When I invite a woman to dinner, I expect her to look at my face. That's the price she has to pay.

Film portrayal
Kaufman was portrayed by the actor David Thornton in the 1994 film Mrs. Kaufman preferred never to leave Manhattan. With "dour glee" Kaufman suggested that the best way to avoid crowds in New York City was to attend his play.

He also won the Tony Award as a Director for the musical Guys and Dolls. In addition to comedies and political satire he wrote several musicals notably for the Marx Brothers. One play and one musical that he wrote won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama: You Can't Take It With You (1937 with Moss Hart) and Of Thee I Sing (1932 with Morrie Ryskind and Ira Gershwin).