A Johnny Carson Moment: Andy Kaufman’s Elvis transformation

Andy Kaufman freaking out America, 1977

Andy Kaufman freaking out America, 1977

I know we experienced A Johnny Carson Moment a mere two weeks ago but this clip was too priceless to hold onto any longer. Here’s the hilarious and bizarre Andy Kaufman (d. 1984) morphing from “Foreign Man”/Latka Gravas into an amazing Elvis Presley before our very eyes. A classic Tonight Show performance that originally aired in March of 1977. Shake it, baby!

*Note to Andy: I hope your death has been a decades-long performance art piece. Maybe come back next May on the 30th anniversary of your “death,” huh? You ain’t getting any younger. Looking forward to your return!

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: Andy Kaufman Elvis Performance, 1977

Previously, on A Johnny Carson Moment: Howard the talking bird (12.17.1976)

Comments

A Johnny Carson Moment: Andy Kaufman’s Elvis transformation — 2 Comments

  1. Great clip. At this same time, Kaufman also did a bizarre skit on Saturday Night Live where he stood next to a phonograph on a stool and lip-synced to the Mighty Mouse theme.

    There were lots of rumors after his “death” that it was perhaps faked and that he would return some day.