Sheila MacRae, ‘Honeymooners’ Actress, Dies at 92; Also Played in `I Love Lucy’; Appeared on Ed Sullivan’s Beatles Show

Sheila MacRae, "The Honeymooners" new Alice, died on Thursday at the age of 92.

Sheila Macrae is best known for playing Alice Kramden in the '60s version of "The Honeymooners." She also appeared on "I Love Lucy." Sheila MacRae performed with her ex-husband on The Ed Sullivan Show the night he featured The Beatles. MacRae also was a sought after beauty, who turned down a marriage proposal from Frank Sinatra and shot down other suitors.

According to her granddaughter, Allison Mullavey, Sheila MacRae died at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J. MacRae suffered from dementia but was otherwise in good health. The star of stage and screen had been hospitalized for a minor surgical procedure. Her daughter, Heather MacRae, says Sheila MacRae died suddenly on Thursday night, apparently the result of old age.

Heather MacRae said, "She had a great life, my mom, she really did. She was quite a broad. Fascinating, almost like an Auntie Mame character." She added "My mother referred to herself as the last Mrs. Kramden."

In the 1950s version of "The Honeymooners," Audrey Meadows starred with Jackie Gleason as Ralph and Alice Kramden. Sheila MacRae replaced Meadows in a later version from 1966-70 on "The Jackie Gleason Show." MacRae was the last survivor from the '60s version of The Honeymooners. Jane Kean, who played Trixie Norton, died last fall.

MacRae played herself in an episode of I Love Lucy, "The Fashion Show." She asks Lucy to take part in a Hollywood fashion show organized by Don Loper that was featuring actors' wives as models. MacRae had her own television series, "The Sheila MacRae Show." She also played the character Madelyn Richmond on the soap opera "General Hospital."

Sheila MacRae was a singer, dancer and an actress. Sheila MacRae starred on Broadway and in films.

Sheila MacRae was married to "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel" star Gordon MacRae for 26 years. The couple appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 when the Beatles were featured.

According to her daughter, Heather MacRae, Sheila  put her career on hold to raise her four children. Heather MacRae said after helping her mom helped her husband with his nightclub act, she decided to join him and her career took off. The couple appeared together in musicals including "Guys and Dolls," where MacRae played Miss Adelaide in 1965.

MacRae married Ronald Wayn after her divorce from Gordon MacRae in 1967. Wayn produced Gleason's show. They later divorced.

Sheila McCrae turned down a marriage proposal from Frank Sinatra. She also MacRae turned down suitors including Henry Fonda, Peter Sellers and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Sheila MacRae is survived by two children, Heather and William, also known as Gar; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Mr. MacRae died in 1986.

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sheila macrae
the honeymooners
i love lucy
The Beatles
frank sinatra
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