Joyce Randolph remained a major screen sensation for over five decades, starring in several movies and TV series. She is mostly renowned for her portrayal of Trixie Norton on the television sitcom The Honeymooners. The entertainer remained one of the most iconic actresses from the Golden Age of television before she took a bow from the showbiz.
Several news stories have made the rounds alleging that the 99-year-old retired actress is dead. However, she is confirmed to be alive and leading a quiet life away from the spotlight.
Joyce Randolph Retired from Acting in 2000
Joyce made her professional career debut in 1949 and she remained active for 51 years before she took a bow from the stage in 2000.
Meanwhile, she started acting as a teenager with the Wayne University Workshop. She later auditioned with a touring company called Stage Door in Detroit. Her audition was successful and she performed with the company for the rest of their tour.
Joyce later moved to New York City in 1943 to advance her acting career and she was able to take on roles on Broadway and also appeared in several commercials. While on Broadway, the actress appeared in Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath (1950).
However, after she was popularly identified with the Trixie Norton character from The Honeymooners (955-1956). Due to the fame she got from the sitcom, many directors found it difficult to fix her in other projects.
Notwithstanding, Joyce clinched her commercial gigs and later regained her footing on screen with works like The Jackie Gleason Show (1952-1957) and Hi Honey, I’m Home (1991). Below is a list of her screen works.
SEE ALSO: Lucille Soong: Was She Ever Married? Where Is She Today
She is the Last Surviving Character of The Honeymooners
At 99, Joyce happens to be the last surviving cast member of The Honeymooners, a 1955-1956, sitcom that she is mostly known for. In the series, she portrayed the character of Thelma Trivxie, Norton Ed’s wife. Although she did not appear in every episode and had a less developed character, she is shown to be somewhat bossy towards her husband.
The Honeymooners ran for only one season and 39 episodes, beginning in the fall of 1955. After the single season, the show returned as a series of sketches and was later revived in that same format in Gleason’s new variety hour, with Jane Kean assuming the role of Trixie – from 1966 to 1970.
All the actors who starred in the American sitcom were successful American actors of the Golden Age. However, except for Joyce, they have all passed. The list includes
- Jackie Gleason (starred as Ralph Kramden) – Died on June 24, 1987 (aged 71)
- Audrey Meadows (Alice Kramden) – Died on February 3, 1996 (aged 73)
- Art Carney (Ethelbert ‘ED’ Norton) – Died on November 9, 2003 (aged 85)
- Pert Kelton (starred as Alice Kramden) – Died on October 30, 1968 (aged 61)
Was She Ever Married?
Yes. Joyce married Richard Lincoln Charles, a wealthy marketing executive, on October 2, 1955, a day after The Honeymooners premiered. Their union was blessed with a son named Randolph Richard Charles who was born in 1960. Just like his father, Randolph is also a marketing executive.
Altogether, Joyce and her husband were married for 42 years until Richard’s passing in 1997. He died at the age of 74.
Other Facts About Joyce Randolph
1. She was originally born as Joyce Sirrola on October 21, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan. Also, she is of Finnish descent.
2. After completing high school, she began working in retail sales for a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Detroit. She later moved to New York City in 1943 and began to take toles on Broadway.
3. The 99-year-old retired actress has been living away from the spotlight. However, she still receives public mention owing to her erstwhile entertainment career.
4. Randolph’s net worth at the moment is pegged at $10 million. Her fortune is courtesy of her entertainment career of over 5 decades. Also, her late husband’s wealth may have contributed to her net worth since he was a wealthy marketing executive before he passed.
5. She starred in several roles relating to murder mysteries and gained publicity as the most murdered girl on television. Similarly, within the years she stayed off television, Joyce was alleged to have passed. However, these allegations have been confirmed to be false over and over again.
