Jackie Gleason
RETURN TO INDEX
Born Name:
Herbert John Gleason
Born Date: February 26, 1916
Born Place: New York City
Died Date: June 24, 1987
Died Place: Lauderhill, Florida
Occupations: Comedian, actor, musician, writer, composer, conductor
Brief Biography: Jackie Gleason was nicknamed "The Great One," best known for his portrayal of Ralph Kramden in the television series The Honeymooners. Known for his brash, loud, and emotional comedic style, Gleason also achieved success in dramatic film roles and as a popular composer of "mood music" albums.
Early Life and Career:
He grew up in poverty, experiencing the death of his older brother, Clement, and abandonment by his father at age nine.
Vaudeville and Nightclubs: He dropped out of high school to support his mother, working as a pool hustler and a carnival barker before becoming a comedian in New York nightclubs.
Early Film Failures: He signed with Warner Bros. in 1941, appearing in several films including Navy Blues (1941) and All Through the Night (1942), but failed to make a strong impression in Hollywood and returned to New York.
Rise to Television Stardom:
The Big Break: Gleason found his stride in television with the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars in 1950, where he developed many of his signature characters.
The Jackie Gleason Show: In 1952, he moved to CBS for The Jackie Gleason Show, which became one of the highest-rated shows in America from the mid-1950s through 1970.
The Honeymooners: Originally a sketch on his variety show, The Honeymooners centered on a Brooklyn bus driver, Ralph Kramden, his wife Alice, and neighbors Ed and Trixie Norton. The "Classic 39" episodes, filmed between 1955 and 1956 using the Electronicam system, became a cultural phenomenon.
Signature Phrases: He was famous for phrases like "And awaaay we go!", "How sweet it is!", and "Bang! Zoom!".
Film Roles and Later Career:
Dramatic Acclaim: Gleason earned a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for his role as Minnesota Fats in The Hustler (1961) with Paul Newman.
Smokey and the Bandit: He had a major hit later in his career as the cantankerous Sheriff Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and its sequels.
Final Role: His last film was Nothing in Common (1986), starring opposite Tom Hanks.
Musical Career and Personal Life:
Bestselling Musician: Despite not being able to read music, Gleason composed and produced a series of top-selling "mood music" albums in the 1950s and 1960s, including Music for Lovers Only, which set records for its long stay on the Billboard charts.
Move to Florida:
In 1964, he moved his television production to Miami Beach, Florida, and became a prominent resident there.
Born Date: February 26, 1916
Born Place: New York City
Died Date: June 24, 1987
Died Place: Lauderhill, Florida
Occupations: Comedian, actor, musician, writer, composer, conductor
Brief Biography: Jackie Gleason was nicknamed "The Great One," best known for his portrayal of Ralph Kramden in the television series The Honeymooners. Known for his brash, loud, and emotional comedic style, Gleason also achieved success in dramatic film roles and as a popular composer of "mood music" albums.
Early Life and Career:
He grew up in poverty, experiencing the death of his older brother, Clement, and abandonment by his father at age nine.
Vaudeville and Nightclubs: He dropped out of high school to support his mother, working as a pool hustler and a carnival barker before becoming a comedian in New York nightclubs.
Early Film Failures: He signed with Warner Bros. in 1941, appearing in several films including Navy Blues (1941) and All Through the Night (1942), but failed to make a strong impression in Hollywood and returned to New York.
Rise to Television Stardom:
The Big Break: Gleason found his stride in television with the DuMont network's Cavalcade of Stars in 1950, where he developed many of his signature characters.
The Jackie Gleason Show: In 1952, he moved to CBS for The Jackie Gleason Show, which became one of the highest-rated shows in America from the mid-1950s through 1970.
The Honeymooners: Originally a sketch on his variety show, The Honeymooners centered on a Brooklyn bus driver, Ralph Kramden, his wife Alice, and neighbors Ed and Trixie Norton. The "Classic 39" episodes, filmed between 1955 and 1956 using the Electronicam system, became a cultural phenomenon.
Signature Phrases: He was famous for phrases like "And awaaay we go!", "How sweet it is!", and "Bang! Zoom!".
Film Roles and Later Career:
Dramatic Acclaim: Gleason earned a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination for his role as Minnesota Fats in The Hustler (1961) with Paul Newman.
Smokey and the Bandit: He had a major hit later in his career as the cantankerous Sheriff Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and its sequels.
Final Role: His last film was Nothing in Common (1986), starring opposite Tom Hanks.
Musical Career and Personal Life:
Bestselling Musician: Despite not being able to read music, Gleason composed and produced a series of top-selling "mood music" albums in the 1950s and 1960s, including Music for Lovers Only, which set records for its long stay on the Billboard charts.
Move to Florida:
In 1964, he moved his television production to Miami Beach, Florida, and became a prominent resident there.