Tragic Details About Jackie Gleason

Known affectionately as “The Great One” Jackie Gleason was a legendary actor, comedian, writer, and composer. Gleason was known for his brash and visual comedy, and the character that typified his humor was Ralph Kramden, who he played on the television series "The Honeymooners." Gleason is also known for developing "The Jackie Gleason Show" that consistently had high ratings from the mid-1950s to the 1970s. He also starred in notable films alongside Hollywood heavyweights Paul Newman in "The Hustler" and Burt Reynolds in "Smokey and The Bandit." But behind the scenes, Gleason's life was far away from the hilarious content he provided his fans. His life was filled with turmoil, substance abuse, and career rivalry.

#JackieGleason #Actors #Tragic

Father abandoned his family | 0:00
Family died young | 1:00
Got his start in nightclubs | 1:52
A real pool hustler | 2:49
Married three times | 3:39
Alcoholism | 4:48
Volatile on set | 5:42
Jealous of Art Carney | 7:03
Almost killed The Flintstones | 8:08
One last film | 9:15
Died too early | 10:18

[magaranita]

I worked with a nurse who cared for Jackie Gleason as he was being treated in a Florida Hospital...I was told he was a wonderful, classy man and a joy to care for.

[rpk]

Sometime between 1975 and 1979 I met Jackie Gleason. I lived at the Inverrary Country Club, in Lauderhill, Florida. I was hanging out with a friend that worked at the apt building where we both lived. He had a job to do at the clubhouse, so I tagged along. After he was finished we started to leave as Jackie was coming in. he struck up a conversation with us. He invited us into the bar for a drink. The bar was a replica of Joe's bar from his Miami TV show. Only nicer. We had an hour or so chat. He wanted to know about what we were doing and he was very enjoyable to be with. He was regularly seen out in his Mercedes golf cart, which you get a glimpse of in the video. People always would wave to him as they drove down the road and he would smile and wave back. My contact with him was as of meeting an old friend and sat down for a couple beers. And that's how I remember him.

[FL-BEACH-MAN]

My Dad, born in New Jersey - 1915, was a friend of Gleason, my Dad sang and played Harmonica, for a while as teenagers they played some Clubs in New York and Jersey, my Pop decided to join the Army and Jackie stayed in New York, my Dad never saw him again, next thing he knew, Gleason was a star. True story.

[rustykilt]

My Dad loved Jackie Gleason, and together we watched the HONEYMOONERS. We lived in a cramped little Flat, and never had much, but seeing The Honeymooners we felt as one with them and the wonderful portrait they painted, humorous and crazy, sometimes sad and difficult but always ending with love. An old man, i still watch it today, and the memories come flooding back.

[im_afraid_of_americans]

I remember my beloved brother watching the 'honeymooners' laughing. He never missed an episode. Rest in peace J.G.

[GodsndFavoriteBassPlyr]

There were no more 'tragic details' about the life of Jackie Gleason than with anyone else's life. This was a supremely talented and gifted entertainer and businessman, who lived life precisely on his own terms .. and did exactly what he wanted, right up until the day he left us. This was not 'tragic'... this was the life of The Great One.

[tonyspinnelli]

Jackie Gleason was a pure entertainer and such a class act!!!
Sad, we don't have anybody in the Hollywood studios who is half as good as him!!!

[kcrsradio]

When Jackie Gleason died, I was living in South Florida and heard on the news that The Great One had (prior to his death, obviously) invited the entire public to attend his funeral being held in Miami. I felt a total sense of kinship with him as I, as one of the hundreds of his ardent admirers, filed past his closed casket in solemn reflection about the man who invented comedy as far as I was concerned. To this day, I can't help but laugh at any random cut taken from any episode of The Honeymooners, . To me, it's the greatest show TV ever produced. Thanks for the laughs, Mr. Gleason. May you rest in peace.

[doctormcgoveran]

I remember jackie gleason. He always said "how sweet it is". It was a sincere statement from a guy who had been through so much.

[shsechas]

I still refuse to miss an episode of the Honeymooners when played on TV to date.. So many fans!! I say all the lines before Jackie does and continue to laugh every time. Thank you JG for all the fun watching.

[connievino]

My family told me that he used to come to P.a to golf. He also liked a certain beer they made here. He was a legend with a very tough upbringing. God bless him. He still is a legend.♥️

[makeminefreedom]

Gleason had a hard childhood. He worked for everything he got and when he finally succeeded he did what he pleased. He enjoyed his life up to the end and that is real success.

[deborahabernathy]

I loved him from the Honeymooners, to The Jackie Gleason even when he moved it to Miami, then his movies. I'm 69 now but he was amazing, so talented, unforgettable and sad we don't have tv shows like this now. I loved Art Carney, too.

[crustycobs]

When I was a kid, so many entertainers had an alcoholic persona, and made fun of normal people-
Drinking, and smoking were acceptable and commonplace. Tragedy and depression is often the
inspiration for comedy.

[ronniecozzi]

He had a genius for performing. A natural.

[forthedoggiesguitars]

The Honeymooners is such a classic series; it brings me laughs and serenity even in today's cold, hard world.

[karyannfontaine]

In the early 1950's, I recall my Great Aunt and Uncle coming over to watch the Honeymooners in out recreation room. I saw all his movies. He may have been complex and difficult to work with, but he was a wonderful performer. He was also a music composer, but that was left out of your presentation.

[robertfeinstein]

I was in the live audience for the filming of the Carlos ... Mambo episode, which was a great experience. For years, I thought Carlos was played by Fernando Lamas, only to later learn that the role was played by an actor named Charles Korvin. I had a cold and cough that night. If you listen carefully, you can hear the faint coughs of a child at intervals. Those were my coughs, preserved forever in the Honeymooners.

[joekouyoumjian]

I think Gleason did a brilliant job of acting in the movie Gigot in 1962. Without saying a word of dialog he conveyed every possible emotion from joy to sadness. Whatever his demons were in life, you can't take his talent away from him. R.I.P. Mr. Gleason.

[Tyler]

I was in New York walking down 5th Ave and someone gave me two tickets to Jackie Gleason's first show "American Scene Magazine"..Very funny guy..