Was Art Carney the original Kramer?

[Loonman]

Larry David said Cosmo Kramer was based on a few of his friends, but Carney has had a lot of Kramer-esque moments on Honeymooners.

[Drifter]

1. Great analogy ...

If he wasn't the first, he most certainly was the best.

It was as if you feel Ralph's blood pressure rise when he was doing something stupid.

true genius.

Cheers
Drifter

[CanuckAmok]

2. He's the original "Sit Com Neighbour"

Fread and Ethyl were good characters, but Ed Norton was the original "guy next door who marches to a different drummer".

[Loonman]

6. Yeah

Norton was usually only seen in his apartment with his wife, otherwise, he was across the hall.

[underpants]

3. He was the original Barney Rubble and Barney Gumble (sort of)

The Flinstones and the Simpsons are both based on the Honeymooners.

He probably was the first "Wacky neighbor" character on TV followed by:

Fred Mertz
The unseen guy on Home Improvement
Kramer
All of Bob Newharts neighbors
etc.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. Michael Richards Definitely Adapted a lot of Art Carney's physical

comedy into the character of Kramer.

[Loonman]

5. That's what I thought

From bursting in the door and getting on Ralph's nerves.

[UnAmericanJoe]

7. Kramer is an amalgam

Of Norton and a sober/clean Reverend Jim from Taxi.

[cosmicdot]

8. He was great as Ed Norton ... and, one heck of an actor

who didn't do the Hollywood thing ... he seemed to love living in Connecticut ...

Actor - filmography

Last Action Hero (1993) .... Frank
Where Pigeons Go to Die (1990) (TV)

Emperor's New Clothes, The (1987)
... aka Cannon Movie Tales: The Emperor's New Clothes (1987) (USA: video title)

Night Friend (1987) .... Monsignor O'Brien
"Cavanaughs, The" (1986) TV Series .... James 'The Weasel' Cavanaugh

Miracle of the Heart: A Boys Town Story (1986) (TV) .... Father Michael T. O'Halloran

Blue Yonder, The (1985) (TV) .... Henry Coogan
... aka Time Flyer (1985) (TV)

Izzy and Moe (1985) (TV) .... Moe Smith

Undergrads, The (1985) (TV) .... Mel Adler

"Honeymooners: The Lost Episodes, The" (1984) TV Series .... Ed Norton

Night They Saved Christmas, The (1984) (TV) .... Santa Claus

Naked Face, The (1984) .... Morgens

Muppets Take Manhattan, The (1984) .... Bernard Crawford

Firestarter (1984) .... Irv Manders

Doctor's Story, A (1984) (TV) .... Harry Wickes

Terrible Joe Moran (1984) (TV) .... Tony

Better Late Than Never (1982) .... Charley Dunbar
... aka Whose Little Girl Are You? (1982)

St. Helens (1981) .... Harry Truman
... aka St. Helens, Killer Volcano (1981)

Leprechaun's Christmas Gold, The (1981) (TV) .... Narrator

Bitter Harvest (1981) (TV) .... Walter Peary

Take This Job and Shove It (1981) .... Charlie Pickett

Defiance (1980) .... Abe

Fighting Back (1980) (TV) .... Art Rooney
... aka Fighting Back: The Story of Rocky Bleier (1980) (TV)

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) (TV) .... Robert Stroud
... aka Alcatraz and Clarence Carnes (1980) (TV)

Roadie (1980) .... Corpus C. Redfish

Steel (1980) .... Pignose Moran
... aka Look Down and Die (1980)
... aka Men of Steel (1980)

Going in Style (1979) .... Al

Letters from Frank (1979) (TV) .... Frank Miller

Sunburn (1979) .... Marcus

Ravagers (1979) .... Sergeant

You Can't Take It with You (1979) (TV) .... Grandpa Martin Vanderhof

Ringo (1978) (TV)

Movie Movie (1978) .... Doctor Blaine/Doctor Bowers

Star Wars Holiday Special, The (1978) (TV) .... Saundan

"Mutant, Le" (1978) (mini) TV Series

House Calls (1978) .... Dr. Amos Willoughby

Scott Joplin (1977) .... John Stark

Late Show, The (1977) .... Ira Wells

"Lanigan's Rabbi" (1977) TV Series .... Police Chief Paul Lanigan

Christmas in Disneyland (1976) (TV) .... Gramps/Dr. Wunderbar

Lanigan's Rabbi (1976) (TV) .... Police Chief Paul Lanigan
... aka Friday the Rabbi Slept Late (1976) (TV)

Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) .... J.J. Fromberg

Katherine (1975) (TV) .... Thornton Alman
... aka Radical, The (1975) (TV)

Death Scream (1975) (TV) .... Mr. Jacobs
... aka Streetkill (1975) (TV)
... aka Woman Who Cried Murder, The (1975) (TV)

W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) .... Deacon John Wesley Gore

Harry and Tonto (1974) .... Harry Coombes

Snoop Sisters, The (1972) (TV) .... Barney
... aka Female Instinct (1972) (TV) (USA: reissue title)

Guide for the Married Man, A (1967) .... Technical Adviser (Joe X)

Yellow Rolls-Royce, The (1964) .... Joey Friedlander

Day Like Today, A (1964) (TV)

Panama Hattie (1958) (TV)

"Honeymooners, The" (1955) TV Series .... Ed Norton

"Cavalcade of Stars" (1949) TV Series .... Ed Norton, + minor roles (1950-1952)

"Morey Amsterdam Show, The" (1948) TV Series .... Charlie the Waiter and Newton the Waiter

Pot o' Gold (1941) (uncredited) .... Radio announcer
... aka Golden Hour, The (1941) (UK)

Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Himself - filmography

Inside TV Land: The Honeymooners (2000) (TV) .... Himself

Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special (1995) (TV) (archive footage) .... Himself

Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Characters (1994) (TV) (archive footage) .... Himself

Jackie Gleason: The Great One (1988) (TV) .... Himself

"CBS: On the Air" (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Co-host - part VII

Captain & Tennille Special, The (1976) (TV) .... Himself

48th Annual Academy Awards, The (1976) (TV) .... Himself - Presenter: Best Actor

47th Annual Academy Awards, The (1975) (TV) .... Himself - Best Actor Winner

23rd Annual Tony Awards, The (1969) (TV) .... Himself (performer)

22nd Annual Tony Awards, The (1968) (TV) .... Himself (presenter)

"Jackie Gleason Show, The" (1966) TV Series .... Himself (Ed Norton/various characters)
... aka "Honeymooners, The" (1966) (USA: rerun title)

Car That Became a Star, The (1965) (uncredited) .... Himself

"That Was the Week That Was" (1964) TV Series .... Himself

Art Carney Meets Peter and the Wolf (1958) (TV) .... Himself

"Jackie Gleason Show, The" (1952) TV Series .... Himself (regular performer) (1952-1957)


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Notable TV Guest Appearances

"Uncle Buck" (1990) playing "Pete" in episode: "The Grey Fox" (episode # 1.3) 24 September 1990

"Fame" (1982) playing "Tim" in episode: "A Big Finish" (episode # 1.14) 15 April 1982

"Alice" (1976) playing "Himself" in episode: "My Cousin, Art Carney" (episode # 4.10) 9 December 1979

"Tony Orlando and Dawn" (1974) playing "Himself" 10 September 1975

"Carol Burnett Show, The" (1967) playing "Himself" (episode # 4.16) 4 January 1971

"Virginian, The" (1962) playing "Skeet" in episode: "With Love, Bullets and Valentines" (episode # 9.4) 7 October 1970

"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1968) playing "Guest Performer" in episode: "Episode #67" (episode # 4.1) 14 September 1970

"Carol Burnett Show, The" (1967) playing "Himself" (episode # 1.22) 19 February 1968

"Carol Burnett Show, The" (1967) playing "Himself" (episode # 1.8) 6 November 1967

"Batman" (1966/II) playing "The Archer" in episode: "Walk the Straight and Narrow" (episode # 2.2) 8 September 1966

"Batman" (1966/II) playing "The Archer" in episode: "Shoot a Crooked Arrow" (episode # 2.1) 7 September 1966

"What's My Line?" (1950) playing "Mystery Guest" 27 March 1966

"Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" (1962) playing "Ed Norton" in episode: "The Honeymooners, The: Adoption" 8 January 1966

"Andy Williams Show, The" (1962) 31 May 1965

"What's My Line?" (1950) playing "Mystery Guest" 21 March 1965

"Mr. Broadway" (1964) playing "Norman Cushing" in episode: "Smelling Like a Rose" (episode # 1.8) 28 November 1964

"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1963) playing "Dr. E.J. Tomothy" in episode: "The Timothy Heist" (episode # 2.5) 30 October 1964

"Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" (1962) playing "Narrator" in episode: "The Many Worlds of Jackie Gleason" 4 January 1964

"Andy Williams Show, The" (1962) 24 September 1963

"DuPont Show of the Week, The" (1961) playing "Gerald Q. Wert" in episode: "The Triumph of Gerald Q. Wert" (episode # 2.18) 9 June 1963

"Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" (1962) playing "Ed Norton" (episode # 1.4) 20 October 1962

"Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" (1962) playing "Ed Norton" (episode # 1.1) 29 September 1962

"DuPont Show of the Week, The" (1961) in episode: "America's Fads and Foibles" (episode # 1.22) 13 May 1962

"Twilight Zone, The" (1959) playing "Henry Corwin" in episode: "The Night of the Meek" (episode # 2.11) 23 December 1960

"Playhouse 90" (1956) playing "Ernie Pandish" in episode: "The Velvet Alley" (episode # 3.18) 22 January 1959

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955) playing "Cyril T. Jones" in episode: "Safety for the Witness" (episode # 4.8) 23 November 1958

"DuPont Show of the Month, The" (1957) playing "Elwood P Dowd" in episode: "Harvey" (episode # 2.1) 22 September 1958

"Playhouse 90" (1956) playing "Lord Fancourt Babberly" in episode: "Charley's Aunt" (episode # 1.26) 28 March 1957

"Studio One" (1948) in episode: "The Incredible World of Horace Ford" (episode # 7.39) 13 June 1955

"Climax!" (1954) playing "Donald Lam" in episode: "The Bigger They Come" (episode # 1.11) 6 January 1955

"Best of Broadway, The" (1954) playing "Woozy" in episode: "Panama Hattie" (episode # 1.3) 10 November 1954

"Kraft Television Theatre" (1953) in episode: "Uncle Harry" (episode # 1.46) 26 August 1954

"Studio One" (1948) in episode: "A Letter to Mr. Gubbins" (episode # 6.39) 14 June 1954

"What's My Line?" (1950) playing "Himself" 16 May 1954

"Kraft Television Theatre" (1947) in episode: "Alice in Wonderland" (episode # 7.36) 5 May 1954

"Suspense" (1949) in episode: "The Return Journey" (episode # 6.29) 20 April 1954

"Kraft Television Theatre" (1953) in episode: "Burlesque" (episode # 1.14) 14 January 1954

"Suspense" (1949) in episode: "Mr. Nobody" (episode # 6.14) 29 December 1953

"Studio One" (1948) in episode: "Confessions of a Nervous Man" (episode # 6.11) 30 November 1953

"Danger" (1950) in episode: "I'll Be Waiting" (episode # 3.42) 4 August 1953

"Studio One" (1948) in episode: "The Laugh Maker" (episode # 5.34) 18 May 1953

"Lux Video Theatre" (1950) playing "Curley" in episode: "Thanks for a Lovely Evening" (episode # 3.20) 12 January 1953

"Kate Smith Evening Hour, The" (1951) playing "Himself" 24 October 1951

"Lux Video Theatre" (1950) playing "Mike" in episode: "The Twinkle in Her Eye" (episode # 2.9) 22 October 1951

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0138770/

[UnAmericanJoe]

9. What a lifetime of work!

Too bad he had to go out with a stinker like Last Action Hero.