He and Redd Foxx revived as holograms

Andy Kaufman and Redd Foxx are being bought back from the dead to perform their classic comedy routines… as holograms.

The stand-ups are to be revived so they can ‘gig’ in tourist attractions across America next year.

Alki David, the billionaire owner of Hologram USA, told the New York Times that the shows would feature some of best-known material, such as Andy Kaufman lip-syncing the Mighty Mouse theme, alongside narrative elements to tell the comics’ stories.

And he said the shows ‘will have residencies in multiple locations in tourist-oriented cities across the country’ with the films playing several time a day.

Foxx died in 1991 and Kaufman in 1984, and David suggested this could be the start of a lucrative business.

‘There are an awful lot of dead celebrities,’ he said. ‘There are an awful lot of dead people with a lot of followers.’

Samantha Chang, the director of licensing at CMG Worldwide which represented the comics, told the Times: ‘You can now be in multiple places at once, and literally [sic] come back from the dead. This idea can be uncomfortable for some, but for others, it’s groundbreaking.’

Earlier this year it was reported that Hologram USA was working on a virtual comedy club in New York state, which would feature the likes of Bob Hope, George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield all on one bill.

The company has previously created virtual versions of Liberace and Buddy Holly for stage shows; and two years ago, Les Dawson was recreated as a 3D hologram for a posthumous Audience With… show for ITV by the UK company Musion.

Published: 23 Oct 2015