Andy Kaufman is a famous performer and illusionist who pretended to have lung cancer and die in 1984. He told at least 5
people of his plan to fake his
death only 2 short years before he died at age
35 of lung cancer despite not smoking, drinking or using drugs.
No one believed he was really sick and many believe he's alive today. He was obsessed with the "Elvis Lives" concept and decided to try it himself after talking with hoaxer Alan Abel, who successfully faked his
death and had his obituary published in the NY Times. He can be found on
Twitter, Myspace and Facebook under various names and was the subject of the 1999 film, "Man on the Moon" starring Jim Carrey and the R.E.M. song of the same name.