Audrey Meadows Biography

Audrey Meadows was an actress best known for her role as, "Alice Kramden" on the television series, "The Honeymooners". Audrey Meadows was born Audrey Cotter on February 8, 1926 in Wuchang, China to Ida and Francis James Meadows Cotter. Meadows had three siblings. Older sister, Jayne would go on to have a career in show business as well. Meadow's parents worked as missionaries. At the age of five, Meadows and her family returned to the United States. Up until then, Meadows spoke nothing but Chinese. Meadows attended boarding school in New England.

At the age of sixteen, Meadows debuted as a coloratura soprano at Carnegie Hall. Meadows and sister Jayne formed a duo called, "The Meadows Sisters" and recorded many records. Meadows appeared on Broadway in "Top Banana" with Phil Silvers. Her television debut was in the short lived NBC series entitled, "Bob and Ray". Meadows followed it up with more television work including, "Pulitzer Prize Playhouse" and "The Arthur Murray Party" in 1954. During this time, Meadows made her debut as "Alice Kramden" on "The Jackie Gleason Show". In 1955, her performances earned her an Emmy for "Best Supporting Actress in a Regular Series".

Jackie Gleason would play husband to Meadows as, "Ralph Kramden". Shortly after, it was turned into a television series called, "The Honeymooners". The story revolved around Gleason's character on a quest to move up in life with get-rich-quick schemes much to the dismay of his wife. The series would be nominated for three Emmys with one win. In 1956, Meadows married Randolph Rouse but it would last for only two years. Meadows continued to work in television including, "The United States Steel Hour", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Play of the Week" and "General Electric Theater". Meadows made her film debut in the romantic comedy, "That Touch of Mink" with Cary Grant and Doris Day. The film won a Golden Globe for "Best Motion Picture Comedy".