Actor and Comedian. He was best known for his classic television seriesThe Honeymooners and his character of bus driver 'Ralph Kramden.' He started out in show business at the age of 15, after winning an amateur-night contest at the Halsey Theater in Brooklyn. He was then hired by the manager as emcee. From that start, he began his career as a nightclub comic. He was discovered at New York City'sClub 18 byJack Warner, who signed him to a contract. He went to Hollywood and made five films, starting withNavy Blues, which co-starredJack Haley. After leaving Hollywood, he returned to New York, where he appeared on Broadway and made his television debut onEd Sullivan'sToast of the Town. After that, he appeared on the television seriesThe Life of Riley. From there, he returned to nightclubs and the stage until he appeared onCavalcade of Stars, which made him an overnight sensation. He stayed on the show for two years, creating many of his famous characters, including 'Ralph Kramden' and 'Reginald Van Gleason the III.' He leftCavalcade of Stars after signing a contract with CBS, whereThe Honeymooners debuted in 1955. The show co-starred now legendary television names likeAudrey Meadows,Art Carney, andJoyce Randolph. The series only ran for one season, and thirty-nine episodes were produced. He returned to Broadway, winning a Tony Award forTake Me Along in 1959. Jackie Gleason also appeared in movies again, starring in movies such asGigot,The Hustler(1961) withPaul Newman garnering an Academy Award nomination,Soldier in the Rain (1963) withSteve McQueen andPapa's Delicate Condition(1963) withGlynis Johns. He composed several records during this time, his most popular possibly beingMusic for Lovers Only. After starring inThe Jackie Gleason Show in the 1960s, he would never star in a regular television series again. He revitalized his movie career in the 1970s with theSmokey and the Bandit movies, alongsideBurt Reynolds. In 1985, he revealed the existence of 'lost episodes' ofThe Honeymooners. These previously unseen episodes would introduce the show to a newer audience and further establish his standing as one of the greatest television performers of all time. Jackie Gleason had moved to Miami, Florida, in the 1960s, because he wanted to be able to play golf every day. He died of colon cancer at age 71 in 1987, at his home in Fort Lauderdale, with his family at his bedside.

Actor and Comedian. He was best known for his classic television seriesThe Honeymooners and his character of bus driver 'Ralph Kramden.' He started out in show business at the age of 15, after winning an amateur-night contest at the Halsey Theater in Brooklyn. He was then hired by the manager as emcee. From that start, he began his career as a nightclub comic. He was discovered at New York City'sClub 18 byJack Warner, who signed him to a contract. He went to Hollywood and made five films, starting withNavy Blues, which co-starredJack Haley. After leaving Hollywood, he returned to New York, where he appeared on Broadway and made his television debut onEd Sullivan'sToast of the Town. After that, he appeared on the television seriesThe Life of Riley. From there, he returned to nightclubs and the stage until he appeared onCavalcade of Stars, which made him an overnight sensation. He stayed on the show for two years, creating many of his famous characters, including 'Ralph Kramden' and 'Reginald Van Gleason the III.' He leftCavalcade of Stars after signing a contract with CBS, whereThe Honeymooners debuted in 1955. The show co-starred now legendary television names likeAudrey Meadows,Art Carney, andJoyce Randolph. The series only ran for one season, and thirty-nine episodes were produced. He returned to Broadway, winning a Tony Award forTake Me Along in 1959. Jackie Gleason also appeared in movies again, starring in movies such asGigot,The Hustler(1961) withPaul Newman garnering an Academy Award nomination,Soldier in the Rain (1963) withSteve McQueen andPapa's Delicate Condition(1963) withGlynis Johns. He composed several records during this time, his most popular possibly beingMusic for Lovers Only. After starring inThe Jackie Gleason Show in the 1960s, he would never star in a regular television series again. He revitalized his movie career in the 1970s with theSmokey and the Bandit movies, alongsideBurt Reynolds. In 1985, he revealed the existence of 'lost episodes' ofThe Honeymooners. These previously unseen episodes would introduce the show to a newer audience and further establish his standing as one of the greatest television performers of all time. Jackie Gleason had moved to Miami, Florida, in the 1960s, because he wanted to be able to play golf every day. He died of colon cancer at age 71 in 1987, at his home in Fort Lauderdale, with his family at his bedside.

What was Jackie famous for?