Remembering Jackie Gleason - February 26, 1916 - June 24, 1987

Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor, and musician.  Among his notable film roles as Minnesota Fats in 1961 “The Hustler” with Paul Newman and as Buford T. Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit.”

His famous television role was Ralph Kramden in “The Honeymooners” & Other film roles include “Navy Blues” “ All Through The Night” “Orchestra Wives” and “Larceny, Inc.”

His own television show became the country’s second highest rated television show during the 1954-55 season.  He also hosted the “Cavalcade of the Stars” & he even won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical in “Take Me Along.”

He also had serious roles including “Requiem for a Heavyweight” and “Soldier in the Rain," and He was also an outstanding musician known for his albums of “mood music” by Capitol Records.

Jackie was a chain smoker most of his life and He died on June 24, 1987 at the age of 71 from colon cancer and complications from heart surgery.

He rests in an outdoor mausoleum at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Miami, Florida and his famous quote etched is on his crypt “And Away We Go.”

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