Audrey Meadows: The Force Behind Alice Kramden
If you've ever watched "The Honeymooners," you know Alice Kramden wasn't one to back down from her boisterous husband, Ralph. Played by Audrey Meadows, Alice delivered some of the show's most memorable one-liners with razor-sharp wit. Remember the time she quipped, “Eats and runs? The way you eat, you’re lucky you can walk!”? Classic Alice, and that was all Audrey Meadows, folks.
But behind the scenes, Audrey was just as impressive as her on-screen persona. Born into a family of performers—her sister, Jayne Meadows, was a well-known actress—Audrey carved her own path. She initially made her mark on Broadway, but it was her relentless determination that got her the role of Alice. “Jackie Gleason thought Audrey was too glamorous for the part,” reveals Peter Crescenti, coauthor of The Official Honeymooners Treasury. “So, Audrey came up with a brilliant idea. She had a photographer snap some unflattering photos of her, right after she woke up, in her rumpled clothes. When Jackie saw those pictures, he knew she was perfect for Alice!”
Jackie Gleason’s Unorthodox Rehearsal Style
While the cast of "The Honeymooners" got along famously, Jackie Gleason wasn’t exactly a fan of traditional rehearsals. “Jackie had an incredible photographic memory. He'd read the script just once,” explains pop culture historian Geoffrey Mark, author of The Lucy Book. “This meant Audrey, Art Carney, and Joyce Randolph had to form a tight-knit bond. They relied on each other to nail their lines and keep the show running smoothly. It was a unique dynamic, but it worked wonders for the show's chemistry.”
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Audrey's Personal Life: Drama and Triumph
Away from the bright lights of television, Audrey's life was filled with its own set of ups and downs. Her relationship with Continental Airlines CEO Robert Six caused a rift with her sister Jayne and Jayne's husband, talk show host Steve Allen. They were close pals with Ethel Merman, the woman Six divorced before tying the knot with Audrey in 1961. “In the end, Audrey made a smart choice,” notes Mark. “After Robert's passing, she was left with a substantial fortune.”
Despite their differences, Audrey and Jayne eventually reconciled after Robert's death. “There was always a bit of sibling rivalry,” adds Mark. “Audrey sometimes gave the impression that she was the bigger star, which didn't sit well with Jayne.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Even after "The Honeymooners" ended, Audrey continued to play Alice in TV specials throughout the '60s and '70s. Her portrayal of Alice remains iconic to this day. “Ralph could shout ‘To the moon, Alice!’ all he wanted,” Audrey once remarked, “but at the heart of it, there was always a deep tenderness and love between the two of them.” Audrey Meadows passed away in 1996 at the age of 73, but her legacy as Alice Kramden lives on.
—Ed Gross
For more on Audrey Meadows and her incredible career, grab the latest issue of Closer magazine, available now at newsstands.
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