Most Recent Role: Himself on The Captain and Tennille
Alias Name(s): The Great One
Gender: Male
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
Birthday: 2-26-1916
Birth Name: Herbert John Gleason
Date of Death: 6-24-1987
Cause of Death: Colon and liver cancer
Alias Name(s): The Great One
Gender: Male
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
Birthday: 2-26-1916
Birth Name: Herbert John Gleason
Date of Death: 6-24-1987
Cause of Death: Colon and liver cancer
Jackie Gleason was born on February 26th, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York. This future great was born into a poor family of Irish Catholic immigrants, living in Brooklyn. His father, Herbert Gleason, was an insurance clerk who ran out on his family when Jackie was only nine years of age. His mother, Mae Kelly Gleason, died when he was nineteen. This, and the fact that his only sibling, Clemence,...
Most Recent Appearance
Show #1-76
Monday 20 September 1976 on ABC
Comedy Highlights: Toni and Daryl mastering the "art" of tennis (this filmed sketch goes with the song noted below); A formal recital on society's "don'ts." Musical Highlights: "I've Got The Music In Me" - Captain & Tennille "Put On A Happy Face" - Penny Marshall & Daryl Dragon ...
Jackie Gleason starred in the flop You're In The Picture on January 19, 1961, a game show where celebrities put their faces through cardboard cut-outs and the contestants would give them hints to help them guess who they were supposed to be. It was such an embarassment that Gleason apologized for it the following week on national television.
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Jackie was featured on the cover of the December 29, 1961 issue of Time Magazine.
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Jackie would rub his stomach as a signal in the event of forgetting his lines on The Honeymooners, since he insisted on doing the show without rehearsals.
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Gleason's last wife was Marilyn Taylor, of the famous June Taylor Dancers, who were a staple on the Jackie Gleason show.
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Gleason wrote all the music for the Chaplain-esque movie Gigot (1962) prior to each scene filmed. The remarkable actor wrote and starred in the touching movie, but did not utter a single word because he portrayed the part of a "mute."
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(Being interviewed on 60 Minutes by Morley Safer while they both played a game of pool.)
Morley Safer: Where did "The Great One" come from?
Jackie Gleason: Well, Orson Welles first called me that. Then Lucy picked it up and started calling me that as well.
Morley Safer: Did you ever believe it?
Jackie Gleason: (Grinning) You just saw me make that shot, didn't you, pal? (edit) (about Art Carney)
Jackie Gleason: The first time I saw the guy act, I knew I would have to work twice as hard for my laughs. (edit) Jackie Gleason: The worst thing you can do with money is save it. (edit) Jackie Gleason: Drinking removes warts and pimples. Not from me. But from those I look at. (edit) Jackie Gleason: I've had a lot of fun being fat. I've also had a lot of fun being thin. But I've been fat a lot longer so I've had a lot more fun being fat.
(edit)
Morley Safer: Where did "The Great One" come from?
Jackie Gleason: Well, Orson Welles first called me that. Then Lucy picked it up and started calling me that as well.
Morley Safer: Did you ever believe it?
Jackie Gleason: (Grinning) You just saw me make that shot, didn't you, pal? (edit) (about Art Carney)
Jackie Gleason: The first time I saw the guy act, I knew I would have to work twice as hard for my laughs. (edit) Jackie Gleason: The worst thing you can do with money is save it. (edit) Jackie Gleason: Drinking removes warts and pimples. Not from me. But from those I look at. (edit) Jackie Gleason: I've had a lot of fun being fat. I've also had a lot of fun being thin. But I've been fat a lot longer so I've had a lot more fun being fat.
(edit)
Other Appearances
| Star | |
|---|---|
|
Cavalcade of Stars
Host (1950 - 1952) |
Four Star Revue
Host/Performer |
|
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
Host |
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Host |
|
The Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden |
The Jackie Gleason Show
Regular |
| Recurring Role | |
|---|---|
|
The Honeymooners
Fenwick Babbitt |
Toast of the Town
Himself |
| Guest Star | |
|---|---|
|
Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre
Bing and Me Himself |
Cavalcade of Bands
Tommy Tucker Himself |
|
Cavalcade of Bands
Gene Krupa Himself |
Musical Comedy Time
No! No! Nanette! Jimmy Smith |
|
Person to Person
February 3, 1956 Guest Host |
Playhouse 90
The Time of Your Life Joe |
| Other | |
|---|---|
|
Here's Lucy
Lucy Visits Jack Benny Ralph Kramden |
Playhouse 90
The Time of Your Life Music |
|
Studio One
The Laugh Maker Music |
Studio One
The Tale of St. Emergency Story |
|
Studio One
Uncle Ed and Circumstances Story |
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10.0
"One of the all-time greats"Perfect Jackie Gleason aka Kramden born 1916 in Brooklyn New York has become one of the most well-known figures of the 20th Century. At about 35 he starred as Ralph Kramden in the hit cbs series The Honeymooners with Art Carney before hosting his own show. Continue » Posted Jul 28, 2006 10:31 am PST |
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Stars In
Cavalcade of Stars
Cavalcade of Stars was one of the few successful series launched by the limited Dumont television network. With a larger budget than most of their series, it was a legitimate competitor in the... more Four Star Revue
This big-time, big-budget variety series starred Danny Thomas, Jimmy Durante, Jack Carson and Ed Wynn--the four stars of the title--with each hosting a different week in the month. Four Star... more Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
The Great One returns to his forte, the comedy/variety show, with this splashy series. After the show's introduction, provided by a bevy of gorgeous models, The June Taylor Dancers performed... more The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour was a big-budget variety series featuring some of the biggest names in show business. Variety shows hosted by a major comedian were common in the early fifties, but the... more
The Honeymooners
328 Chauncey Street, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York is where the apartment residences of the Kramdens and the Nortons stand. These four people, fifteen years after the depression are still... more
The Jackie Gleason Show
The first Jackie Gleason show ran from 1952 to 1955; then, a sketch seen on "Jackie Gleason" called "The Honeymooners" became its own series. After "The Honeymooners" was canceled in 1956; Gleason... more
Cavalcade of Stars was one of the few successful series launched by the limited Dumont television network. With a larger budget than most of their series, it was a legitimate competitor in the... more Four Star Revue
This big-time, big-budget variety series starred Danny Thomas, Jimmy Durante, Jack Carson and Ed Wynn--the four stars of the title--with each hosting a different week in the month. Four Star... more Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
The Great One returns to his forte, the comedy/variety show, with this splashy series. After the show's introduction, provided by a bevy of gorgeous models, The June Taylor Dancers performed... more The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour was a big-budget variety series featuring some of the biggest names in show business. Variety shows hosted by a major comedian were common in the early fifties, but the... more
The Honeymooners328 Chauncey Street, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York is where the apartment residences of the Kramdens and the Nortons stand. These four people, fifteen years after the depression are still... more
The Jackie Gleason ShowThe first Jackie Gleason show ran from 1952 to 1955; then, a sketch seen on "Jackie Gleason" called "The Honeymooners" became its own series. After "The Honeymooners" was canceled in 1956; Gleason... more
