Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor, writer, composer and conductor.

He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, exemplified by his bus driver character Ralph Kramden in the television series The Honeymooners. Gleason later released the series in syndication, which increased its popularity over the years with new audiences.

He also developed The Jackie Gleason Show, which maintained high ratings from the mid-1950s until its cancellation in 1970. After originating in Hollywood, filming moved to Miami, Florida, in 1964 after Gleason took up permanent residence there.

Among his notable film roles were Minnesota Fats in the 1961 drama The Hustler (co-starring with Paul Newman), and Buford T. Justice in the Smokey and the Bandit series from 1977 into the early 1980s, in which he co-starred with Burt Reynolds.

Jackie Gleason was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1986.