The Funny Life of Jackie Gleason

  Category Rss Feed - http://www.1articleworld.com/rss.php?rss=206 By : Julia Starr   
Submitted 2010-08-24 00:02:39
Jackie Gleason entered the the human race on February 26, 1916. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. The future star was born to a home of Irish immigrants that were not wealthy. When Jackie was nine years old, his father Herbert left the family and never returned. When Jackie was 19 his mother Mae Kelly Gleason passed away. To add to this, Jackie's only sibling, Clemence, contracted Tuberculosis when Jackie was just a toddler. It's sound to say that Jackie Gleason had a hard and lonely childhood. Jackie joined a street gang when he was a teenager, and abandoned school. Even though he was a gigantic eater as a teenager, he was very good at sports, particularly boxing and football. Right from the beginning, Jackie seemed to be a natural for the entertainment field.

He appeared in many church and school plays, and eventually won an award for an original comedy routine. After this, he became a master of ceremonies at a vaudeville theater called Folly. Jackie then floated around from job to job in New York, taking work as it came. He even took jobs in New Jersey and Philly. In 1936, he wed Genevieve Halford, a performer. They had two daughters, Geraldine and Linda, the only children he ever had. The marriage didn't last, and the couple split up in 1954 after several breakups. In 1941, Jack Warner signed Gleason, who had been working in nightclubs and musicals, to a contract, and he headed out to Hollywood at the age of 25. His early movies unsuccessful, Warner contributed his signature on the contract to drunkenness. Jackie wound up hating Hollywood after his movie flops, and he returned to his roots in the East. Depression sunk in. He returned to performing live, and he made radio appearances. Just when everything seemed to be at its worst, fate turned. Jackie's agent George Durgom suggested he try television. Things were about to change. He was cast in the title role of The Life of Riley, but he was not right for the part, and it was soon cancelled.

His television career really began when he signed on with the DuMont network as the summer host of Cavalcade of Stars. Jackie did so well that he was asked to stay on board permanently. It was here where he created his most memorable characters, including Ralph Kramden. Jackie parlayed this into other hosting gigs, and wound up signing on with CBS to have his own show. He took the Ralph Kramden character and made the Honeymooners into a show in 1955. Today, this is one of the most beloved sitcoms, even making number 3 on TV Guide's recent The 50 Best TV Shows of All Time. Gleason continued to make films, including the Hustler which earned him an Academy Award Nomination. Jackie was a great pool player and he did all of his own shots for the Hustler. Jackie even got into music, and did some recordings as well. In 1962 Jackie made his way back to the small screen with the return of the Jackie Gleason show. In 1970 Jackie wed Beverly McKittrick, but they only stayed together until their divorce in 1974. The next year he married Marilyn Taylor, sister of June Taylor of the June Taylor Dancers. Jackie continued to work in movies up until his death on June 24, 1987. He passed from liver and colon cancer. Jackie Gleason is still loved by millions and his comedic talents are still enjoyed by TV & film lovers all over.



Author Resource:-Gleason loves to hang out with his drinking buddies like Frank Sinatra and Orson Wells. They are often seen with a bottle of Jack Daniels at the famous Stork Club in New York.
Article From 1Article World   New Authors Free Sign Up Learn More   Nav Menu Home Login Submit Articles Submission Guidelines Link Directory About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy RSS Feeds
Actions Print This Article Add To Favorites
 

 

Hosted By Lunarpages

Disclosure: You should assume that the owner of this website is an affiliate for the provider of goods/services mentioned on this website. Sometimes the owner may get paid a commission if you purchase the product when following a link. Privacy Policy  | Contact us

View the Original article