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Jackie Gleason (Ralph Kramden) Born in Brooklyn in 1916, Jackie Gleason spent most of his life as an entertainer, starting when he won a talent contest at the age of 15. Discovered in a nightclub in 1940, he became a bit player under a Warner Brothers movie contract, and then returned to New York clubs and to Broadway. In 1949 he starred in the TV show The Life of Riley, and broke into the first rank of entertainers a year later with Cavalcade of Stars, a variety show for which he created The Honeymooners characters. On The Honeymooners, Gleason played Ralph Kramden, an irritable but loveable New York City bus driver and member of the Raccoon Lodge who is always on the lookout for the foolproof scheme that will make him rich. Gleason enjoyed a successful film career, capturing a 1962 Oscar nomination for his role as Minnesota Fats in The Hustler, and appearing as Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the three "Smokey and the Bandit" films of the 1970s. Jackie Gleason died June 24, 1987 of cancer. Back to top Art Carney (Ed Norton) Art Carney began his entertainment career as a tap dancer and impressionist and gradually made his way into radio drama, where Jackie Gleason discovered him. He first performed the role of Ed Norton in Gleason's 1950 variety show, Cavalcade of Stars, and, despite a long and distinguished career in film and television, the affable if slow-witted New York sewer worker remained his most famous role. Carney won an Oscar for his role in the 1974 movie Harry and Tonto. He also appeared on Batman and The Twilight Zone, among many other television roles. He has won six Emmy Awards, five for playing Ed Norton. Back to top Audrey Meadows (Alice Kramden) Born in Wu Chang, China, in 1924 to Episcopal missionary parents, Audrey Meadows began her entertainment career as a singer, debuting at Carnegie Hall when she was 16. She joined the cast of The Honeymooners in 1952 and was nominated for three Emmys for her role as sharp-tongued Alice Kramden. She won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1954. Apart from her successful TV career, Meadows starred in many films, including That Touch of Mink with Cary Grant and Doris Day, and Take Her, She's Mine, with Jimmy Stewart. She retired temporarily from show business in the 1960s to serve as a corporate director for First National Bank of Denver and for Continental Airlines, re-emerging in the 1970s on a variety of television shows (including Murder, She Wrote, Too Close for Comfort and The Love Boat). She died of cancer in 1996. Back to top Joyce Randoph (Trixie Norton) Born in Detroit in 1925, Joyce Randolph appeared on many television shows, including The Colgate Comedy Hour and Cavalcade of Stars. She played the role of Trixie Norton, former burlesque dancer and armed forces servicewoman, on The Jackie Gleason Show from 1952-57, and then retired from acting upon her marriage. The role of Alice Kramden was originated on Cavalcade of Stars in 1950 by vaudevillian Pert Kelton. In 1967, she reappeared on The Honeymooners as Alice Kramden's mother. Back to top The other Alices The role of Alice Kramden was originated on Cavalcade of Stars in 1950 by vaudevillian Pert Kelton. In 1967, she reappeared on The Honeymooners as Alice Kramden's mother. Sue Ann Langdon starred as Alice in 1962 on The Jackie Gleason Show, and went on to appear on such shows as Happy Days, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and General Hospital. Sheila MacRae played Alice in The Honeymooners from 1966-1970. The other Trixies Elaine Strich Jane Kean Patricia Wilson Back to top | |
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