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).

Filmography

• 2005Pioneers of Primetime
• 2005The Honeymooners — Original Series Creator
• 2004The Wool Cap — Story
• 2002The Honeymooners Holiday Classics — Ralph Kramden (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 2000The Very Best of the Honeymooners — Ralph Kramden
• Miodowe lata — Original Series Creator
• 1994Jackie 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)
• 1986Nothing in Common — Max Basner
• 1985Izzy & Moe — Izzy Einstein, Original Music Composer
• 1983Mr. Halpern and Mr. Johnson — Ernest Johnson
• 1983Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 — Buford T. Justice
• 1983The Sting II — Fargo Gondorff
• 1982The Toy — Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates
• 1980Smokey and the Bandit II — Buford T. Justice / Reginald Van Justice / Gaylord Justice
• 1978The Honeymooners Christmas Special — Ralph Kramden, Director
• 1978The Honeymooners Specials: Valentine Special — Ralph Kramden, Director, Original Music Composer
• 1977Mr. Billion — John Cutler
• 1977Smokey and the Bandit — Buford T. Justice
• 1977The Honeymooners Specials: A Christmas Carol — Ralph Kramden, Director
• 1976Bob Hope's World of Comedy — (archive footage)
• 1976The Honeymooners Specials: Second Honeymoon — Ralph Kramden, Director
• 1975Three for Two — Herb / Fred / Mike
• 1970How Do I Love Thee? — Stanley Waltz
• 1969Don't Drink the Water — Walter Hollander
• 1969How to Commit Marriage — Oliver Poe
• Here's Lucy — Ralph Kramden (uncredited)
• 1968Skidoo — Tough Tony Banks
• 1963Papa's Delicate Condition — Jack Griffith
• 1963Soldier in the Rain — Maxwell Slaughter
• 1962Gigot — Gigot, Writer, Original Music Composer
• 1962Requiem for a Heavyweight — Maish Rennick
• 1961The Hustler — Minnesota Fats
• 1961The Million Dollar Incident — Self, Story
• You're in the Picture — Host
• The Honeymooners — Ralph Kramden, Producer, Production Supervisor, Creator
• Stage Show — Producer, Creator
• The Jackie Gleason Show — Self - Host, Writer
• The Red Skelton Show — Reginald van Gleason III
• 1950The Desert Hawk — Aladdin
• The Jack Benny Program — Jackie Gleason
• Cavalcade of Stars — Fenwick Babbitt, Self - host
• The Life of Riley — Chester A. Riley
• Studio One — Jerry Giles, Sam Wheeler, Uncle Eddie Doyle
• 1942All Through the Night — Starchy
• 1942Escape from Crime — Evans - Convict Getting Mug Shot (as Jackie C. Gleason)
• 1942Lady Gangster — Wilson
• 1942Larceny, Inc. — Hobart
• 1942Orchestra Wives — Ben Beck
• 1942Springtime in the Rockies — Commissioner (uncredited)
• 1942Tramp, Tramp, Tramp! — Hank
• 1941Navy Blues — 'Tubby' (as Jackie C. Gleason)
• 1941Steel Against the Sky — Cliff (uncredited)

Appearances as themselves (24)

• 2025John Candy: I Like Me — Self - Actor (archive footage)
• 2019Mike Wallace Is Here — Self (archive footage)
• 2006Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work — Self (archive footage)
• 2002The Hustler: The Inside Story — Self (archive footage)
• 2001The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 — Self (archive footage)
• 2001The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 — Self (archive footage)
• 1998A Bing Crosby Christmas — Self (archive footage)
• 1998The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts — Self - Roastee (archive footage)
• 1988Jackie Gleason: The Great One — Self (archive footage)
• 1981All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds — Self
• The Captain and Tennille — Self - Guest
• Tony Orlando and Dawn — Self
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts — Self
• 1968The Movie Orgy — Self (archive footage)
• Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine — Himself
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self - Co-Host
• 1960The Fabulous Fifties — Self
• The David Susskind Show — Self
• Small World — Self
• Tony Awards — Self - Presenter
• The Bob Hope Show — Self
• The Colgate Comedy Hour — Self
• What's My Line? — Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show — Self