Jackie Gleason, The Most Famous Bus Driver on Television

Jackie Gleason was a very animated actor. He is most famous for his portrayal of the character Ralph Kramden on "The Honeymooners".

Jackie Gleason entered the world on February 26, 1916. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. The man who would become Ralph Kramden was born into a family of Irish Catholic immigrants. Jackie's father was an insurance clerk who abandoned the family when Jackie was only 9 years old. Tragedy struck again when Jackie's mother died in 1935. And that's not all. . sadly, Jackie's only sibling was diagnosed with T.B. when Jackie was a toddler. It was a lonely and cruel childhood for Jackie. Jackie joined a street gang when he was a teenager, and abandoned school.
Even though he was a gigantic eater as a teenager, he was very good at sports, especially boxing and football. It was easy to see that Jackie was going to be a gifted entertainer as well. Jackie started performing in school plays, and was recognized with an award honor for a comedy routine he created. From there, we was a master of ceremonies at a vaudeville house, Folly Theater.

Jackie then floated around from job to job in New York, taking work as it came. He also worked in hotels in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After working in other various jobs, he married Genevieve Halford, a dancer, in the year 1936. With Genevieve, he had 2 children. They were girls named Linda and Geraldine. The couple had a rocky relationship and wind up divorcing in 1970, although they'd been separated since 1954. Jack Warner signed Gleason in 1941 to a contract that swept him off to Hollywood. His early movies unsuccessful, Warner contributed his signature on the contract to drunkenness.

After failing in Hollywood, Jackie grew to hate Los Angeles, and his future works would take place on the East Coast, in New York and Florida. Depressed, Jackie returned to nightclubs and the stage, and even tried radio. Just when everything seemed to be at its worst, fate turned. Jackie's agent George Durgom suggested he try television. Things were about to change. Producers chose Jackie to star as The Life of Riley. The show was cancelled quickly as Gleason was left to find another role. His television career really began when he signed on with the DuMont network as the summer host of Cavalcade of Stars. After just 2 shows, he was picked to be the full-time host. This show was a creative outlet for Gleason. It was here that he came up with characters that would make him a star. Jackie then signed a contract with CBS to become the host of the Jackie Gleason Show.

He took the Ralph Kramden character and made the Honeymooners into a show in 1955. Today, this is one of the most beloved sitcoms, even making number 3 on TV Guide's recent The 50 Best TV Shows of All Time. Gleason continued to make films, including the Hustler which earned him an Academy Award Nomination. Gleason did all of his own billiard shots in the Hustler. Gleason also recorded his own records, writing his own music even though he could not read a note. In 1962 Jackie made his way back to the small screen with the return of the Jackie Gleason show

. In July 1970 he married Beverly McKittrick, but they were divorced in 1974. Gleason then took a third wife when he married Marilyn Taylor in the next year. After working on a series of movies throughout the 80's, Gleason died on June 24 Thu, 1987, of colon and liver cancer. His death was a sad day for television lovers and folks in the entertainment business. His jovial spirit and comedic talent is missed still.

Gleason, a native New Yorker is often seen with celebs like Orson Wells at the famousStork Club