The Great One: Jackie Gleason | 60 Minutes Archive 

My grandmother was on a train with Jackie Gleason during WWII, and it was the highlight of her life. She said he went from car to car cheering people up. She never forgot his kindness and was his biggest fan.

Jackie was and will always be the Babe Ruth of American sitcom television.

I'm 62 years old and every time one of these legends like Jackie and James Garner pass away, it greatly saddens me because I'm reminded of an era where there were plenty of talented and really decent people on TV and film.

The think that strikes me watching this interview is Jackie's sheer intelligence, his honesty, and his humility. He was amazing.

Gleason's eyes are mesmerizing. Incredible windows into his soul. You can't take your eyes off him. Such a commanding presence. That look when he said he never won an emmy.....

Anytime Smokey and the Bandit is on, I'm watching because of Jackie. His Buford T. Justice is so iconic and damn funny.

He never lost that childish gleam in his eyes. Even at this stage in his life, he was still very fascinating.

He was actually one of the best actors in every movie he was in.

My father resembled Jackie. One Halloween, my father dressed like him at a party. Pictures were taken and sent to Jackie. One day several weeks later, my father received a letter from Jackie along with several very nice comments and a signature. It was a great day for my father, for sure…

I never realized it when I was young, but my mom did. Jackie Gleason was one of the most talented people who ever lived. He could act, both great comedy and serious drama. Could sing, dance, compose music, write, do stand-up comedy, host shows, and give great interviews. Sad to hear he didn’t get the accolades he deserved.

Grew up watching Jackie on Saturday night with my parents. My brother and I watched Honeymooner reruns at 1130 at night before going to bed. We laugh to this day whenever the subject comes up. A class guy who lived life to its fullest and was a one of a kind entertainer. He truly was The Great One and away we go

He really is amazingly down to Earth and open about himself, he doesn't put on airs, he is just himself and enjoys himself. I like that.

I have tremendous respect any man who says “nothing untoward happened”

The GREAT ONE. There will never be another Jackie Gleason.

That voice, one of a kind. Hysterically funny, and an absolutely brilliant mind.

"It's better to have fun than to have money". Jackie was a freaking rock star. Forget the Emmys, he should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

My fave part was when Jackie corrects Morley when he says (about Ralph Kramden) "he was a pretty lousy husband", and Jackie says "No really. When you think about it, the poor soul hasn't got a lot of ability - but he keeps trying... to make he and Alice happy". "He was just trying to make it". What a special show.

Wow, what a humble man telling a story of himself. Very refreshing to watch.

I still miss him. No matter how bad you feel when you see Jackie Gleason you can't but smile.

Comedians always give the best interviews because they are the most honest ones of the bunch.

As a teenager, I worked in the kitchens at the Inverrary Country Club and the Tennis Club in Lauderhill, Florida. Jackie lived there at that time, saw him in the main kitchen smoozeing with the staff. Class act.

Man O Man does this take me back to a wonderful time in my life. I never really saw an interview with Jackie before this one. It sure warms my heart to see that he was obviously a good and great person. Kind of like what I would have expected him to be. The laughter this man brought to my house when I was a kid is priceless...I can still hear and see my father laughing !!

This makes me tear up. The man had an amazing life, and deserved his accolades. But I think the most poignant thing is; he reminds me a bit of my dad. His manner of speaking, his outlook...so much like my dad, who was born about 9 years after Mr. Gleason. Makes me miss him, but it also is a comfort.

The charm,The way he talks his smirk his eyes his comedy was like no other .He truly is missed! Lucky for us all his comedy is still here .Miss the Great Jackie Gleason!!

I just love this man. He was so incredibly talented. God bless him RIP

His humanity showed in his eyes. The Great One, for sure.

Absolutely loved Jackie Gleason. They don’t make guys like him anymore. A true legend. -Jeff

While Jackie died five years before I was born, his influence on me has been palpable. No matter how many years pass, those original 39 episodes of “The Honeymooners” stand the test of time. At the end of each one, with his tail between his legs, he would walk up to Alice and exclaim, “Baby, you’re the greatest!” How we all yearn for such happy endings!

His grandson, Jason Patric has a similar intensity and genuine humility. Jackie Gleason stood out to me as a kid because he was truly funny, his laughs came from real moments and that always made me really laugh. He was the Great One for a reason.

Absolutely a once in a generation personality. There will never be another Jackie Gleason.

He was one of a kind. There will NEVER be another like him.

Pleasantly surprised to see and hear the humility, decency and generosity of this icon.

Jackie was old school classy, no vulgarity or going for the cheap/dirty laughs. He portrayed & elicited real emotion from the viewers & man was he good at it. What an absolute legend PS: he smoked _5 packs_ a day 😳😳

I played Jackie in pool one time. The best and most eye opening exoeriebce I've ever had in my life. Even my father could barely keep up with Jackie Gleason. God I loved that experience. He's one of the greatest pool players ever to pick up a pool cue.

He was so genuine that he never aged! He always had that handsome youthful look in his eye!

Love Jackie Gleason! Forever a favorite. RIP

I grew up with Jackie Gleason on the TV and in the movies - I always remember the opening credits for his Miami based prime time TV show, the lush big band music playing, the long shot coming ashore into glamorous Miami Beach, the announcer calling the guests and the band and then Jackie, nattily dressed and carefully groomed, the ever present cig in one hand and a cocktail in the other, appeared, beaming to the audience applause and crooning the infamous line "how sweet it is!" My father, who rarely laughed out loud or showed amusement would chuckle and laugh before Jackie had ever cracked a joke. Jackie Gleason was a larger than life character yet he had an everyday, working class Joe attitude that I think a lot of people identified with. He lived life on his own terms with no regrets and created a legacy very few can match. The Great One.

His eye's draw you in . I see sadness & sincerity. He has that personality that is likeable to all . Feels like he's the interesting guy down the local bar who you could listen to all day long

Most soulful eyes and soothing voice.

We are Blessed to have had Legend's like this in our life time.... There will Never be another like him.... The Great One

I have no use today for 60 minutes - but this old time interview was excellent.

He had a very sad childhood, out on his own as a teenager, but he turned that sad life into his successful career. He will always be one of my favorites along with Don Knotts. He would improvise many times on 'The Honeymooners' and go off script, he was a brilliant and very talented gentleman.

October 28, 1984. I truly wish i could go back to October 28, 1984. I would go back in a second.

The most kindest, generous, funny, serous, loving person I have ever met.

The older generation loved this man. Had his Tv show and was very talented too.

What an underrated treasure. Just love, love , love Jackie Gleason.

Greatly missed. A human with no fear. No fear of failing and no fear of enjoying life. I miss Buford T.

Loved Gleason, Red Skelton, Rodney Dangerfield, Flip Wilson and so many others .... Miss them all❤️🙏

How sweet it is......My Dad and I watched him together.

I remember watching this with my dad when I was 14 years old. I had to. Dad always made us watch 60 Minutes on Sundays at 6, after car work and homework. When we watched it, it was one of the few times my dad would laugh. I miss him. And thank you 60 Minutes for all these wonderful memories and stories. I still watch you every week.

Natural depth,timing an creativity, the great one . Had the privilege to witness an era in TV history he an so many unequaled legends .

Wish the world had more people like this great icon. Thank you for being you.

I miss characters like Jackie Gleason. Smart, insightful, funny and talented of course. This little interview teaches you so much about life. Take risks, fail and get up again even if you have to apologize, try to live your life and most of all have fun.

I miss these types of interviews. Interviews inside the person's home where they feel comfortable and safe. Like two old friends having a talk after not seeing each other for a long time.

I love , Mr. Jackie Gleason - I remember watching this interview when it was new - he was a beautiful man who lived a beautiful life - there's an old Polish proverb that says : GOD GIVES US OUR LIVES AS A GIFT - AND GIFTS ARE MEANT TO BE ENJOYED - and , Mr. Jackie Gleason enjoyed his gift to the fullest

Mr. Gleason still had his magnetic and powerful presence in this interview. Great stories by a legend. Thanks for uploading this.

I still remember Jackie Gleason. What a professional actor. Sorely missed

The Greatest! A few years back I had asked my adult children if they knew anything about Jackie Gleason. Nope. How about "To the moon, Alice"? Nope. Said he had a hugely successful variety show on T.V. Asked them to guess from where it was broadcast. Hollywood? Nope. New York? Nope. Told them this guy was SO big, they did the show "Live from Miami Beach"! What an actor. What an entertainer. A true star!

Truly one of the greatest of all time!!! There will never be another like him

Love this man. One of a kind. What a character. Miss this personality, don't make them like they used to.

Great guy. Great actor. Comedian. Way underrated. For him to not have received more awards for his work is preposterous. He was truly one of the great ones! May you be resting in peace Mr. Gleason.

I've been a fan all my life (82). There is quality of bedrock decency and honesty about the man.

Jackie was and still is..one of tv's most creative and beloved clowns..(Crying)I still miss him.

My dad and I loved the Honeymooners and his show from Miami, what a legend.

He is truly an American Icon. He has the ability to reinvent himself over and over again. A natural Talent. The Great One 🇺🇸

A true Legend a one off and never to be repeated.

I miss Jackie Gleason. My mother had all of his orchestra albums. I would stay up to watch him on Carson or honeymooners reruns

Jackie is a national treasure!

This was such a wonderful Interview. The way he speaks of his childhood is heart-wrenching but inspiring. The negotiation story was hilarious.

I remember him as the unforgettable Buford T. Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit”. One of my all time favorite movies.

The way they used to get you. " They will make you to paint yourself in a corner of luxury. " Said by wise man with the eyes that soul shines through and face that exudes intelligence and kindness.

I grew up with _The Honeymooners_ and his variety show and all the madness that came out of that. Gleason never failed to entertain. He was fun and funny and I have no doubt but that he was an absolute *HOOT* in person. Thank you, Jackie, for brightening our lives.

Tremendous charisma. A true star.

He "nailed" the character Buford T. Justice, and IMO, I don't think anyone else could have done better.

Thank you for this. I visited my brother who's wife restricted all media intake of their two young boys to videos in the evening. It was fairly no holds barred on what they could watch - she was not censorious at all. Well, on a visit, I took the boys to the video store, and told them that The Honeymooner's was cool. So we got a compilation and watched it. This was in the Oughts: the boys, maybe 9 and 10, were transfixed. Transfixed. I'd also got them Red Dwarf (also a hit), and other videos that you would think kids would view more favorably. Nope. Their favorite way beyond any other was Kramden and Norton. Every night. I have since found solace in this experience. There was no other that could chew up the scenery than Gleason. There was no there team that could put it across like the great Carney and Gleason. The modern day Quixote and Sanza to be sure!

Its a shame this clip is short ,I could've listened to him for hours .

My Grandparents looked after my sister and I often. We never missed an episode of what my Grandmother called “The Gleason Show” from Miami!! The laughs and entertainment it brought will never be forgotten. God Bless the Great One.

A superb entertainer, a superb human being. May he rest in peace.

Gleason was a BRILLIANT man...he had a memory (photographic) few had....he believed in aliens and flying saucers...he smoked 6 packs of cigarettes a day....he could drink every human being under the table.....he ate like there was no tomorrow.. he lived life larger than all but a few men.....and his Ralph Kramdon....was the greatest character in the history of TV... a unique man we will never see the likes of again..... to this day The Honeymooners remain the funniest show in television history.....

To this day I pop in my complete dvd set of the honeymooners. Loved Jackie in the movies and on tv. Cherished and fond memories of THE GREAT ONE. Larger than life and a legend.

It's amazing he chain smoked and drank over a quart of liquor a day until he died of heart problems. Maybe his humor and laughing all the time preserved him. Great comedian!

I’m 50 yeahs old now and I happened across my old grammar school yearbook… Favorite Actor Favorite Show.. Jackie Gleason/The Honeymooners is what 13 year old me wrote. My mother still remembers the day we were watching tv and it was announced he passed. She said i cried and cried as if i’d lost a family member

i lived close to inverery,down in florida,the great one was still alive. these were the best years of my life

He was the definition of a genius, exceptional creative power. I read he never use to rehearse, he would read a script once and remember all of it even the parts he wasn't playing

He was great at EVERYTHING! He lived up to the title, "The Great One". RIP

Jackie was classy, sassy and warm all at the same time.

Too the Moon Alice. I LOVE HIS voice. Respect OUR LEGENDS. All due respect. 🕊🦚

Love just honestly love and respect him. He had mannerisms and a communication of comedy I don't think anyone can duplicate

I used to watch the Jackie Gleason show with my Dad. My Dad resembled Mr Gleason. Gleason was so lovable and funny. He was a really talented man.

Listen to his voice! Man, I could've listened to him all day.

Every Saturday night from Miami.... Never missed. Loved June Taylor dancers. Such wonderful memories! Makes me so sad it's gone........

Hands down one of THE BEST personalities out there! 💯 So original.

What a phenomenal interview, absolutely genuine and just priceless!!!

Pure genius. He truly was, The Great One.

This is the definition of a legend.

He reminds me so much of my father. Such kind eyes. I love this man.

My west palm bch friend......how sweet it must be.....RIP

I loved this guy! He was a natural entertainer!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I saw each honeymooners episode a couple hundred times, and I still laugh each time I see them. They called him the great one, and even that was an understatement. The best there ever was

Wow! This brings back a lot of great childhood memories at home with family in front of the t.v. on Sat. nights. Those were the good old days.