To view Lloyd Kaufman’s Official IFTA Bio click here.

“Lloyd’s body of work has now proven to be a seminal influence on film today. Just look at any film created by the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Takashi Miike, Peter Jackson, Eli Roth, Gasper Moe and James Gunn, to name a few, and you are likely watching a film influenced Class of Nuke ‘Em High, Tromeo & Juliet, or Citizen Toxie.”

– Stan Lee – creator of Spider-Man

“His (Lloyd Kaufman) string of low-budget, lowbrow horror comedies stretching back to the ’80s has been cited as influence by Peter Jackson, the Farrelly Brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Takashi Miike, and Guillermo Del Toro, just to cite a few prominent examples.”

– Lou Lumenick, chief critic – New York Post

“There would be no Tarantinos without the shock-sploitation satires of the iconoclastic Kaufman, which can often give more critical insight about the world than some grand Hollywood epics.”

– Robert Dassonowsky, Director of Film Studies – University of Colorado
Colorado Springs

“Acclaimed directors such as Peter Jackson, Quentin Tarantino, Spain’s Álex de la Iglesia and Japan’s Takashi Miike have all sited independent film director Lloyd Kaufman and the infamous film The Toxic Avenger as major influences.

Whether or not he would accept the fame (or blame) for these raunchy, mainstream blockbusters, there can be no doubt that what Kaufman has achieved is enormous. In 30 years, Kaufman, along with Yale friend and partner Michael Herz, has built Troma Studios up from a young company struggling to find its voice in a field crowded with competitors to legendary status as a lone survivor, a bastion of true independence, and the world’s greatest concentration of camp. Among Troma Entertainment’s library of over 1,000 movies are the early performances of such stars as Kevin Costner, Billy Bob Thornton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert DeNiro, Dennis Hopper, Dustin Hoffman, Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and countless others! As a filmmaker, Lloyd Kaufman has accumulated a remarkable list of credits, as well as a more extraordinary list of debits to loan sharks and pawn shops across New York.”

– Rupert Bottenberg

“The impact of Troma can be seen in nearly every independent filmmaker who cut his teeth in the video era, from Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino to South Park’s Trey Parker (who’s debut, Cannibal! The Musical was a Troma production), and the Troma universe has a devoted worldwide fan base to rival that of any comic book.”

– The A.V. Club – The Onion

“Nobody knows how to make films and not make any money doing it better than Lloyd Kaufman.”

– Trey Parker – co-creator of South Park

In the late 1960’s, Kaufman was enrolled at Yale University (where he would later present his Make Your Own Damn Movie Master Classes), diligently working on a respectable degree in Chinese Studies. However, Kaufman was destined for other things. As he explains in his hit book “All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger” (published by Penguin Putnam, and first of his seven books), “At Yale I was placed in a dormitory room with two film fanatics, and I knew everything had irrevocably changed.” In fact, Kaufman was infected with a love of movies from which he never recovered.

In 1971, Kaufman met his future partner Michael Herz at Yale. The Troma Universe was born in 1974 with a series of highly original, raunchy comedies such as “Squeeze Play!,” “Stuck On You!,” “Waitress!,” and other titles ending with an exclamation point. These movies, independent precursors to such later smash hits as National Lampoon’s “Animal House” and “Porky’s,” did well financially, although Kaufman continued to work on such outside productions as “Rocky” and “Saturday Night Fever.” Kaufman’s relationship with mainstream Hollywood would not last long. “There were problems,” Kaufman said, “as I always wanted to do things my own way and my employers insisted I do things the correct way.” He continued to build up a list of impressive credits as well as some overpowering debts.

Kaufman proved his former employers wrong with his 1984 breakthrough movie, “The Toxic Avenger.” This tale of a health club mop boy named Melvin who is transformed into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, demonstrating that there were a large number of people who were interested in seeing things done Kaufman’s way. “The Toxic Avenger” led to an animated television series, “Toxic Crusaders,” action figures, different Marvel comic book titles,hot sauce, etc.There were three sequels. The most recent film in the series is “Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger Part IV.” Currently, “The Toxic Avenger” is being developed by Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman and team as a big budget Hollywood remake. “Toxic Avenger The Musical” is playing in London’s West End, with music by Bon Jovi’s David Bryan.

The success of The Toxic Avenger was followed by a string of commercial and artistic triumphs in a similar vein, blending fantasy, heavy action, comedy, and eroticism in a style that can only be described as “Tromatic”. These films, including the “Class of Nuke ‘Em High” trilogy, “Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD,” and “Troma’s War,” were often ignored or scorned by the intelligentsia of the time but spoke to an entire generation of young people who rejected the pandering, commercial films of the mid-to-late 80’s. Some of these Troma fans went on to become filmmakers themselves, including Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Mike Judge, Peter Jackson, and Trey Parker. Thanks to these admirers, Kaufman has been asked to make cameo appearances in films like James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Sharknado 4,” Trey Parker’s “Orgazmo,” Eli Roth’s “Cabin Fever,” and about 200 other indie movies. His “Return to Nuke’em High Vol 1“and “Tromeo and Juliet” were showcased by The Museum of Modern Art in New York last year.

Here is NSFR theatrical trailer for RETURN TO RETURN TO NUKE’EM HIGH, aka Vol 2:
(Premiered at MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE) opened, NYC Nov 2017

LLOYD KAUFMAN HAS BEEN MARRIED TO PATRICIA S KAUFMAN for 44 years and has three daughters, Lily Hayes (writer), Lisbeth (CEO KITSPLIT.com), and Charlotte (Director/ DP).

EDUCATION

TRINITY SCHOOL 1964

• Cum Laude Society
• President of Student Council
• Voted Most Likely to Soil Himself in Public

YALE UNIVERSITY, B.A. 1969

• Dean’s List and Lightweight Crew
• Spent one year in Africa, teaching and boffing in a small village in Chad, received letter of thanks from the U.S. Ambassador to Chad (for teaching only)
• Elected member of the Yale Elihu Society
• Languages: fluent French; some Chinese; pidgin English

Film & Television Credits

RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH (2013)
Feature Film
Producer/Director

FATHER’S DAY (2011)
Feature Film
Producer

THE TOXIC AVENGER (Announced)
Feature Film (Remake)
Executive Producer

MR BRICKS: A HEAVY METAL MURDER MUSICAL (2011)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

PETA PSA (2011)
Director Pro-Bono

MOTHER’S DAY (2010)
Feature Film (Remake)
Executive Producer

POULTRY IN MOTION: THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN CHICKEN (2008)
Feature-Length Documentary
Producer

POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD! (2006)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer/Actor

ASSORTED MUSIC VIDEOS (2006-2010)

DOGGIE TAILS (2003)
Children’s Film
Producer

TALES FROM THE CRAPPER (2003)
2 Feature Films
Producer/Actor

ALL THE LOVE YOU CANNES (2002)
Feature-Length Documentary
Co-Director/Co-Writer/Producer

“TROMA’S EDGE TV” (2000)
Television Series
Director/Co-Writer/Actor/Producer/Executive Producer

CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER PART IV (2000)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer

TERROR FIRMER (1999)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer

THE ROWDY GIRLS (1999)
Feature Film
Producer

DECAMPITATED (1998)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

SUCKER (1998)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

TROMEO & JULIET (1997)
Feature Film
Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Producer

TROMAVILLE CAFE (1995)
Television Series
Director/Writer/Producer

CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH (1993)
TV Pilot Script for Fox-TV
Co-Writer

TROMA INFOMERCIAL (1993)
Co-Director/Co-Writer/Co-Producer

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (1992)
Anti-Pollution Spot for National Dance Institute
Producer

SGT. KABUKIMAN N.Y.P.D. (1991)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

THE SNAIL MUST GO THROUGH (1991)
TOXIC CRUSADERS TV Series Episode
Co-Writer

STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE SHEARS (1991)
TOXIC CRUSADERS TV Series Episode
Co-Writer

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE SUBHUMANOID: CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH PART III (1991)
Feature Film
Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH PART II: SUBHUMANOID MELTDOWN (1990)
Feature Film
Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE (1989)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

FORTRESS OF AMERIKKKA (1989)
Feature Film
Producer/Writer of Narration

THE TOXIC AVENGER PART II (1989)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

TROMA’S WAR (1988)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

JAKARTA (1988)
Feature Film
Co-Executive Producer

MONSTER IN THE CLOSET (1987)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

LUST FOR FREEDOM (1987)
Feature Film
Executive Producer/Writer of Narration

CLASS OF NUKE ‘EM HIGH (1986)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Producer

GIRLS SCHOOL SCREAMERS (1986)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

BLOOD HOOK (1986)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

THE TOXIC AVENGER (1985)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

WHEN NATURE CALLS (1985)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SCREAMPLAY (1984)
Feature Film
Executive Producer

THE FIRST TURN-ON (1983)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Producer

STUCK ON YOU (1981)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Co-Writer of the Screenplay/Co-Producer

MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (1981)
Feature Film
Production Manager

MOTHER’S DAY (1980)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

WAITRESS (1980)
Feature Film
Co-Director/Producer

SQUEEZE PLAY (1979)
Feature Film
Director/Producer

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (1979)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977)
Feature Film
Location Manager

SLOW DANCING IN THE BIG CITY (1977)
Feature Film
Production Supervisor

ROCKY (1976)
Feature Film
Pre-Production Supervisor

SWEET SAVIOR (1973)
Feature Film
Production Manager

BIG GUS, WHAT’S THE FUSS? (1972)
Feature Film
Director/Producer

THE BATTLE OF LOVE’S RETURN (1971)
Feature Film
Director/Writer/Producer/Actor

SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (1971)
Feature Film
Associate Producer

SUGAR COOKIES (1971)
Feature Film
Writer/Executive Producer

ALLEN FUNT PRODUCTIONS (1970)
Production Assistant

CRY UNCLE! (1970)
Feature Film
Production Manager/Limited Partner

JOE (1970)
Feature Film
Production Assistant

THE GIRL WHO RETURNED (1969)
Feature Film
Director/Writer/Producer

RAPPACCINI (1969)
Feature Film
Producer