Jackie Gleason
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Reginald van Gleason III
1951
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
Series
Studio One
Jerry Giles
1948
Series
Studio One
Sam Wheeler
1948
Series
Studio One
Uncle Eddie Doyle
1948
Series
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Series
The Jack Benny Program
Jackie Gleason
1950
Series
Here's Lucy
Ralph Kramden (uncredited)
1968
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
Series
The Jackie Gleason Show
Self - Host
1952
Series
The Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden
1955
Film
Smokey and the Bandit
Buford T. Justice
1977
Film
John Candy: I Like Me
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2025
Small World
Self
1958
Series
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self
1974
Series
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
Himself
1962
Film
The Hustler
Minnesota Fats
1961
Cavalcade of Stars
Fenwick Babbitt
1949
Cavalcade of Stars
Self - host
1949
Series
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
Series
The David Susskind Show
Self
1959
Film
Smokey and the Bandit II
Buford T. Justice / Reginald Van Justice / Gaylord Justice
1980
Film
Nothing in Common
Max Basner
1986
Series
The Life of Riley
Chester A. Riley
1949
Film
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
Buford T. Justice
1983
Film
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
The Toy
Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates
1982
Film
The Sting II
Fargo Gondorff
1983
Film
Larceny, Inc.
Hobart
1942
Film
All Through the Night
Starchy
1942
Film
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Maish Rennick
1962
Film
The Desert Hawk
Aladdin
1950
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
Mr. Billion
John Cutler
1977
Film
Gigot
Gigot
1962
Film
Skidoo
Tough Tony Banks
1968
Film
The Fabulous Fifties
Self
1960
Film
Soldier in the Rain
Maxwell Slaughter
1963
Film
Steel Against the Sky
Cliff (uncredited)
1941
All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds
Self
1981
Film
Mike Wallace Is Here
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
Don't Drink the Water
Walter Hollander
1969
Film
Lady Gangster
Wilson
1942
Film
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Film
How to Commit Marriage
Oliver Poe
1969
Film
Papa's Delicate Condition
Jack Griffith
1963
Film
Izzy & Moe
Izzy Einstein
1985
Film
The Hustler: The Inside Story
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
Orchestra Wives
Ben Beck
1942
Film
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
Film
Springtime in the Rockies
Commissioner (uncredited)
1942
Series
You're in the Picture
Host
1961
Jackie Gleason: The Great One
Self (archive footage)
1988
Film
Three for Two
Herb / Fred / Mike
1975
Film
Navy Blues
'Tubby' (as Jackie C. Gleason)
1941
Film
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Self (archive footage)
1998
Film
Escape from Crime
Evans - Convict Getting Mug Shot (as Jackie C. Gleason)
1942
Film
Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work
Self (archive footage)
2006
Film
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!
Hank
1942
The Million Dollar Incident
Self
1961
Film
How Do I Love Thee?
Stanley Waltz
1970
Film
The Very Best of the Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden
2000
Film
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2001
Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Characters
Reginald Van Gleason III / the Poor Soul / Joe the Bartender / Charlie Bratton (the Loudmoth / Rudy the Repairman / Fenwick Babbit (archive footage)
1994
Film
The Honeymooners Holiday Classics
Ralph Kramden (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Film
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
The Honeymooners Specials: Valentine Special
Ralph Kramden
1978
Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson
Ernest Johnson
1983
Film
The Honeymooners Christmas Special
Ralph Kramden
1978
Film
The Honeymooners Specials: Second Honeymoon
Ralph Kramden
1976
Film
The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol
Ralph Kramden
1977