Quote: After Andy Kaufman, the American comedian whose elaborate stunts inspired the likes of Sacha Baron Cohen, died from a rare type of lung cancer in 1984, rumours have circulated that his final prank was to fake his own death.

The apparent hoax was given more weight on Tuesday when a 24-year-old woman came on stage at the Andy Kaufman Awards, hosted in his honour to celebrate young comedy talent, and announced that she was Kaufman's daughter and that he was alive.