Jackie Gleason
Born: 1916-02-26 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: 1987-06-24
Known For: Acting
Biography
John Herbert Gleason (February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, writer, and composer known affectionately as "The Great One". He developed a style and characters from growing up in Brooklyn, New York and was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy, exemplified by his city bus driver character Ralph Kramden in the television series The Honeymooners. He also developed The Jackie Gleason Show, which maintained high ratings from the mid-1950s through 1970. The series originated in New York City, but videotaping moved to Miami Beach, Florida in 1964 after Gleason took up permanent residence there. Among his notable film roles were Minnesota Fats in 1961's The Hustler (co-starring with Paul Newman) and Buford T. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit series from 1977 to 1983 (co-starring Burt Reynolds).
Filmography
2025
- John Candy: I Like Me as Self - Actor (archive footage)
2019
- Mike Wallace Is Here as Self (archive footage)
2006
- Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work as Self (archive footage)
2005
- The Honeymooners ... (Original Series Creator)
- Pioneers of Primetime
2004
- The Wool Cap ... (Story)
2002
- The Hustler: The Inside Story as Self (archive footage)
- The Honeymooners Holiday Classics as Ralph Kramden (archive footage) (uncredited)
2001
- The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 as Self (archive footage)
- The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 as Self (archive footage)
2000
- The Very Best of the Honeymooners as Ralph Kramden
1998
- Miodowe lata ... (Original Series Creator)
- The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
- A Bing Crosby Christmas as Self (archive footage)
1994
- Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Characters as Reginald Van Gleason III / the Poor Soul / Joe the Bartender / Charlie Bratton (the Loudmoth / Rudy the Repairman / Fenwick Babbit (archive footage)
1988
- Jackie Gleason: The Great One as Self (archive footage)
1986
- Nothing in Common as Max Basner
1985
- Izzy & Moe as Izzy Einstein
1983
- Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 as Buford T. Justice
- The Sting II as Fargo Gondorff
- Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson as Ernest Johnson
1982
- The Toy as Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates
1981
- All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds as Self
1980
- Smokey and the Bandit II as Sheriff Buford T. Justice / Gaylord Justice / Reginald Van Justice
1978
- The Honeymooners Christmas Special as Ralph Kramden
- The Honeymooners Specials: Valentine Special as Ralph Kramden
1977
- Smokey and the Bandit as Sheriff Buford T. Justice
- Mr. Billion as John Cutler
- The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol as Ralph Kramden
1976
- The Captain and Tennille as Self - Guest
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy as Self (archive footage)
- The Honeymooners Specials: Second Honeymoon as Ralph Kramden
1975
- Three for Two as Herb / Fred / Mike
1974
- Tony Orlando and Dawn as Self
1973
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts as Self
1970
- How Do I Love Thee? as Stanley Waltz
1969
- Don't Drink the Water as Walter Hollander
- How to Commit Marriage as Oliver Poe
1968
- Here's Lucy as Ralph Kramden (uncredited)
- The Movie Orgy as Self (archive footage)
- Skidoo as Tough Tony Banks
1966
- The Jackie Gleason Show as Self - Host
1963
- Soldier in the Rain as Maxwell Slaughter
- Papa's Delicate Condition as Jack Griffith
1962
- Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine as Himself
- Requiem for a Heavyweight as Maish Rennick
- Gigot as Gigot
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self - Co-Host
- The Hustler as Minnesota Fats
- You're in the Picture as Host
- The Million Dollar Incident as Self
1960
- The Fabulous Fifties as Self
1959
- The David Susskind Show as Self
1958
- Small World as Self
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Presenter
1955
- The Honeymooners as Ralph Kramden
1954
- Stage Show ... (Producer)
1951
- The Red Skelton Show as Reginald van Gleason III / cameo
1950
- The Colgate Comedy Hour as Self
- What's My Line? as Self
- The Bob Hope Show as Self
- The Jack Benny Program as Jackie Gleason
- The Desert Hawk as Aladdin
1949
- The Life of Riley as Chester A. Riley
- Cavalcade of Stars as Fenwick Babbitt
1948
- Studio One as Jerry Giles
- The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
1942
- All Through the Night as Starchy
- Larceny, Inc. as Hobart
- Lady Gangster as Wilson
- Springtime in the Rockies as Commissioner (uncredited)
- Orchestra Wives as Ben Beck
- Escape from Crime as Evans - Convict Getting Mug Shot (as Jackie C. Gleason)
- Tramp, Tramp, Tramp! as Hank
1941
- Steel Against the Sky as Cliff (uncredited)
- Navy Blues as 'Tubby' (as Jackie C. Gleason)