Art Carney (November 4, 1918 – November 9, 2003)

On Broadway he was the original Felix Unger in “The Odd Couple”, on radio he impersonated presidents of the United States but on television he became a legend… His radio career included “The Henry Morgan Show”, “Man Behind the Gun”, “Land of the Lost” and “Joe and Ethel Turp Show.” In 1948 he began on television and never left. From 1948 until 1950 he was a regular player on “The Morey Amsterdam Show.” After that commitment ended he joined the struggling series “Cavalcade of Stars” on the DuMont network. The series had just taken on a new host, Jackie Gleason, who created several of his trademark characters during his first year as host. It was on the “Cavalcade of Stars” that the character of Ed Norton first appeared. When Gleason moved to CBS in 1952 and began hosting “The Jackie Gleason Show” he brought his “Cavalcade” ensemble players with him. In 1955, “The Honeymooners” was turned into a weekly half-hour sitcom that would last only one season. In the fall of 1956 Gleason went back to the one-hour variety show but ended it in the spring of 1957. In 1961, “The Jackie Gleason Show” returned but as a talk show this time around. The following year Gleason launched “Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine.” He was sure to feature regular Honeymooners sketches. In 1966 he moved his show to Miami Beach, Florida and renamed it…“The Jackie Gleason Show.” It lasted until 1970…Ed Norton as well as other characters were present for all of it. In 1959 he appeared in the one and only episode of “The Art Carney Show.” The 1970’s brought four Jackie Gleason specials that featured “The Honeymooners.” The beloved Ed Norton made his final original appearance in 1978. As Ed Norton, he helped to define the term "second banana." Films were also familiar territory to this great actor…he appeared in several including A Guide for the Married Man, House Calls (a television series of the same name began in 1979 with David Wayne playing the doctor), The Late Show, St. Helens, The Naked Face, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Night Friend and Last Action Hero. 1993’s Last Action Hero was his final acting role completely. He last worked with Jackie Gleason on the made for television movie “Izzy & Moe” in 1985. He teamed up with Lucille Ball in two TV movies “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” in 1974 and “What Now, Catherine Curtis?” in 1976. In 1974 he became an Academy Award winner for his remarkable performance in Harry and Tonto. His other television credits include (this list is incomplete): “The Kate Smith Evening Hour” “The Perry Como Show” “Sunday Showcase” “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show” “The DuPont Show of the Week” “Tonight Starring Jack Paar” “I’ve Got a Secret” “The Danny Kaye Show” “The Andy Williams Show” “The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show” “The Kraft Music Hall” “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” “Toast of the Town” “The Carol Burnett Show” “The Flip Wilson Show” “The Dean Martin Show” “Alice” “Lux Video Theatre” “Campbell Playhouse” “Suspense” “Climax!” “Studio One” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” “Playhouse 90” “The Twilight Zone” “Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre” “Batman” “The Virginian” “Lanigan’s Rabbi” “Fame” “Faerie Tale Theatre” “The Cavanaughs” His final television guest role was on “Uncle Buck” in 1990 and as previously mentioned above his final film roles was in 1993. He spent his last ten years of life quietly in retirement gladly giving interviews until 2001 when illness made it impossible… He was a marvelous actor and we will never see his kind of talent and class ever again! In Memoriam Remembers: Art Carney