Audrey Meadows facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audrey Meadows
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Meadows in 1952
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| Born |
Audrey Cotter
February 8, 1922 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | February 3, 1996 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Audrey Six |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1950–1995 |
| Known for | The Honeymooners Too Close for Comfort |
| Spouse(s) |
Randolph Rouse
(m. 1956; div. 1958)Robert Six
(m. 1961; died 1986) |
| Relatives | Jayne Meadows (sister) |
Audrey Meadows (born Audrey Cotter, February 8, 1922 – February 3, 1996) was an American actress. She is best known for playing the calm and witty housewife Alice Kramden on the classic 1950s TV show The Honeymooners. Audrey was the younger sister of another famous Hollywood actress, Jayne Meadows.
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Early Life of Audrey Meadows
Audrey Cotter was born in New York City in 1922. She was the youngest of four children in her family. Her parents, Francis and Ida Cotter, were missionaries. They worked in Wuchang, China, where Audrey's three older brothers and sister were born.
Her older sister was the well-known actress Jayne Meadows. The family moved back to the United States for good in 1927. Audrey went to high school at the Barrington School for Girls in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Audrey Meadows' Acting Career
Starring in The Honeymooners
After finishing high school, Audrey Meadows started her career in entertainment. She sang in a Broadway musical called Top Banana. Later, she became a regular on a TV show called The Bob and Ray Show.
Audrey was then chosen to play Alice Kramden on The Jackie Gleason Show. The actress who first played Alice had to leave the show. When The Honeymooners became its own half-hour TV comedy series on CBS, Audrey continued her role as Alice. She even came back to play Alice in special Honeymooners episodes during the 1970s.
When Audrey first tried out for the role, Jackie Gleason thought she was too fancy. So, the next day, she sent him a photo where she looked much simpler. Gleason changed his mind, and she got the part! Alice Kramden became her most famous role. She even played Alice on other shows, like The Steve Allen Show and The Jack Benny Program.
Audrey Meadows was the only cast member from The Honeymooners to earn extra money from reruns. Her brother, who was a lawyer, added a special rule to her first contract. This rule said she would get paid if the shows were shown again. This helped her earn a lot of money over the years.
Other Roles Beyond The Honeymooners
Audrey Meadows also appeared in many other TV shows and movies. In 1960, she was in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents called "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat". This episode was directed by the famous Alfred Hitchcock himself.
She also appeared on Dean Martin's TV shows. Later, she returned to comedy, playing Ted Knight's mother-in-law in the show Too Close for Comfort from 1982 to 1985.
Audrey was a guest star on The Red Skelton Show. She also appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote. Kids might remember her voice in an episode of The Simpsons. She voiced Bea Simmons, who was Grampa Simpson's girlfriend in the episode "Old Money". Her last acting job was on the show Dave's World in 1995.
Audrey Meadows' Personal Life
In 1956, while she was starring in The Honeymooners, Audrey married Randolph Rouse. He was a wealthy real estate businessman. On August 24, 1961, Audrey married her second husband, Robert Six. He was the president of Continental Airlines. Robert Six passed away in 1986.
Beyond Acting: Banking and Marketing
Audrey Meadows was not just an actress. She also had a successful career in business. For 11 years, she was a director at the First National Bank of Denver. She was the first woman to hold such a position there.
From 1961 to 1981, she was an advisor for Continental Airlines. She helped with marketing programs. This included designing uniforms for flight attendants and customer service agents. She also helped design the inside of airplanes and the special "President's Club" airport lounges.
Her Book
In October 1994, Audrey Meadows wrote a book about her life. It was called Love, Alice: My Life As A Honeymooner. In the book, she shared stories and memories from her time on the famous show.
Illness and Passing
Audrey Meadows was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1995. She chose to receive care that focused on comfort rather than aggressive treatment. She passed away on February 3, 1996, just five days before her 74th birthday. She died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Audrey Meadows was buried next to her second husband in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.
Legacy
Audrey Meadows' life and career were remembered in a 2002 TV movie. The movie was called Gleason. It was about the life of her Honeymooners co-star, Jackie Gleason. In the movie, Audrey was played by actress Kristen Dalton.
See Also
In Spanish: Audrey Meadows para niños
