Sadly, Joyce Randolph, the last surviving star of “The Honeymooners,” has passed away at the age of 99, as reported by TMZ. You might remember her as Trixie Norton, the wife of Art Carney’s Ed Norton and the neighbor of the Kramdens, played by Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows, in that classic 1950s sitcom.
Apparently, Randolph peacefully passed away in her sleep at her home in New York City on Saturday, as confirmed by her son. She was under hospice care during that time.
It’s interesting to note that Randolph got the gig as Trixie after Gleason spotted her in a chewing gum commercial. Even though the show got the axe after just one season, “The Honeymooners” is still hailed as one of the greatest comedies in TV history.
You know, it’s the one where Gleason’s character would often throw out that famous catchphrase, “To the moon, Alice,” usually in some kind of disgruntled tone towards his wife.
While the show did have a reboot and a few specials revisiting the original characters, Randolph sort of stepped back from acting after it wrapped up. But for the devoted fans of “The Honeymooners,” she’s remembered as the last link to those good ol’ days.
Early Days and Acting Career
Joyce Randolph, born Joyce Sirola on Oct. 21, 1924, kicked off her journey in the world of theater and television. Her early days saw her joining a touring production of Stage Door before making the move to New York, all in pursuit of her passion for acting.
She even graced Broadway with her presence in the 1950 comedy Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath. Television welcomed her with roles in shows like Rocky King Detective and Buck Rogers, but it was the iconic character Trixie that would become her claim to fame.
“The Honeymooners” initially started as a series of short sketches on the variety show Cavalcade of Stars, later becoming a regular feature on CBS’ The Jackie Gleason Show.
Trixie, the character Randolph brought to life, wasn’t originally portrayed by her during the early sketch period — Elaine Stritch took on the role in the beginning. However, from 1952 to 1957, Randolph became synonymous with Trixie in both the sketches and, eventually, on the sitcom itself.
Jackie Gleason saw Randolph in a Clorets commercial in 1951 and thought, “That’s the one.” He pulled her in for the part.
In a 2015 interview with Daily Press, Randolph reminisced, saying, “I had carried out a breath mint commercial and received a phone call that Jackie was in need of ‘that serious actor’ to audition for a skit titled The Honeymooners and to play the sewer worker’s wife. It didn’t pay much, and my character was less developed than the other three, but I was happy to have a job.”
Carney’s Ed Norton Was Married to Randolph’s Character and Richard Lincoln Charles in Real Life
In the TV world, Joyce Randolph’s character was hitched to Art Carney’s Ed Norton, and together, they played the friendly neighbors to Ralph (played by Gleason) and Alice Kramden (Meadows).
All four of them were on the quest for happiness in their cozy Brooklyn apartments. The chemistry among these leads was so spot-on that the short sketches expanded into a half-hour series, making its debut in 1955.
Even in her own amazement, Randolph couldn’t believe how long the show stuck around. Despite the single-season sitcom originally airing in the mid-’50s, fans who spotted her on the show would still regularly approach her.
“It’s incredible how the show’s stuck around,” she said in the same interview. “Strangers still come up and want to hug and kiss me and tell me how much they love the show. You learn to accept it, but it is fun, and people are friendly. The show continues to influence my life.”
While “The Honeymooners” went through various reincarnations over the years, Randolph never made a return to play Trixie alongside Gleason. It was only in 1991, on another sitcom called ABC’s “Hi Honey, I’m Home,” that she reprised the character. This show also brought back Meadows as Alice.
Of the original “Honeymooners” quartet, Gleason was the first to pass away in 1987. Meadows followed in 1996 after battling lung cancer, and Carney left us in 2003.
Joyce Randolph tied the knot with marketing executive Richard Lincoln Charles in 1955, and five years later, they welcomed their son into the world. Unfortunately, her husband passed away in 1997. She leaves behind her son, Randolph Richard Charles, as her surviving family.
