Marilyn Taylor Gleason Widow of ‘the Honeymooners Star Dies

Mary Taylor Gleason, widow of “The Honeymooners” Jackie Gleason and sister of June Taylor, the choreographer of “The Jackie Gleason Show” died on April 2, 2019, in Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 93.

Craig Horwich, the son from Gleason’s first marriage said “she was a woman who was ahead of her time. She was always very comfortable and happy with her life.”

Marily Taylor was born in Chicago on Oct. 6, 1925. The daughter of Percival and Angeline Taylor, her sister June, who was older had dreams one day of becoming a dancer.

June developed tuberculosis in the 1930s but recovered. Marilyn went on the road with June and worked as her assistant.

The June Taylor Girls (a group of 4 to 8 dancers, which sometimes featured Marilyn) got booked in 1946 into a nightclub in Baltimore as featured dancers. There, she met Jackie Gleason, and he became interested in her.

The June Taylor Girls, in 1949, were hired for Ed Sullivan’s television program on CBS “Toast of the Town.” Gleason hired the dancers two years later for “Cavalcade of Stars,” a variety show on the DuMont network.

In 1952, Gleason moved the show to CBS, and The June Taylor Girls name was changed to the June Taylor Dancers.

Gleason separated from Genevieve, his wife, began dating Marilyn. They dated throughout the 50s but broke up because Jackie was Catholic and could not get divorced.

In 1955, Gleason started with Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph, and Art Carney “The Honeymooners.”

Marilyn married George Horwich, a wedding planner and party consultant from Chicago in May 1962. Horwich died in 1972.

Marilyn’s sister June became the choreographer on “The Jackie Gleason Show,” which was taped in Florida.

After Horwich’s death, she moved to Florida. When Jackie learned Marilyn moved there, he began courting her.

Gleason eventually got divorced, and he married Marilyn in 1975.

After Jackie Gleason died, Marilyn sold their home and moved to a penthouse in Fort Lauderdale where she spent the rest of her life.

Marilyn sister June, died in 2004. Marilyn is survived by her son and daughter Linda King and Geraldine Chutuk.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Jackie Gleason’s widow, Marilyn Taylor Gleason, dies in Fort Lauderdale

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