Jane Kean

1923 - 2013

Jane Kean

1923 - 2013

BORN

1923

DIED

2013

Jane Kean Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Nov. 28, 2013.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jane Kean, a diverse performer who got her start in musical theater but was best known as Trixie alongside Jackie Gleason on a TV revival of "The Honeymooners," has died. She was 90.

Kean, of Toluca Lake, died Tuesday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank where she was taken after a fall that led to a hemorrhagic stroke, her niece, Deirdre Wolpert, said Thursday.

Kean first started working with Jackie Gleason in the 1940s, when they were both on the vaudeville circuit.

Her big break, however, came in 1966 when Gleason and CBS revived the hit show "The Honeymooners" in Miami Beach, expanding it to an hour and adding musical numbers.

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Kean, a talented singer with a belting voice, starred on the show for five years as Ed Norton's beleaguered wife Trixie.

She often spoke about those years and her chance to appear on such a well-known program with Gleason, Wolpert said.

"One day she picked up the phone and he said, 'Are you doing anything right now?' and she said 'No' and he said 'Come on down and be Trixie,'" Wolpert said of Gleason. "Two weeks later she was on the plane to Florida."

Born in Hartford, Conn., on April 10, 1923, Kean got into show business at an early age along with her sister, Betty, with the encouragement of her mother.

She headlined at the London Palladium before making her debut in a 1943 Broadway production of the Fats Waller musical "Early to Bed."

She eventually moved to Los Angeles and appeared in some films for MGM before forming a comedy act in the 1950s with her sister, who is Wolpert's mother. The all-female comedy team, a rarity at the time, played night clubs and rubbed shoulders with comedians like Milton Berle.

The sisterly duo also performed in a comedy called "Ankles Aweigh" on Broadway in 1955.

After jumping to TV, Kean stayed on "The Honeymooners" for five years before leaving to pursue other avenues, including guest appearances, performing in Las Vegas and doing voice work. In 1977, she worked on the children's movie "Pete's Dragon" — behind-the-scenes work that the usually glamorous actress joked she didn't like because she didn't need to wear make-up, her niece said. Most recently, she provided the voice of Aunt Ida in the new children's film "Abner the Pig," said her publicist Alan Eichler.

Last year, Kean put on a one-woman show that was a retrospective of her life's work. She performed it again at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre just months ago and had plans to travel to London after Christmas with her niece. She was also preparing invitations for her annual Christmas party in the days before her death, Wolpert said.

"This was a really kicking 90-year-old. The number of friends that she had, the people who loved her ... she had a wonderful life and a wonderful career," she said.

"She was a glamour girl, but she also had a lot of substance."

In addition to Wolpert, Kean is survived by Wolpert's husband and two children and a stepson from her second marriage, Joseph Hecht Jr., and his family.

Her sister Betty Kean died in 1986. Her second husband, her manager Joe Hecht, died in 2006.

GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press




Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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December 2, 2018

Camella Ford posted to the memorial.

November 26, 2017

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March 8, 2016

Allison Dupont posted to the memorial.

57 Entries

Camella Ford

December 2, 2018

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

November 26, 2017

Allison Dupont

March 8, 2016

Brilliant actress. I still watch "The Honeymooners". Love your work. Never forgotten, Rest in Peace, sweet Angel.

Diane Miller

May 3, 2015

You were adorable and "tough" back in the day when women were suppose to be submissive..... You always stood up to Jackie....If you had not had the part of Trixie the show might never had made it.... you were my favorite character....and, girl, even in your older years,,, you never lost your looks. blessings....

Lisa Weiner

March 16, 2014

To Jane Kean,
You were a very talented actress. I really enjoyed watching you on the Honeymooners. You made me laugh. My prayers go to your friends, and family. Lisa Weiner

rc

December 7, 2013

I am sure Ms.Kean is missed by many who remember how her humor helped to give them a respite from their own troubles.
May God's peace and everlasting strength be with you, as you cope with your loss. Philippians 4:6,7

Randy Farb

December 5, 2013

Jane and her sister Betty performed at my uncle's club in Detroit. He always spoke highly of them, and we adored her as Trixie Norton. Her memory is for a blessing.

December 4, 2013

My sympathy goes out to the Kean family in this time of sorrow. May the "hearer of prayer" comfort you during this difficult time - Psalms 65:2

JD Cleveland

December 3, 2013

Ms. Kean- I have always admired your comedy work. You have given us the gift of laughter in a time of so much fear and trouble. Thank you. I am sure that your family was there to welcome you home. Rest in Peace. May God give your family and friends the comfort of knowing what a wonderful life you have led and that you are now with all of the great comedians.

The Peedan Family

December 3, 2013

Your with Joe now...you where a very sweet lady. Rest in Peace

Linda Orosco

December 2, 2013

She was a great actress, she will be missed.

Patti R

December 2, 2013

To Janes family & friends,
My thoughts & prayers go out to you all.

victor checketts

December 2, 2013

watching those old reruns of "The Honeymooners" always made me laugh especially when Jane played Trixie. she was the perfect wife for Art Carney. god bless your family at this time of sorrow. Rest in Peace Jane, thank you for all the laughs you gave me

JW

December 1, 2013

My sincere condolences to the family...John 17:3

michelle plakas-kaiser

December 1, 2013

rip

kenny stewart

December 1, 2013

So sorry

Jane Dowling

December 1, 2013

What a gift you were ~ Rest in peace ~

November 30, 2013

I'm so sorry for your loss. May you be comforted in knowing that Almighty God promises that there will be no more death, pain and sorrow in the near future. With Sympathy

Lisa Wells

November 30, 2013

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world. Sleep sweetly.

November 30, 2013

May her family find peace during this very difficult time. She must have really enjoyed her life and her work. She is now another light in Heaven.

November 30, 2013

Dee Dee...just saw this in the paper. I am soooo sorry. I know how much she meant to you and I loved her too. Thinking of you.. Love, PAAAAAAAAAATY

el

November 30, 2013

I am so sorry about your loss. Please accept my sympathy doing this most difficult time

old fan

November 30, 2013

R.I.P., Trixie. Hug Ed and Ralph when you see them.

joyce hardy

November 30, 2013

watch her a lot and she will be missed
\

November 30, 2013

So sorry to hear about your loss. James 4:8

The Hayes Family

November 30, 2013

I loved The Honeymooners as a child growing up watching Trixie, Norton, Ralph, & Alice... truely the greatest show... Many thanks for all the good laughs... R.I.P. Ms.Kean... May all your special memories help your niece and other family members with their grieving in the days too come for I kno will be hard ones for them but remember she was a lovely lady and was loved by soooo many...Thoughts and Prayers too you and your family Special Lady... God Bless your Special Niece I kno she will miss you soooo...

Donna

November 30, 2013

To the family my condolences for your loss. A great performer is lost to us all. I loved the Honeymooners. And to my surprise so did my son. He is now 38 but he would watch the repeats on cable(he was a teenager at the time). I would hear him laughing. He said he loved (and so did I) Ralph, Alice, Trixie and Ed. To the family again I would like to offer my condolences. Take comfort Isaiah 61:1,2

November 30, 2013

The span of our life is 70 years, or 80 if one is especially strong. But they are filled with trouble and sorrow; They quickly pass by, and away we fly. (Psalm 90:10)

November 30, 2013

My deepest condolences to the Kean family, may God spirit strengthen you as you face the coming days.

November 29, 2013

I have always loved the showJackie Gleason . I remember Trixie and loved the way she said "Ralph".I am so sorry to hear of her loss. May the God of all comfort be with the family and friends of this valued actress( Isaiah 61:1,2)

David W. Streets

November 29, 2013

What fun to have known you and shared many laughs. You were a class act and will be sorely missed.

Harry Simpson

November 29, 2013

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.

W

November 29, 2013

To the Family:

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love of God, family and friends. Psalms 91:2

km

November 29, 2013

May your heart be filled with fond memories during this difficult time. Psalms 18:2

November 29, 2013

My dearest Janey, I will miss you deeply. You were the centerpiece of our little Ladies Who Lunch foursome for the past two years. And and my husband, Skip, thought you were the cat's meow, wishing to spend time with you hearing theater stories rather than going out on the slopes on our annual ski trips to Mammoth Mountain back in the '80s. Oh what glorious memories!

November 29, 2013

joey - please accept sympathies from your Vegas roomie Tom. I lost touch with ray-boy years ago but would love to re-connect. im at cotterconsulting at aol.com. Peace my Brother

R

November 29, 2013

I am sorry to hear of your loss. Continue to pray to God for the strenght needed during this time.

Dwayne Bickham

November 29, 2013

in God's care rest in peace

November 29, 2013

To our friend, Jane Kean…..We have enjoyed our friendship with you for the past few years. Wonderful company, great sense of humor adoring Mom to her puppy Emmy.
Thank you for sharing your memories Jane.
Melanie and Dick firestone

November 29, 2013

A gift. One of God's brightest. May her voice sing on.

Donna Borrell

November 29, 2013

thank you for the memories... may you RIP

November 29, 2013

The day is near when someone might say "are there any great actors or actresses (pc) still alive, let alone working?
While our heroes of the small screen depart, so goes with them a time in which TV comedy meant slapstick or respectful humor, drama was about the acting, not the body count and total (synthetic) blood loss, and cowboys seldom, if ever, really shot and killed the bad guy, instead of hauling him to the sheriff and his jail.
Jean, and the rest of her peers were from a time of greatness in TV presentations. A lot of us who remember the more respectful times will always honor 'players' like Jean.

My your soul soar with the Heavenly Hosts, angels and saints. We will miss you. And what you brought to the public, TV with ethical and moral content, and real humor. RIP, Jean. Please pray for those of us left behind.
Fred

November 29, 2013

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

November 29, 2013

Jean kean will be in God's memory.

Scott Chamberland

November 29, 2013

Rest in Peace

Ed bryan

November 28, 2013

We will cherish all the great times you shared with us. You were beautiful, talented, and most of all a wonderful person!!!! We will miss you Jane.

Robert Federico

November 28, 2013

Dear Deidre, I hope you remember me; we were friends in the 1950's and even presented a show for your mother's friends. I think of your aunt and mother a lot as "Ankles Aweigh" continues to be my favorite musical and whenever I listen to the score, I am immediately cheered up. BTW, your aunt was great in "Who Spoiled Rock Hunter"! When you come to NY, I would love to get together. A big hug, Robert

hyde

November 28, 2013

I use to watch The Honeymooners for years and loved it. Mrs. Kean lead a very active life. I offer my deepest sympathy to the family and to all that loved and admired her. Thank God that we have the gift of memory. Rely upon all the good memories and may Mrs Kean sleep in peace.

J C

November 28, 2013

My thoughts and prayers are with the
family of Jane Kean. She has left us with such wonderful memories. May she
rest in peace.

Martie Jordan

November 28, 2013

She was my stepmother back in the 1960s (My maiden name was Linkroum and my father was her first husband) and I absolutely loved her. Tried over the last few years to locate her via the web but to no avail. I'm so sorry I couldn't find her. She was a great lady who lived a great life!

Henry Johnson

November 28, 2013

So sorry to hear this. Jane was a wonderful and energetic presence. She will be missed.

November 28, 2013

Sad to hear of Jane's passing..I LOVED her on the Honeymooners !!! R.I.P. Jane

November 28, 2013

Draw close to God and he will draw close to you.

November 28, 2013

Deepest sympathy to Jean's family. What a lady and actress Jean was. Loved her in the Honeymooner's as Trixie! May Jean have the hope found at Psalms 37:29,34 AM

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December 2, 2018

Camella Ford posted to the memorial.

November 26, 2017

Someone posted to the memorial.

March 8, 2016

Allison Dupont posted to the memorial.