Cast & creator
Jackie Gleason
Best known for The Mike Douglas Show, What's My Line?, Tony Awards
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).
Also known as: Herbert Walton Gleason Jr., John Herbert Gleason, Jackie C. Gleason
62
film credits
31
television credits
75
1941–2025 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (93)
Showing 93 of 93 credits
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
The Red Skelton Show
Reginald van Gleason III
1951
Studio One
Jerry Giles
1948Studio One
Sam Wheeler
1948Studio One
Uncle Eddie Doyle
1948
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Here's Lucy
Ralph Kramden (uncredited)
1968
The Jack Benny Program
Jackie Gleason
1950
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
The Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden
1955The Honeymooners
Producer
1955The Honeymooners
Production Supervisor
1955The Honeymooners
Creator
1955
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self
1974
The David Susskind Show
Self
1959
Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine
Himself
1962
Miodowe lata
Original Series Creator
1998
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
John Candy: I Like Me
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2025
The Jackie Gleason Show
Self - Host
1952The Jackie Gleason Show
Writer
1952
Smokey and the Bandit
Buford T. Justice
1977
The Life of Riley
Chester A. Riley
1949Small World
Self
1958
Smokey and the Bandit II
Buford T. Justice / Reginald Van Justice / Gaylord Justice
1980
The Hustler
Minnesota Fats
1961
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
Buford T. Justice
1983
Nothing in Common
Max Basner
1986Cavalcade of Stars
Fenwick Babbitt
1949Cavalcade of Stars
Self - host
1949
The Honeymooners
Original Series Creator
2005
All Through the Night
Starchy
1942
The Toy
Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates
1982
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Maish Rennick
1962
Mr. Billion
John Cutler
1977
The Desert Hawk
Aladdin
1950
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2001
The Sting II
Fargo Gondorff
1983Bob Hope's World of Comedy
(archive footage)
1976
Soldier in the Rain
Maxwell Slaughter
1963
Don't Drink the Water
Walter Hollander
1969
Mike Wallace Is Here
Self (archive footage)
2019
Steel Against the Sky
Cliff (uncredited)
1941
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2001
How Do I Love Thee?
Stanley Waltz
1970
Skidoo
Tough Tony Banks
1968
The Fabulous Fifties
Self
1960
How to Commit Marriage
Oliver Poe
1969
Papa's Delicate Condition
Jack Griffith
1963
You're in the Picture
Host
1961
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
Gigot
Gigot
1962Gigot
Writer
1962Gigot
Original Music Composer
1962
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Self (archive footage)
1998
The Hustler: The Inside Story
Self (archive footage)
2002
Springtime in the Rockies
Commissioner (uncredited)
1942
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Larceny, Inc.
Hobart
1942
Stage Show
Producer
1954Stage Show
Creator
1954The Million Dollar Incident
Self
1961The Million Dollar Incident
Story
1961
The Honeymooners Christmas Special
Ralph Kramden
1978The Honeymooners Christmas Special
Director
1978
Izzy & Moe
Izzy Einstein
1985Izzy & Moe
Original Music Composer
1985
Navy Blues
'Tubby' (as Jackie C. Gleason)
1941All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds
Self
1981Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson
Ernest Johnson
1983
Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work
Self (archive footage)
2006
The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol
Ralph Kramden
1977The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol
Director
1977
Orchestra Wives
Ben Beck
1942
The Honeymooners Specials: Valentine Special
Ralph Kramden
1978The Honeymooners Specials: Valentine Special
Director
1978The Honeymooners Specials: Valentine Special
Original Music Composer
1978
The Wool Cap
Story
2004Jackie Gleason: The Great One
Self (archive footage)
1988Jackie 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
The Very Best of the Honeymooners
Ralph Kramden
2000
The Honeymooners Holiday Classics
Ralph Kramden (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Escape from Crime
Evans - Convict Getting Mug Shot (as Jackie C. Gleason)
1942
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp!
Hank
1942
The Honeymooners Specials: Second Honeymoon
Ralph Kramden
1976The Honeymooners Specials: Second Honeymoon
Director
1976
Lady Gangster
Wilson
1942
Three for Two
Herb / Fred / Mike
1975