Junior Rasmussen
Art Carney, born on November 4, 1918, in Mount Vernon, New York, was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as sewer worker Ed Norton on the sitcom The Honeymooners (1955–1956). Carney's character, Ed Norton, was the best friend of Ralph Kramden, played by Jackie Gleason. Carney's performance as Norton earned him five Emmy Awards and he was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2004.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Art Carney |
| Full Name | Arthur William Matthew Carney |
| Date of Birth | November 4, 1918 |
| Place of Birth | Mount Vernon, New York |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, singer, radio announcer |
| The Honeymooners Character | Ed Norton |
| The Honeymooners Character Occupation | Sewer worker |
| The Honeymooners Co-Stars | Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph |
| The Honeymooners Air Date | 1955-1956 |
| Awards | Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Awards, Hollywood Walk of Fame star |
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What You'll Learn
- Art Carney played sewer worker Ed Norton on The Honeymooners
- Carney's co-star Jackie Gleason said he was 90% responsible for the show's success
- Carney's character's wife Trixie was played by Joyce Randolph
- Carney's role as Ed Norton was foreshadowed by his radio role as Philly on The Joe and Ethel Turp Show
- Carney's last on-screen words were his character's dying words in the film Last Action Hero (1993)
Art Carney played sewer worker Ed Norton on The Honeymooners
Carney first appeared as Ed Norton in the early 1950s when "The Honeymooners" was a recurring comedy sketch on the DuMont Network's "Cavalcade of Stars," hosted by Gleason. The success of these sketches led to the creation of the "Honeymooners" sitcom. Carney's portrayal of the guffawing, slightly off-centre sewer worker gained him lifelong fame and is considered one of his most memorable roles.
Carney's talent as a comic actor shone through in his portrayal of Ed Norton, and he was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, winning six. In addition to his comedic skills, Carney's ability to connect with the audience and bring depth to his character contributed to the success of "The Honeymooners." His co-star, Gleason, once stated that Carney deserved ninety percent of the credit for the show's success.
Carney's career extended beyond "The Honeymooners." He appeared in other television shows, including Playhouse 90, Studio One, and The Twilight Zone. He also had a successful film career, winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "Harry and Tonto" (1974). Despite his diverse body of work, Carney is best remembered for his portrayal of sewer worker Ed Norton on "The Honeymooners," a character that left a lasting impression on audiences and the history of television.
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Carney's co-star Jackie Gleason said he was 90% responsible for the show's success
Art Carney played sewer worker Ed Norton in the television sitcom The Honeymooners (1955-1956). Carney's portrayal of the slightly off-center Ed Norton gained him lifelong fame and he is often remembered for this role by his many fans.
Carney's co-star, Jackie Gleason, who played Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners, said that Carney deserved "ninety percent of the credit" for the show's success. Indeed, Gleason fought to get Carney more money and confronted writers when there weren't enough laughs written for his co-star. In one instance, Gleason told the writers, "write Art in bigger than you have him."
Gleason and Carney had a good working relationship, with Gleason recruiting Carney to appear in sketches for his comedy-variety series, Cavalcade of Stars, after the pair had worked together on the show, with Carney playing Clem Finch, the mild-mannered victim of Gleason's lunchroom loudmouth, Charlie Bratten. Carney's portrayal of Norton opposite Gleason's Kramden in the Honeymooners sketches proved popular, leading to the creation of the famous situation comedy The Honeymooners and its subsequent revivals.
Carney's talent was not confined to The Honeymooners, however. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1974 film Harry and Tonto, and he was also nominated for seven Emmy Awards, winning six. Carney also had his own TV show, The Art Carney Special (1959-1961), and appeared in television dramas, including Playhouse 90 and Studio One, as well as in made-for-TV movies.
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Carney's character's wife Trixie was played by Joyce Randolph
Art Carney played Ed Norton, a sewer worker, in the television series The Honeymooners. Carney's character's wife, Trixie Norton, was played by Joyce Randolph. Trixie was also the name of the character played by Randolph in skits on The Jackie Gleason Show.
Randolph was born Joyce Sirola to a Finnish-American family in Detroit. She got her start in show business when she joined a touring production of "Stage Door" while working at a department store. She then moved to New York, where she acted in theatre and on television. In a 2015 interview, Randolph said that she did not portray Trixie Norton in Honeymooners revivals due to personal and geographic reasons. She also stated that Gleason considered her to be "the quintessential Trixie."
Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie, died at 99 in 2024. She was the last surviving member of The Honeymooners cast.
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Carney's role as Ed Norton was foreshadowed by his radio role as Philly on The Joe and Ethel Turp Show
Art Carney, born on November 4, 1918, in Mount Vernon, New York, was an American actor and comedian. He gained fame for his portrayal of sewer worker Ed Norton in the television series The Honeymooners (1955–56). However, before his role in The Honeymooners, Carney had already established himself as a reliable actor in New York, with various roles in radio, television, and film.
Carney's career in entertainment began in 1936 when he joined the Horace Heidt Orchestra as a mimic and novelty singer. He went on the road with the orchestra for more than three years, doing impressions and singing novelty songs. He also did some announcing for Heidt's radio show, "Pot O' Gold." In 1941, he made his film debut with a small role in the movie "Pot O' Gold," which was a spin-off of the radio program. During the 1940s, Carney worked steadily in radio, playing character roles and impersonating celebrities such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.
One of Carney's notable radio roles was as "Philly" on the Joe and Ethel Turp Show. This role is particularly significant because it foreshadowed his later characterization of Ed Norton in The Honeymooners. Carney's portrayal of Philly showcased his talent for creating unique and memorable characters, which he would continue to develop and refine in his subsequent roles.
In addition to his radio work, Carney also appeared in several television shows and films. He had roles in television dramas, such as Playhouse 90 and Studio One, and appeared in films like "The Yellow Rolls-Royce" (1964) and "Harry and Tonto" (1974), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor. However, it was his role as Ed Norton in The Honeymooners that brought him the most recognition and lasting fame.
Carney's portrayal of Ed Norton, the foil for star Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden, became a beloved and iconic part of the show. The success of The Honeymooners led to multiple revivals and kept the show in reruns for decades. Carney's talent and versatility as an actor were recognized through numerous awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
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Carney's last on-screen words were his character's dying words in the film Last Action Hero (1993)
Art Carney, born on November 4, 1918, in Mount Vernon, New York, was an American actor and comedian. He gained fame for his portrayal of sewer worker Ed Norton in the television series The Honeymooners (1955–1956). Carney had a prolific career spanning several decades and encompassing radio, television, and film.
Carney's final film role was in the 1993 film Last Action Hero, in which he played the character Frank Slater, Jack's second cousin. The film was an action-adventure comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and received mixed reviews from critics.
Carney's last on-screen words in the film were: "I'm out of here." These words were spoken by his character, Frank, as his dying words. While the film may not have been well-received by critics, it is worth noting that it is being rediscovered and some have even called for it to be reconsidered as a fun and enjoyable film of the early 1990s, if not a good satire.
In addition to his film roles, Carney had a successful career in television. He appeared in television dramas, including Playhouse 90, Studio One, and The Twilight Zone. He also had his own TV show, The Art Carney Special, which ran from 1959 to 1961. Carney was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2004 and received several awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and multiple Emmy Awards.
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Frequently asked questions
Art Carney played Ed Norton on The Honeymooners.
Ed Norton was a municipal sewer worker on The Honeymooners.
Art Carney received $3,500 per week for his role on The Honeymooners.
