resting_place death_date death_place years_active birth_place television resting_place_coordinates name birth_date article_title birth_name occupation death_cause
beth david cemetery , elmont , new york 16 may 1984 los angeles , california , u.s. 1971 -- 1984 new york city , new york , u.s. as -- 1983 -rrb- latka gravas in '' taxi '' -lrb- 1978 40.6986 -73.7047 type : landmark inline andy kaufman 17 january 1949 andy kaufman
 andrew geoffrey kaufman actor , performance artist lung cancer
andy kaufman

andrew geoffrey `` andy '' kaufman -lrb- january 17 , 1949 -- may 16 , 1984 -rrb- was an american entertainer , actor , and performance artist .
while often referred to as a comedian , kaufman did not consider himself to be one .
he disdained telling jokes and engaging in comedy as it was traditionally understood , referring to himself instead as a `` song-and-dance man . ''
pranks and elaborate ruses were major elements of his career .
his body of work maintains a cult following and he continues to be respected for his original material , performance style , and unflinching commitment to character .
