Jackie Gleason facts for kids
Jackie Gleason (John Herbert Gleason; February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an American comedian, actor, and musician.
He was known for his role as Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners. Among his most noted movies roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama movie The Hustler (1961) starring Paul Newman, and as Buford T. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit movie series. Gleason's career would span for nearly 41 years until his retirement in 1986.
Gleason was born on February 26, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York City.
Gleason was married three times; first to Genevieve Halford from 1936 until they divorced in 1970. Secondly he married Beverly McKittrick from 1970 until they divorced in 1975. Lastly he married 1975 until his death in 1987.
Gleason died on June 24, 1987 in his Lauderhill, Florida home from colon cancer, he was 71 years old.
Images for kids
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Early publicity photo of Gleason
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Gleason and Rosemary DeCamp as Chester and Peg Riley in The Life of Riley
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Gleason as the Poor Soul on Toast of the Town in 1954
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Gleason as Ralph Kramden with Audrey Meadows as Alice, circa 1955
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Prominent Irish writer Brendan Behan with Jackie Gleason in Gleason's dressing room after a performance of Take Me Along (1960)
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Edward R. Murrow and Gleason when the comedian was the subject of an interview on Person to Person in 1956
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Miami Beach Auditorium, where Gleason taped his shows after his move to Florida
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Gleason and Lucille Ball in a TV special "Tea for Two" (1975)
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With Betsy Palmer in "The Time of Your Life" on Playhouse 90 (1958)
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Gleason playing golf with President Gerald Ford, c. 1975
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Gleason's sarcophagus—with the inscription "And Away We Go"—at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Miami
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Ralph Kramden statue at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan
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The television home of The Honeymooners at 328 Chauncey Street in Brooklyn
