Biography
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).
Movies & TV Shows
-
The Hustler (1961) — Minnesota Fats
-
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) — Buford T. Justice
-
Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) — Buford T. Justice / Reginald Van Justice / Gaylord Justice
-
The Toy (1982) — Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates
-
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) — Buford T. Justice
-
Nothing in Common (1986) — Max Basner
-
John Candy: I Like Me (2025) — Self - Actor (archive footage)
-
Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) — Maish Rennick
-
All Through the Night (1942) — Starchy
-
The Honeymooners (1955) — Ralph Kramden
-
Mr. Billion (1977) — John Cutler
-
The Sting II (1983) — Fargo Gondorff
-
Larceny, Inc. (1942) — Hobart
-
Here's Lucy (1968) — Ralph Kramden (uncredited)
-
What's My Line? (1950) — Self
-
Skidoo (1968) — Tough Tony Banks
-
Soldier in the Rain (1963) — Maxwell Slaughter
-
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) — Self
-
Lady Gangster (1942) — Wilson
-
Gigot (1962) — Gigot
-
The Red Skelton Show (1951) — Reginald van Gleason III
-
The Movie Orgy (1968) — Self (archive footage)
-
Papa's Delicate Condition (1963) — Jack Griffith
-
The Jack Benny Program (1950) — Jackie Gleason
-
Don't Drink the Water (1969) — Walter Hollander
-
Springtime in the Rockies (1942) — Commissioner (uncredited)
-
Orchestra Wives (1942) — Ben Beck
-
The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) — Self
-
Studio One (1948) — Jerry Giles
-
Mike Wallace Is Here (2019) — Self (archive footage)
-
The Mike Douglas Show (1961) — Self - Co-Host
-
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) — Self
-
The Desert Hawk (1950) — Aladdin
-
Escape from Crime (1942) — Evans - Convict Getting Mug Shot (as Jackie C. Gleason)
-
The Jackie Gleason Show (1952) — Self - Host
-
How to Commit Marriage (1969) — Oliver Poe
-
Steel Against the Sky (1941) — Cliff (uncredited)
-
How Do I Love Thee? (1970) — Stanley Waltz
-
The Bob Hope Show (1950) — Self
-
Navy Blues (1941) — 'Tubby' (as Jackie C. Gleason)