Some players make their marks in leading roles while other excel in secondary parts. In the annals of TV history, Art Carney will be listed as a--if not the--premiere second banana. Over a period of close to two decades, he charmed and delighted audiences as Ed Norton, the subterranean sanitation engineer and comic foil to Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden, in "The Honeymooners" sketches on "The Jackie Gleason Show".Carney was the youngest of six sons born in Mount Vernon, NY to an insurance salesman and his musician wife. A born mimic, he began his career as a singer and comic with the Horace
Began career as a mimic and novelty singer with Horace Heidt Orchestra
1941
Screen debut in a bit part, "Pot o' Gold"; last feature appearance for over 20 years
Worked on radio with Horace Heidt, on "The March of Time" (doing impersonations of politicians in the news and often partnered with character actor Ollie O'Toole) and as second banana to Fred Allen, Edgar Bergen and Bert Lahr; interrupted in 1944-1945 for military service
Served in US Army; hit by shrapnel at Normandy's Omaha Beach landing and suffered a leg wound which left him with a slight limp
TV series debut as Charlie the doorman and Newton the waiter on "The Morey Amsterdam Show" (CBS, 1948-1949; DuMont, 1949-1950)
