Real name: Cotter, Audrey Nickname: Aud Birthdate: 8 February 1922, Wu-ch'ang, China. [now Wuchang, China] Date of death: 3 February 1996, Beverly Hills, California, USA (lung cancer) Height: 5' 6" Spouse:
Audrey Meadows was born the youngest of four children as Audrey Cotter
on February 8, 1926 in Wu'chang China. Her family settled in New
England when Audrey was 6 and Jayne and Audrey attended and all girls
boarding school. After high school, Jayne went to NYC with the goal of
being an actress, and Jayne finally convinced her little sister to join
her in showbusiness, but as a singer instead of an actress. Audrey
spent months working on the Broadway show "Top Banana" and then got a
job on The Bob And Ray Show. She then replaced Pert Kelton as the most
famed and most loved Alice Kramden of "The Honeymooners". After The
Honeymooners ended, she went on to do films like Take Her, She's Mine,
That Touch Of Mink, and even portrayed Ted Knight's mother in law in
the 80's sitcom "Too Close For Comfort". But her heart--and ours--will
forever remain in that two burner stove, Chauncey street
kitchen. Author: Ashley Phipps
Filmography
Lily: Sold Out (1981) (TV) [Polly Jo] Rosie! (1968) [Mildred] <4> Take Her, She's Mine (1963) [Anne Michaelson] <3> That Touch of Mink (1962) [Connie] <4> "Bob and Ray" (1951) [Regular (1951-1952, 1953)] "Honeymooners, The" (1955) [Alice Kramden] <3> "Honeymooners: The Lost Episodes, The" (1984) [Alice Kramden] <3> "Jackie Gleason Show, The" (1952) [Regular Performer (1952-1957)] "Keep Talking" (1958) [Regular (1958-1959)] "Masquerade Party" (1952) [Panelist (1958-1960)] "That Was the Week That Was" (1964) [Herself] "Too Close for Comfort" (1980) [Iris Martin (1982-1983)] "Uncle Buck" (1990) [Maggie Hogoboom] <5> "What's Going On?" (1954) [Panelist] <4> "What's In a Word" (1954) [Panelist] <3>
Guest apperance(s)
'"Burke's Law" (1994)' , as [unknown] (episode 1.6 'Who Killed Alexander the Great? (3/4/1994)')
'"Sisters" (1991)' , as Ada Benbeow (episode 4.4 'Kick in the Caboose, A (10/9/1993)')
'"Murder, She Wrote" (1984)' , as Mildred Tilley (episode 2.22 'If the Frame Fits (5/18/1986)')
'"Life with Lucy" (1986)' , as [unknown]
'"Hotel" (1983)' , as Amelia Chelton (episode 3.4 'Pathways (11/16/1985)')
'"Diff'rent Strokes" (1978)' , as Mrs. Martinson (episode 4.15 'Squatter, The (2/18/1982)')
'"Love Boat, The" (1977)' , as Mrs. Elliott (episode 3.24 'Another Place, Another Time/Doctor Who/Gopher's Engagement (3/1/1980)')
'"Starsky and Hutch" (1975)' , as Hilda Zuckerman (episode 4.8 'Dandruff (11/14/1978)')
'"Love Boat, The" (1977)' , as Gladys Watkins (episode 1.21 'Taking Sides/A Friendly Little Game/Going by the Book (2/18/1978)')
'"Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine" (1962)' , as Alice Kramden (episode 'Honeymooners, The: Adoption, The (1/8/1966)')
'"Please Don't Eat the Daisies" (1965)' , as Kitty (episode 1.15 'Big Brass Blonde, The (12/21/1965)')
'"Sam Benedict" (1962)' , as [unknown] (episode 1.9 'Life Is A Lie, Love Is A Cheat (11/10/1962)')
'"Wagon Train" (1957)' , as Nancy Palmer (episode 4.24 'Nancy Palmer Story, The (3/7/1961)')
'"Password" (1961)' , as Panelist/Herself
'"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955)' , as Mrs. Bixby (episode 6.1 'Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat (9/27/1960)')
'"Arthur Murray Party, The" (1950)' , as [unknown] (3/29/1954)
Trivia
Best remembered for her continuing role as Alice Kramden, wife of Ralph
Kramden (played by 'Jackie Gleason' ), in TV's "The Honeymooners." (The same role
had been played earlier by 'Pert Kelton' , and later by 'Sheila MacRae' .)
Sister of actress 'Jayne Meadows' .
Kramden (played by 'Jackie Gleason' ), in TV's "The Honeymooners."
In one sense, Audrey and her agent, were smarter than the usually
visionary 'Jackie Gleason' . Audrey was the only one of the Honeymooners cast
whose contract required payments to her for TV re-runs and sales of the
episodes.
Father, Rev. Francis James Meadows Cotter was an Episcopal priest and
mother, Ida, was a missonary.
Was a chain smoker.
Debuted at Carnegie Hall as a mezzo soprano.
She and sister Jayne had nicknames for each other when they were
little... Audrey was Sara and Jayne was Elinor.
Played field hockey in school
Late husband, Bob Six, was CEO of American Airlines and was once
married to Ethel Merman.
Brother-in-law is the late 'Steve Allen' .
The youngest of four children.
Both Audrey and Jayne Meadows competed against members of the William
F. Buckley family in local talent shows. In 1944, three of Bill
Buckley's sisters were accused of vandalizing the church where Audrey
and Jayne's father was rector.
Her last word was reportedly "Jayne!" Her sister rushed to her bedside
when she heard of her impending death, and after saying this last word,
Jayne took her little sister's hand and Audrey squeezed it. She slipped
into a coma and never said another word, passing away on February 3rd,
1996 in Room 8102 of Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Quotes
You as you are are better by far than the you that you are trying to
be.
Book(s) Biography
Audrey Meadows & Joe Daley. 'Love, Alice: My Life As A Honeymooner.' New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1994. ISBN 0-517-59881-7
Audrey Meadows and Joe Daley. 'Love, Alice: My Life as a Honeymooner.' New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1994. ISBN 0-517-59881-7
Shopping Cart