Sheila MacRae From The 1960’s Re-Creation Of ‘The Honeymooners’ Dies At 92
Sheila MacRae, a veteran stage, film and TV performer best known for reprising the role of Alice Kramden in the 1960s version of “The Honeymooners’ died at the age of 92 Thursday.
The actress passed away at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J., MacRae’s granddaughter, Allison Mullavey, told The Associated Press Friday.
"She lived a good life and a long life," Mullavey told the AP. "We'll miss her."
MacRae’s daughter, actress Heather MacRae, reportedly said that her mother suffered from dementia but was otherwise in good health and had been hospitalized for a minor surgical procedure.
"She had a great life, my mom, she really did. She was quite a broad," Heather reportedly said, adding, "Fascinating, almost like an Autie Mame character."
MacRae was born Sheila Margaret Stephens in London and was sent by her family to live in Long Island, before the outbreak of World War II. In 1941 she married “Oklahoma!” star Gordon MacRae, but was divorced from him in 1967. The couple appeared together in 1964 on "The Ed Sullivan Show," when the Beatles were the star attraction.
After her divorce from Gordon, she was married to Ronald Wayne, who produced Jackie Gleason's show, her daughter reportedly said. They later divorced.
In the 1950s version of "The Honeymooners," Audrey Meadows starred with Gleason as lovebirds and sparring partners Ralph and Alice Kramden. MacRae replaced Meadows as Alice in a later version, featured from 1966-70 on "The Jackie Gleason Show."
"My mother referred to herself as the last Mrs. Kramden," Heather reportedly said.
MacRae's TV credits also included soap operas "General Hospital" and "Search for Tomorrow".
MacRae is survived by her daughter, Heather, and son, William ‘Gar’ MacRae. Her other daughter, actress Meredith, died in 2000 and a son Robert died in 2010.
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