Junior Rasmussen
Art Carney, born on November 4, 1918, was 36 or 37 years old when he played sewer worker Ed Norton in the influential sitcom The Honeymooners from 1955 to 1956. Carney, who was the youngest of six sons, gained lifelong fame for his portrayal of Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's bus driver, Ralph Kramden. He received seven Emmy Award nominations and won six for his performances as Norton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age when playing Ed Norton in The Honeymooners | 37 |
| Birth year | 1918 |
| Age at death | 85 |
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What You'll Learn
Art Carney was 37 when he played Ed Norton in The Honeymooners
Carney's character, Ed Norton, was a sewer worker and the upstairs neighbour of Kramden. Norton's dim-wittedness and comic antics made him a source of endless frustration for the irritable bus driver Kramden, who was often referred to as "`Ralphie Boy'" by Norton. Carney's portrayal of Norton brought him lifelong fame and critical acclaim, with fans remembering him fondly for this role.
In addition to his comedic talent, Carney was a gifted mimic, often impersonating celebrities and world leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill on radio programmes in the 1940s. He began his career in entertainment as a singer with the Horace Heidt orchestra in the 1930s, appearing on popular radio shows and in the 1941 film Pot o' Gold.
Carney's career spanned both television and film, with notable appearances in Playhouse 90, Studio One, The Twilight Zone, and movies like The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) and W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975). However, it was his role as Ed Norton in The Honeymooners for which he is best remembered, winning six Emmy Awards and achieving lasting recognition.
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Carney was born in 1918 in Mount Vernon, New York
Art Carney was born on November 4, 1918, in Mount Vernon, New York, and died on November 9, 2003, in Chester, Connecticut, just five days after his 85th birthday. Carney was the youngest of six sons born to Edward Carney, a publicist and reporter, and Helen (née Farrell) Carney, a concert violinist. Carney grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, and attended A.B. Davis High School (then called Mount Vernon High School). As a child, he entertained his family and friends with impressions of famous people, ranging from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Edward G. Robinson. He began his professional performing career doing impressions with the Horace Heidt Orchestra, with whom he also sang on the radio show Pot o' Gold. Carney also worked as an announcer for the show and appeared in the 1941 film of the same name.
Carney's career in television and film began in the early 1940s, and he became well-known for his appearances on The Morey Amsterdam Show from 1948 to 1950, where his character Charlie the doorman became known for his catchphrase, "Ya know what I mean?". In 1951, he appeared on Jackie Gleason's New York-based comedy-variety series Cavalcade of Stars, playing the mild-mannered Clem Finch to Gleason's lunchroom loudmouth Charlie Bratten. The two actors developed a good working chemistry, and Gleason recruited Carney to appear in sketches featuring The Honeymooners.
The Honeymooners was a situation comedy that aired from 1955 to 1956 as a half-hour sitcom, with 39 episodes in total. Carney portrayed sewer worker Ed Norton, the optimistic best friend and sidekick to Gleason's irritable bus driver Ralph Kramden. Carney's portrayal of Norton is considered one of the finest comic performances in television history, and he received five Emmy Awards for his performances in this role. In addition to his success with The Honeymooners, Carney also had his own television variety show from 1959 to 1960 and appeared in several television dramas and made-for-TV movies.
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The Honeymooners ran from 1955-1956
Art Carney, born on November 4, 1918, was 36 or 37 years old when he played sewer worker Ed Norton in the influential sitcom "The Honeymooners", which ran from 1955 to 1956. He was the youngest of six sons born to Edward Carney, a publicist and reporter, and Helen Carney (née Farrell), a concert violinist.
Carney grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, and began his career in entertainment with the Horace Heidt Orchestra in the 1930s. He was a singer with the orchestra and also worked as an announcer for Heidt's radio quiz show "Pot o' Gold". In 1941, he appeared in a film spin-off of the show, playing a member of the orchestra.
Carney's career expanded into television work in the 1950s. He was first paired with actor Jackie Gleason in 1950, appearing in comedy sketches on the variety series "Cavalcade of Stars". Due to their good chemistry, Carney became a show regular and appeared in several other sketches with Gleason, including the domestic-comedy skits featuring "The Honeymooners".
"The Honeymooners" was eventually given its own series, which ran from 1955 to 1956. The sitcom followed the Kramdens and the Nortons, two couples living in the same apartment building in Brooklyn, New York. Carney's character, Ed Norton, was the upstairs neighbour and best friend of Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden. Norton, a municipal sewer worker, was known for his dim-wittedness and love of food, often serving as a source of comedy in the show.
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Carney's co-star was Jackie Gleason
Art Carney, who portrayed sewer worker Ed Norton in The Honeymooners, was 37 years old when the show first aired in 1955. Carney's co-star was Jackie Gleason, who played Ralph Kramden, Norton's best friend and a bus driver for the Gotham Bus Company. The characters lived in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, with their wives, Trixie Norton and Alice Kramden, respectively. Carney and Gleason's characters were neighbours in a Brooklyn apartment building.
Gleason created the sitcom, which was based on a recurring comedy sketch of the same name that was part of his variety show. The Honeymooners followed the lives of the Kramdens and the Nortons as they navigated various schemes and day-to-day struggles, with most episodes revolving around Ralph's poor choices and absurd dilemmas. The show also occasionally touched on more serious issues such as women's rights and social status.
Gleason and Carney had previously worked together on the New York-based comedy-variety series Cavalcade of Stars, where they developed a good working chemistry. Carney played Clem Finch, the mild-mannered victim of Gleason's character Charlie Bratten, a lunchroom loudmouth. Following their work on Cavalcade of Stars, Gleason recruited Carney to appear in other sketches, including the domestic-comedy skits featuring The Honeymooners.
The Honeymooners became a hugely popular show, with Gleason and Carney's characters and their on-screen wives appearing in sketches on multiple variety shows and specials hosted by Gleason from 1951 to 1957, including one season as a half-hour sitcom from 1955 to 1956. The show is considered one of the greatest of its time, influencing other shows such as The Flintstones and introducing phrases that became part of the American language, such as "To the moon, Alice!"
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Carney won six Emmys for his role as Ed Norton
Art Carney played the role of sewer worker Ed Norton in the sitcom The Honeymooners from 1955 to 1956. At the time, Carney was 37 years old. He was born on November 4, 1918, in Mount Vernon, New York, and passed away on November 9, 2003, at the age of 85.
Carney won six Emmys for his portrayal of Ed Norton, the second banana to Jackie Gleason's irritable bus driver Ralph Kramden. Carney's character, a dim-witted but lovable source of endless frustration for Kramden, was a fan favourite and earned him a total of seven Emmy nominations.
The success of Carney's character in the sketches led to the creation of the famous situation comedy The Honeymooners and its subsequent revivals. Carney's portrayal of Norton was so popular that he was offered several lead roles in television. He starred in the television special "Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf" in 1958 and was given his own show, "Art Carney Special," from 1959 to 1961, although it was not particularly successful.
Carney's talent for playing Norton was recognised with multiple Emmy Awards, solidifying his place in the entertainment industry and the hearts of fans worldwide. Aside from his work on The Honeymooners, Carney had a diverse career, including roles in television dramas, Broadway shows, and films.
Carney's career spanned radio, television, theatre, and film. He was a gifted mimic and singer, entertaining audiences with his impressions of celebrities and world leaders. His work in radio and television, along with his memorable role as Ed Norton, cemented his legacy in the entertainment industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Art Carney was in his early 30s when he first played sewer worker Ed Norton in the sketches that would eventually become "The Honeymooners" in 1955.
"The Honeymooners" only lasted one season from 1955-1956, so Carney was in his mid-30s when it ended.
Art Carney died on November 9, 2003, at the age of 85.
