Audrey Meadows made her television comeback in 1959 after a two-year hiatus

"I suffer from the feeling there isn't time to do everything I want to do," she said.

She was best known as Alice Kramden, but Audrey Meadows had a successful television and film resumé throughout her career. The actress appeared in the American Western film The Baron of Arizona, The Amazing Mr. Malone (radio crime drama) and more before her Honeymooners role.

However, Meadows did not work for two years after The Honeymooners ended. In a 1959 interview with the Associated Press, the actress spoke about not caring about role sizes; she just wanted steady work. "I don't want to play Lady Macbeth or be a big fat star," Meadows said. "I just want to keep working. I'm kind of a slap-happy character. I've loved every show I've been on."

The actress started her career at 15 years old as a concert singer and could be seen dancing in Broadway musicals. According to the article, Meadows became one of television's brightest young stars.

After the hiatus, she revived her career as a game show performer and guest star. From 1959 to 1995, she could be seen in various movies and television shows, from Alfred Hitchcock Presents to Wagon Train, The Love Boat and more. Meadows appeared in about three to four different productions a year on average.

"I suffer from the feeling there isn't time to do everything I want to do," she added. "But I guess if there were time, that would be complete boredom, wouldn't it? It would be frightening."

In the interview, she also shared a few fun facts about herself. For instance, she loved the color red. The only thing that bored her was a "closed mind," and she was attracted to "curious minds."

"So many people today are negative. I believe in kindness and [faith] in something or someone beyond ourselves. If we all practiced kindness on a larger scale, we'd have fewer misunderstandings on all levels."

If there was a job she couldn't do, she wouldn't accept it. Yet, Meadows kept a positive mindset, telling herself, "she tried — poor soul!"

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24 Comments

Runeshaper 21 months ago
Audrey Meadows = Totally AWESOME! Loved her in Honeymooners (-:
CoreyC 21 months ago
Audrey was funny as Ted Knight's mother in law on Too Close For Comfort.
tootsieg 21 months ago
So many movie and TV actors are leaving us. Very sad.
R.I.P. Raquel Welch, Stella Stevens and Richard Belzer.
Mblack tootsieg 21 months ago
And sadly, it looks like Jimmy Carter is on his last legs. And it's US Presidents Day.
cperrynaples Mblack 21 months ago
Yep, he's in hospice! My sister only lasted a week in such a faciity!
Mblack 21 months ago
The deaths keep piling up. Ricuard Belzer, of Law & Orser fame, has died. Apparently he also warmed up the audience for SNL in the early days.
LoveMETV22 Mblack 21 months ago
Yes. Sad. Henry Winkler (his cousin) tweeted a brief R.I.P./ Laraine Newman one of the original SNL cast was close friends with Richard and left a nice remembrance on Twitter as well.
cperrynaples LoveMETV22 21 months ago
Fun Fact: He was a gangster who threatened Winkler in Night Shift! And yes he was on SNL in the '70's!
LoveMETV22 21 months ago
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Mblack 21 months ago
Stella Stevens has died. Plenty of movies, but also tv. MeTV favorites like the Love Boat, Murder She Wrote and Magnum PI (the original)
cperrynaples Mblack 21 months ago
Yep, i saw her on Santa Barbara! Of course I have to mention The Nutty Professor with Jerry Lewis! And also she was a Playboy centerfold! BTW, Magnum 2.0 entered the 2-network club, switching from CBS to NBC!
BrittReid Mblack 21 months ago
The Poseidon Adventure and The Wonder Woman TV pilot. Beautiful woman. R.I.P.
BrittReid 21 months ago
She was perfect as Alice in every way.
Pacificsun 21 months ago
IMO her performance in TH demonstrated she was a very solid actor. It must've been tough keeping up with Jackie Gleason's (larger than life personality and presence). Especially when he was known not to be a fan of rehearsals. But she maintained a consistent character using impeccable timing (as in holding a laugh for just the right moment). And my hunch is, she used her role as a way of projecting positivity and determination.
cperrynaples 21 months ago
Fun Fact: Art Carney had a contract with NBC at that time! However, Joyce Randolph NEVER performed again! She's still alive in her 90's! BTW, anyone see Dick Van Dyke on The Masked Singer? Going back to Audrey Meadows, her AHP didn't have a murder, but she was sorta taken advantage of by an unfaithful husband!
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justjeff Pacificsun 21 months ago
I saw the "reveal" clip of DVD on "The Masked Singer"... he's **still** amazing at 97!
cperrynaples justjeff 21 months ago
He certainly is! He said he'll NEVER retire!
cperrynaples ncadams27 21 months ago
Yep, and the mistress got her fur coat...LOL!
justjeff cperrynaples 21 months ago
May he make it to 100 and beyond. We just lost Stella Stevens on Friday from Alzheimer's at 84, and Jimmy Carter (at 98) has decided to forego any further medical treatment and get hospice care at home...
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