1. Her parents were Episcopal missionaries.

 

Meadows' three older siblings (including the actress Jayne Meadows) were born in China, where their parents worked as missionaries. The family returned to the United States in 1921, and Meadows was born the following year. 

Image: Cosmopolitan

2. The first woman to play Alice Kramden was blacklisted.

 

No, Meadows didn't originate the role of Alice Kramden on The Honeymooners. Instead, actress Pert Kelton was the first person to play the part on The Jackie Gleason Show. Kelton was removed from the show after being blacklisted from the industry for allegedly having communist sympathies.

Image: Associated Press

3. She's the only actress to receive residuals.

 

Meadows is the only actor from the "Classic 39" episodes of The Honeymooners to receive royalties. Her brother was a lawyer who inserted a clause in her contract stating she would be paid if the show was ever rebroadcast. That's right, every time you watch The Honeymooners, the Meadows estate gets a check. 

Image: Associated Press

4. She had a financial career.

 

Meadows served as a director of the First National Bank of Denver for 11 years, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

5. She was an aviation enthusiast.

 

Meadows' second husband was Robert Six, the former president of Continental Airlines. From 1961 to 1981, the actress served as an advisory director for the company. In that role, she was involved with the designs of the flight attendant's uniforms, aircraft interiors and the airline's "President's Club" airport lounges.

Image: Associated Press

6. She reprised her most famous role several times.

 

Despite all her other prominent roles, Meadows never stopped acting. She reprised her most famous role of Alice Kramden no less than six times, the last being in 1991 for the TV series Hi Honey, I'm Home.

Image: Viacom