Jackie Gleason
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Although he was nominated for an Emmy Award, Gleason never won one.
He recorded nearly 40 albums with the Jackie Gleason Orchestra.
Biography
Dubbed "The Great One" by none other than Orson Welles and beloved as one of the biggest stars of television's golden era, multi-talented comedic actor Jackie Gleason enjoyed a life and career as robust as his onscreen persona. After gaining recognition as a performer in the nightclubs of New York and on the stages of Broadway - interrupted by a brief, unsatisfying stint in Hollywood - Gleason took on the new medium of television as the star of "Cavalcade of Stars" (DuMont, 1949-1952). There, he introduced several of his famous long-running characters, including Reginald Van Gleason III, The Poor Soul, and Joe the Bartender. But it was another character, New York bus driver Ralph Kramden, that led to the creation of "The Honeymooners" (CBS, 1955-56), considered one of the greatest programs in the history of television. Often underappreciated for his substantial dramatic talent, Gleason was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "The Hustler" (1961) and earned high marks for his turn in "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962). A decade and a half later, he attracted scores of new fans as the caustic Sheriff Buford T. Justice in the Burt Reynolds hit "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977). More film work and the occasional "Honeymooners" revival occupied Gleason's later years, although he never abandoned his favorite pastimes - golf, food and alcohol - even as his health declined. A revered entertainer to generations of fans, Gleason's famous tagline of "How sweet it is!" reflected both his body of work and his thirst for life.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Life Events
1931
Won an amatuer night contest in Brooklyn at age 15 (date approximate)
1935
First professional nightclub appearance in Newark, NJ
1938
Made Broadway debut in "Hellzapoppin'"
1940
Put under contract by Warner Bros after Jack Warner spotted him performing at a Manhattan nightclub
1941
Feature film debut in "Navy Blues"
1948
Made TV debut on "Talk of the Town", hosted by Ed Sullivan
1949
Made TV series debut starring in "The Life of Riley" (NBC), show filmed in California
1950
Returned to NYC
1953
Recorded first album for Capitol Records
1953
Had first dramatic role in "The Laughmaker", co-starring Art Carney
1955
Signed $14 million contract with CBS and Buick (the sponsor of his variety series)
1961
Earned Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler"
1961
Hosted disastrous "You're in the Picture" (CBS)
1961
Wrote and starred in "The Million Dollar Incident" (CBS)
1962
Co-wrote and starred in "Gigot"; also wrote the music score
1963
Starred as Jack Griffith in "Papa's Delicate Condition"
1964
Permanently moved to Florida
1968
Co-starred in the disastrous "Skidoo"
1977
First played Sheriff Buford T Justice in "Smokey and the Bandit"; would appear in two sequels
1978
Returned to Broadway for brief run in "Sly Fox"
1983
Starred with Laurence Olivier in the HBO TV-movie "Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson"
1985
Reteamed with Art Carney as co-stars in the CBS TV-movie "Izzy and Moe"; also wrote the musical score
1986
Made final film appearance in "Nothing in Common", playing Tom Hanks' father
Photo Collections
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Although he was nominated for an Emmy Award, Gleason never won one.
He recorded nearly 40 albums with the Jackie Gleason Orchestra.
Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1986.
"Jackie Gleason is my favorite two comedians." --Miton Berle
"Critics report on accidents to eye witnesses." --Jackie Gleason
"Everyone is insecure to a degree. My business is composed of a mass of crisis. It all adds up to the manufacturing of insecurity. Some people find escape in comfort, dames, liquor, or food. But that is not enough." --Jackie Gleason
"Playing a serious rle is easy for a comedian, It's the other way around that's tough. Name one serious actor who can make it in comedy." --Gleason quoted in press material for "Nothing in Common" (1986)
"As my wife would tell you, I am not entralled with awards - I would rather received payment for my performance." --Jackie Gleason in a 1985 TV interview
