Tony Clifton is a stage persona created by American avant-garde performance artist Andy Kaufman (January 17, 1949 – May 16, 1984). Created as a parody of the greasy lounge lizard archetype, the idea behind Clifton’s character is that he is an accomplished but abrasive Las Vegas lounge singer who picks fights with his audience, sometimes escalating to staged violence. Such behavior tied in with Kaufman’s affinity for drawing gut reactions from his audience rather than seeking laughs alone like the comedians he was often lumped in with (to his chagrin).

Originally portrayed by Kaufman himself, the character was also taken up by collaborator and personal friend Bob Zmuda (thus allowing for Kaufman and Clifton to appear on-stage together, strengthening the kayfabe behind the act). Since Kaufman’s death in 1984, the character has also been officially portrayed by various other performers, most famously Canadian actor Jim Carrey, who took on the persona for the 1999 Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon (complete with a press appearance where he and Zmuda-as-Clifton appeared together to mess with reporters).