WebProNews

Tag: jerry lawler

  • Andy Kaufman’s Brother, “Daughter” Claim He’s Alive

    After iconic entertainer Andy Kaufman died of a rare form of lung cancer in 1984, there have been numerous conspiracy theories and rumors that the comedian faked his own death since, with the latest emerging during this week’s annual Andy Kaufman Awards in New York City.

    Alongside Andy’s brother Michael, an unnamed woman, claiming to be the late actor’s daughter, declared that Kaufman was still alive, and that he’d planned to reveal himself at the event, but got cold feet at the last minute.

    Below is a TMZ clip of the revelation:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8JWT34Yiqk

    The wide-eyed, rambling woman claimed that Kaufman has been spending his time being a stay-at-home dad, enjoying a quiet life outside the limelight. Michael Kaufman gave her a hug and allowed her to leave the stage quietly, before asking audience members to leave her be.

    Andrew Geoffrey “Andy” Kaufman (January 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984) described himself as being a “song-and-dance man.” Along with his role as Latka Gravas on the ABC sitcom “Taxi,” elaborate ruses, pranks and epic performance art pieces were major elements of his career. His career maintains a cult following and he continues to be revered for his original material, style and unflinching commitment to character.

    Kaufman had reportedly been open about his Machiavellian plan to fake his own death, and during the NYC awards segment, his brother said he still wasn’t sure if the actor was alive or not. Such outlandish theories sadly might make a bit of sense to a family member, considering how far Andy Kaufman would take some of his performance installations, as seen in his clip with wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler below:

    After being diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in 1983, Kaufman hoped to find a cure in “natural medicine,” which included a diet of fruits and vegetables exclusively. Kaufman also received standard palliative radiotherapy, but by that time the cancer had already spread from his lungs to his brain. His final attempt at a cure came through “psychic surgery,” a New Age procedure that was performed in Baguio, Philippines, in March 1984. This attempt was related in the 1999 Milos Forman biopic on Kaufman, “Man on the Moon,” starring Jim Carrey.

    Kaufman passed away in a hospital in West Hollywood on May 16, 1984, of kidney failure, caused by metastasized large-cell lung carcinoma. He was 35 years old.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler Cleared to Enter the Ring

    In September 2012, Jerry “The King” Lawler, the long-time ring announcer for WWE, collapsed during a taping of Monday Night Raw. Lawler had suffered a gruesome heart attack live on national television. Following surgery, Lawler was able to return to co-hosting WWE events in late October 2012.

    Now, Lawler will be returning to the ring himself, in the role that made him famous during the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

    According to a Miami Herald report, Lawler has been cleared by doctors to wrestle once again, despite his heart trouble. Lawler will return to the ring for the first time since his heart attack in an Ocala, Florida show titled Support Your Troops 91, Royal Combat.

    During the show, Lawler will participate in a tag team match with another former WWE wrestler, Dory Funk, Jr. The 72-year-old Funk told the Herald that he felt “privileged” to fight with Lawler once again.

    (Image courtesy Smart Mark Greene at en.wikipedia)

  • Jerry Lawler Has Heart Attack At Monday Night Raw

    Jerry Lawler, known as “The King” during his wrestling heyday in the 1970’s, collapsed last night during a bout in Montreal. WWE officials say he suffered a heart attack at ringside as he was commentating the match for Monday Night Raw and had to be given CPR.

    WWE’s website gave an explanation as to what had happened right away:

    During the tag team match between Kane & Daniel Bryan and The Prime Time Players tonight on Raw, viewers may have noticed members of the audience and WWE production team staring toward the commentary booth, as well as the absence of Jerry “The King” Lawler’s voice. WWE.com has learned that the WWE Hall of Famer collapsed at the announcers’ table and was tended to in the locker room area by WWE medical staff. Lawler was then taken from the arena to a medical facility in Montreal.

    We will have updates on Lawler’s condition as this story progresses.

    They also provided a statement after he was taken to the hospital.

    “Lawler suffered a heart attack while commentating during last night’s broadcast of Monday Night Raw in Montreal. We are hopeful Jerry makes a full recovery and returns to WWE in the near future. Our thoughts are with Jerry and his family.”

    Lawler is known for devising elaborate, show-stopping schemes which look entirely real but are no more than a little extra show; he’s famous for his “brawl” with comedian Andy Kaufman on “Late Night With David Letterman” in the ’80s, which turned out to be well-choreographed by the duo just to shock the audience. Therefore, Monday Night Raw co-host Michael Cole felt it necessary to clarify that this wasn’t a stunt, and that Lawler was actually in trouble.

    “This is not part of tonight’s entertainment,” Cole said. “This is a real-life situation.”

    Lawler’s condition isn’t known at this time, but WWE has promised to update their site as details emerge.