Jackie Gleason

John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason (February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) -- affectionately known by fans as "The Great One" -- was an American comedian, actor, and musician who developed a style and characters in his career from growing up in Brooklyn, New York. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, exemplified by his character Ralph Kramden in the television series The Honeymooners. By filming the episodes with Electronicam, Gleason later could release the series in syndication, building its popularity over the years with new audiences. He also developed The Jackie Gleason Show, which had the second-highest ratings in the country 1954-1955, and which he produced over the years in variations, including in the venue of Miami, Florida after moving there.

Among his notable film roles were Minnesota Fats in the Academy Award-winning 1961 drama The Hustler (co-starring with Paul Newman), and Buford T. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit series from 1977 into the early 1980s, in which he co-starred with Burt Reynolds.


 * The Minnesota Fats


 * Fan Nickname: "The Great One"
 * Star-Making Role: Although he was already a well-established performer with a substantial body of work behind him at the time, his role as Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners permanently affixed him to the collective memory of the world.