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- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Art Carney was an American actor with a lengthy career but is primarily remembered for two roles. In television, Carney played municipal sewer worker Ed Norton in the influential sitcom "The Honeymooners" (1955-1956). In film, Carney played senior citizen Harry Coombes in the road movie "Harry and Tonto" (1974). For this role, Carney won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1918, Carney was born in an Irish American family in Mount Vernon, New York. His father was publicist Edward Michael Carney, and his mother was housewife Helen Farrell. Carney was the youngest of the family's six sons. He was educated at Mount Vernon High School (at the time called "A.B. Davis High School").
In the 1930s, Carney was a singer with the orchestra of big band leader Horace Heidt (1901-1986). They appeared often in radio shows, and were regulars in the pioneering game show Pot o' Gold (1939-1947). Carney had an uncredited cameo in the film adaptation "Pot o' Gold" (1941), which was his film debut.
His career was interrupted when he was drafted for World War II service. He served as an infantryman and machine gun crewman for the duration of the war. He fought in the Invasion of Normandy (1944), where he was wounded in the leg by shrapnel. Following his injury, his right leg was shorter than his left one. He walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
Following the War, Carney appeared regularly on radio as a character actor. He also served as a celebrity impersonator, imitating the voices of (among others) Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Dwight David Eisenhower. He had a recurring role as the Red Lantern in the fantasy adventure series "Land of the Lost" (1943-1948), and another as Charlie the doorman in radio and television version of the sitcom The Morey Amsterdam Show (1948-1950).
Carney was first paired with fellow actor Jackie Gleason (1916-1987) in 1950, in a comedy sketch appearing in the variety series "Cavalcade of Stars" (1949-1952). Gleason appeared as lunchroom loudmouth Charlie Bratten, and Carney as mild-mannered victim Clem Finch. Due to good chemistry between the two actors, Carney became a show regular and appeared in several other comedy sketches with Gleason. "Cavalcade of Stars" was eventually reworked into "The Jackie Gleason Show" (1952-1957), with Gleason as the lead actor and Carney as his sidekick.
The most notable of the recurring sketches was "the Honeymooners", pairing the verbally abusive Ralph Kramden (Gleason) with his optimistic best friend Ed Norton (Carney). The sketch eventually was eventually given its own series, "The Honeymooners" (1955-1956). The series only lasted for 1 season, and a total of 39 episodes. The sitcom was canceled due to low ratings, but found success in syndication. Its depiction of the American working class was popular and influenced several other sitcoms. The popular animated sitcom "The Flintstones" (1960-1966) started as a Honeymooners parody, with the character Barney Rubble based on Ed Norton.
Due to his popularity as Gleason's sidekick, Carney was offered a number of lead roles in television. He starred in the television special "Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf" (1958), adapted from the story "Peter and the Wolf" (1936) by Sergei Prokofiev. He was eventually given his own show "Art Carney Special" (1959-1961), which was not particularly successful.
Carney had few notable guest star roles in television during the 1960s. He played an alcoholic department store Santa Claus in the episode "The Night of the Meek" (1960) of The Twilight Zone, and portrayed the villain "The Archer" in two episodes of "Batman". He opened the 1970s by playing both Santa Claus and villain Cosmo Scam in the Christmas television special "The Great Santa Claus Switch" (1970), where he appeared alongside Jim Henson's Muppets.
Carney had suffered a career decline until the 1970s, in part due to his alcoholism. He first found success in film as the leading character "Harry and Tonto" (1974), as a lonely senior citizen who goes on a cross-country journey with his pet cat. His critical success in the role and winning an Academy Award helped revive his career. He was offered many new film roles, though few leading ones.
Among his better-known film roles were the deranged preacher John Wesley Gore in "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" (1975), aging detective Ira Wells in "The Late Show" (1977), senile surgeon Dr. Amos Willoughby in "House Calls" (1978), and thrill-seeking bank robber Al in "Going in Style". During this period, Carney won both the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor and the Pasinetti Award for Best Actor.
Carney had a notable role in the television film "Star Wars Holiday Special" (1978) as Trader Saun Dann, a member of the Rebel Alliance. In the 1980s, Carney was mostly reduced to minor roles again. He is better remembered as the kind-hearted farmer Irv Manders in the horror film "Firestarter" (1984) and theatrical producer Bernard Crawford in the comedy-drama "The Muppets Take Manhattan" (1984). He mostly retired from acting by the late 1980s.
Carney emerged from retirement to play the supporting role of Frank Slater in "Last Action Hero" (1993). Frank is depicted as the "favorite second cousin" of the film's protagonist Jack Slater (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger). Frank's death provided motivation for the revenge-seeking protagonist. Frank's final line in the film was "I'm outta here", and this was indeed Carney's last appearance in a film before his death.
Carney lived in retirement until 2003. He died in his sleep in November 2003, in his home near Westbrook, Connecticut. His death was attributed to unspecified "natural causes". He was 85 years old and had reportedly managed to stay sober since he originally quit drinking in 1974. He is interred at the Riverside Cemetery in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Carney was survived by his wife Jean Myers, who died in October 2012. Carney was the grandfather of politician Devin Carney, who served in the Connecticut General Assembly.- Paulene Myers was born on 9 November 1913 in Ocilla, Georgia, USA. She was an actress, known for My Cousin Vinny (1992), The Sting (1973) and Playhouse 90 (1956). She died on 8 December 1996 in Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Tova Borgnine was born on 17 November 1941 in Oslo, Norway. She was married to Ernest Borgnine and Louis A. Littleton. She died on 26 February 2022 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Richard Venture was born on 12 November 1923 in New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for Heartbreak Ridge (1986), Scent of a Woman (1992) and Missing (1982). He was married to Katherine Catalano, Lorraine Venture, Olivia Cole and Grayce Grant. He died on 19 December 2017 in Chester, Connecticut, USA.- Vincent Margera was born on 3 July 1956 in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for CKY 3 (2001), CKY Trilogy: Round 1 (2003) and CKY Trilogy: Round 2 (2003). He died on 15 November 2015 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Janet Armstrong was born on 23 March 1934 in Wilmette, Illinois, USA. She was married to Neil Armstrong. She died on 21 June 2018 in West Chester, Ohio, USA.
- Michael Farmer was born on 9 May 1902 in Cork, Ireland. He was an actor, known for Perfect Understanding (1933). He was married to Gloria Swanson. He died in June 1975 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.
- Patricia Benoit was born on 21 February 1927 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Mister Peepers (1952), Appointment with Adventure (1955) and Producers' Showcase (1954). She died on 6 August 2018 in Port Chester, New York, USA.
- Wendy Binks was born on 27 February 1970. She died on 10 November 2022 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.
- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Murray Schisgal was born on 25 November 1926 in East New York, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Tootsie (1982), ABC Stage 67 (1966) and Boys and Girls (2000). He was married to Reene Schisgal. He died on 1 October 2020 in Port Chester, New York, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
R.S.M. Brittain was born on 12 September 1899 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Lisa (1962), Rotten to the Core (1965) and The Concrete Jungle (1960). He died on 9 January 1981 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.- David Lloyd Meredith was born on 30 October 1933 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Henry V (1989), The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982) and Softly Softly: Task Force (1969). He was married to Daphne. He died on 22 October 2008 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.
- Animation Department
- Art Department
Vinnie Bell was born on 27 October 1931 in Rye, New York, USA. He is known for The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), Rugrats Adventure Game (1998) and Saturday Night Live (1975). He died on 1 February 2021 in Port Chester, New York, USA.- Production Manager
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Bruce S. Pustin was born on 18 October 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a production manager and producer, known for Bad Boys (1995), Goodfellas (1990) and The Age of Innocence (1993). He died on 2 February 2007 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.- Frank Sheeran was born on 25 October 1920 in Camden, New Jersey, USA. He died on 14 December 2003 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Goss was born on 11 April 1932 in Dobb's Ferry, New York, USA. He is known for Moonstruck (1987), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Network (1976). He died on 3 January 2019 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.- Additional Crew
- Actress
June Williams was born on 21 June 1926 in Crewe, Cheshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Our Zoo (2014). She was married to Fred Williams. She died on 1 May 2015 in Upton, Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.- Wyatt Tee Walker was born on 16 August 1929 in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for Malcolm X (1992), 4 Little Girls (1997) and Committee on UnAmerican Activities (1962). He was married to Theresa Ann Edwards. He died on 23 January 2018 in Chester, Virginia, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Robert E. Griffith was born in 1905 in Methuen, Massachusetts, USA. Robert E. was a producer, known for West Side Story (1961), The Pajama Game (1957) and Damn Yankees (1958). Robert E. was married to Elizabeth Otis Schaefer. Robert E. died on 7 June 1961 in Port Chester, New York, USA.- Dave Hickson was born on 30 October 1929 in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, UK. He died on 8 July 2013 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.
- Gary Speed was born on 8 September 1969 in Mancot, Wales, UK. He was married to Louise Speed. He died on 27 November 2011 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK.
- Additional Crew
Ed Barrow was born on 10 May 1868 in Springfield, Illinois, USA. He is known for The Pride of the Yankees (1942). He died on 15 December 1953 in Port Chester, New York, USA.- Producer
- Actor
- Production Manager
Angelo Amoroso was born on 16 July 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a producer and actor, known for The Mourning After (2006) and What Does the Flag Mean to Me (2001). He died on 6 November 2021 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.- Actress
Jeannie Weber was born on 22 February 1972 in Dexter, Iowa. She was an actress, known for The Life and Legacy of Aaliyah Nicole Jackson. She died on 17 June 2014 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.- Composer
Lazare Saminsky was born on 27 October 1882 in Dolynske, Ukraine, Russian Empire. He was a composer. He died on 30 June 1959 in Port Chester, New York, USA.