Andy Kaufman, Maynard SmithAndy wrestles Jerry Lawler and is piledriven.
Andy Kaufman, Stanley Kaufman, Janice Kaufman, Lynne Margulies, Jerry LawlerAndy reveals to his parents that the injury was faked.
Andy Kaufman, Stanley Kaufman, Janice KaufmanAndy and Lawler appear on Letterman, leading to a physical altercation.
Andy Kaufman, Jerry LawlerA smug comic addresses the audience about Andy Kaufman's future on the show, asking viewers to vote to keep or dump him.
Andy and George discuss the results of the SNL vote, joined by Jerry Lawler.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Jerry LawlerAndy is asked to leave the meditation retreat due to his controversial behavior.
Andy KaufmanLynne visits a depressed Andy and they decide to move in together.
Andy Kaufman, Lynne MarguliesAndy and Lynne move into their new house; Andy receives news that Taxi is canceled.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Lynne MarguliesAndy performs at the Improv, charging people to touch a cyst on his neck.
Andy KaufmanAndy performs his old material, but Zmuda interrupts him as a plant.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob ZmudaAndy tells George, Zmuda, and Lynne that he has lung cancer.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob Zmuda, Lynne MarguliesThe Kaufman family meets with a doctor to discuss Andy's cancer diagnosis.
Andy Kaufman, Stanley Kaufman, Janice KaufmanGeorge visits Andy, who is undergoing visualization therapy.
Andy Kaufman, George ShapiroAndy performs a massive show at Carnegie Hall.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob ZmudaAndy undergoes crystal therapy; Zmuda is told they must leave.
Andy Kaufman, Bob ZmudaAndy appears as Tony Clifton and collapses.
Andy Kaufman, Lynne MarguliesAndy visits a psychic surgeon and realizes the operation is a fraud.
Andy Kaufman, Bob Zmuda, Lynne MarguliesAndy's funeral.
Andy KaufmanAndy's funeral service where a film of Andy singing is projected for the mourners.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob Zmuda, Stanley Kaufman, Janice Kaufman, Lynne MarguliesOne year after Andy's death, a crowd gathers at the Comedy Store for a Tony Clifton show.
Tony Clifton performs 'I Will Survive' to a confused and enthralled audience.
Andy Kaufman, George Shapiro, Bob Zmuda, Lynne MarguliesSo everybody! Put your arm around the person next to you, even if you don't like that person. Come on! The world is such a wonderful place, To wander through, When you've got someone to love, To wander along with you. With the sky so full of stars, And the river so full of songs, Every heart should be so thankful, Thankful for this friendly, friendly world...
I'm Jerry Lawler, the KING of Memphis wrestling!! So if Kaufman wants to tangle, I've brought a real wrestler! She's trained and she's READY!! Kaufman, do you think you can handle... FOXY JACKSON???!!!
LISTEN, you arrogant putz! I've been in this business for twenty years! I know! If you walk away from this opportunity, you will never, NEVER see another one like it again!!!!
Andy, this has to stop. Our house isn't a television station. There is not a camera in that wall.
Will you please shake hands, go to your corners, and come out wrestling.
And Taxi must guarantee two guest appearances to... Tony Clifton.
This is bad... I only got 28 percent! I'm like McGovern in '72...
It's good old-fashioned entertainment. Everyone loves a villain.
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