Ralph Kramden/Ed Norton

Ralph Kramden, played by Jackie Gleason, is a bus driver for the fictional Gotham Bus Company. He is never seen driving a bus (except in publicity photos), but is shown multiple times at the bus depot. Ralph is frustrated by his lack of success, and often develops schemes designed to earn him and his wife a quick fortune. Ralph is very quick-tempered, and frequently resorts to insults and hollow threats of physical violence. Edward "Ed" Norton, played by Art Carney , is a New York City sewer worker and Ralph's best friend. He is considerably more good-natured than Ralph, but nonetheless trades insults with him on a regular basis. Ed (typically called "Norton" by Ralph) often gets mixed up in Ralph's schemes, and his carefree and rather dimwitted nature usually results in raising Ralph's ire, while Ralph often showers him with verbal abuse, shoves him around, and throws him out of the apartment when Ed irritates him. Ed and Ralph are both members of the fictional Raccoon Lodge.