Art Carney, who is best known for his role as Ed Norton on the classic sitcom “The Honeymooners”, died on November 9, 2003 at the age of 85. He was a versatile actor and comedian who won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and six Primetime Emmy Awards in his career. But what was the cause of his death and how did he live his life?
Early Life and Career
Art Carney was born on November 4, 1918 in Mount Vernon, New York, as Arthur William Matthew Carney. He was the youngest of six sons of an Irish Catholic family. His father was a newspaperman and publicist
Carney started his career as a comic singer and impersonator with the Horace Heidt orchestra in the 1930s. He appeared on radio shows such as Pot o’ Gold, Matinee at Meadowbrook, and Land of the Lost. He also had an uncredited role in the film Pot o’ Gold in 1941
Carney was drafted into the United States Army in 1943 and served as an infantryman and machine gun crewman during World War II. He was wounded in the leg by shrapnel during the Battle of Normandy and received a Purple Heart. His injury left him with a limp and a shorter right leg for the rest of his life
The Honeymooners and Beyond
Carney’s breakthrough role came in 1951 when he was cast as Ed Norton, the sewer worker friend and neighbor of Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden on “The Honeymooners”. The show was a hit and Carney won three Emmys for his performance as the lovable and goofy Norton. He became an ideal foil for Gleason’s blustery and bullying Kramden
Carney said of his character, “As dumb-acting as Norton was, I thought he was pretty crafty. I think everything he had in his apartment was probably bought on time, but he had it.”
Gleason praised Carney’s talent and said, “The first time I saw the guy act, I knew I would have to work twice as hard for my laughs. He was funny as hell.”
Carney struggled with alcoholism after “The Honeymooners” ended in 1956. He dropped out of the Broadway run of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” in 1965 and spent nearly half a year in a sanitarium. He resumed his career and appeared in several TV shows, movies, and stage plays
In 1974, Carney starred in Paul Mazursky’s “Harry and Tonto” as a 72-year-old widower who travels across the country with his pet cat. He stopped drinking during the making of the film and won an Oscar for best actor for his role. He joked to reporters, “You’re looking at an actor whose price has just doubled.”
Some of his other notable films include “The Late Show” (1977), “House Calls” (1978), “Going in Style” (1979), “Firestarter” (1984), “The Muppets Take Manhattan” (1984), and “Last Action Hero” (1993). He also voiced Santa Claus in several animated specials
Personal Life and Death
Carney was married three times, twice to the same woman. He married Jean Myers in 1940 and they had three children: Brian, Eileen, and Paul. They divorced in 1965, remarried in 1980, and stayed together until Carney’s death. He also married Barbara Isaac in 1966 and divorced her in 1977
Carney died of natural causes on November 9, 2003 at his home in Chester, Connecticut. He was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. His former co-star Audrey Meadows wrote in her memoir, “Art was, and is one of the most endearing men I have ever met.” She called him a “witty and delightful companion who went out of his way to help each new actor find his niche.”
Art Carney cause of death was not a surprise to many who knew him well. He had lived a long and fruitful life despite his challenges and hardships. He left behind a legacy of laughter and joy that will be remembered by generations of fans.