Rupert Pupkin

**Rupert Pupkin** is the titular main protagonist, as well as antagonist of Martin Scorsese's 1982 satirical comedy film, *The King of Comedy*. He is a wannabe stand up comedian, who, in order to achieve his dream, kidnaps famous comedian, Jerry Langford.

He was portrayed by Robert De Niro, who also played Johnny Civello in *Mean Streets*, Travis Bickle in *Taxi Driver*, Jimmy Doyle in *New York, New York*, Jake LaMotta in *Raging Bull*, Jimmy Conway in *Goodfellas*, Max Cady in *Cape Fear*, Ace Rothstein in *Casino*, Frank Sheeran in *The Irishman* and William Hale in *Killers of the Flower Moon*.

## Biography

### Early life

Rupert Pupkin was born in 1946 in Clifton, New Jersey to an unnamed father and mother, as well as being the brother of the unseen Rose Pupkin. As a child, Rupert was ostracized, due to his awkwardness and unhealthy obsession with comedic celebrities, especially Jerry Langford. In high school, Rupert had a crush on a girl named Rita Keene, although he never had the courage to ask her out.

### 1982

At the age of 36, Rupert has finally realized what he wants to due with his life, become a stand-up comedian. Despite, this being his dream, beforehand, Rupert had never practiced comedy and at the time, still lived with his mother. In his spare time, Rupert has conversations with cardboard cut-outs of Jerry Langford, acting out as if he was one Langford's talk show. Eventually, one night, Rupert jumps into Jerry's limousine after fighting off Jerry's various fans. Rupert asks Jerry for advice, to which Jerry tells him to work on his comedy instead of just appearing on Jerry's show as his first act. Jerry also asks Rupert to call him when he has his act together.

The next day, Rupert enters a bar where his childhood crush, Rita works. Rupert asks her out on a date, where he tries to impress her by showing her his book of autographs, although Rita seems to be extremely annoyed during the scene. Afterwards, Rupert begins asking Jerry's employees, as well as secretary, Cathy Long, for Jerry's number, but fails various times. Around this time, Rupert also begins to imagine fantasies of him and Jerry being friends.

In order to impress Rita, Rupert brings Rita to Jerry's country house, claiming to be invited to a house party by Jerry. When Jerry returns home, he shouts at Rupert, claiming that when he asked Rupert to call him, it was just an excuse to escape Rupert. Despite Jerry's disapproval of Rupert, Rupert dismisses this, swearing he'll work harder, before leaving.

In retaliation of Jerry's rudeness to Rupert, Rupert kidnaps him, alongside fellow insane fan, Masha. Instead of earning money or the approval of Jerry, the ransom for the kidnapping is so Rupert is allowed on Jerry's talk show. Instead of going against this, the FBI allows the show airs as it would normally. The show is introduced by Tony Randall, who introduces Rupert as is his preferred alias, "The King of Comedy". In Rupert's comedy routine, he talks about his tough childhood in Clifton, New Jersey, mostly due to his dysfunctional family upbringing. After the show, Rupert somehow impresses Rita but is also arrested and imprisoned for 6 years. While in prison, Rupert's fame skyrockets with magazines being written about him, as well as him name being extremely well known.

### 1988

After his time in prison, Rupert becomes a comedian with his own show, as well as publishing an autobiography titled, *King for a Night*. In the last scene of the film, Rupert is shown performing on his own show, with the announcer repeating the words "Ladies and gentlemen, Rupert Pupkin" several times. It is implied that the last scene is in fact one of Rupert's fantasies in prison, although Rupert's forced smile and stiff stance in the ending says otherwise, implying that Rupert now knows and relates to the dark side of Jerry's life.

## Personality

Unlike similar protagonist, Travis Bickle, Rupert is shown to be more obsessive and egotistical. Throughout the film, Rupert presents himself as being a bigger deal than he actually is, shown in his fantasies of him and Jerry being friends. Rupert is also shown to only think about Jerry and celebrities, mostly likely due to his rough upbringing, which, along with his loneliness and unpopularity as a child, could have led him to find people like Jerry and take inspiration from them, as they would bring positive energy towards Rupert. It is also heavily implied that Pupkin has a mental illness, although it is never directly stated. Despite this, Rupert is also shown to be very confident and nice, mostly seen in his conversations with Rita, Altogether, Rupert is a very obsessive and egotistical man, as well as being nice and passive on the outside, most likely due to a tough childhood.