Bidding Farewell to Fashion Royalty: Joyce Randolph ‘The Honeymooners’ actress dies at 99

The Passing of a Fashion Icon: Remembering Joyce Randolph’s Timeless Style as Trixie Norton

Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie Norton on the classic sitcom “The Honeymooners,” and was the last surviving member of the cast, died Saturday in New York City. She was 99.Randolph was in hospice care at the time of her death and died of natural causes, her son, Randy, told TMZ.

The fashion world lost a beloved icon this week with the passing of actress Joyce Randolph at 99. Though perhaps best known as Trixie Norton on the classic 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, Randolph’s impact extended far beyond the small screen. With her timeless style and quick wit, Trixie became a prototype for the modern woman.

When The Honeymooners first aired in 1955, most female television characters were homemakers who lived in their husbands’ shadows. Not Trixie. Randolph imbued the role with a stylish glamour and fierce independence that was ahead of its time.

On screen, Trixie favored slim sheath dresses with bold prints, tailored jackets with kicky full skirts, and the occasional pair of wide-leg trousers. Her accessories always dazzled, from oversized pearl clips to tod-saddle bags. And of course, there were the heels. Trixie schooled women on how to walk confidently in pumps, whether kitten or stiletto.

Randolph sourced many of Trixie’s outfits herself from New York boutiques. She intuitively understood how fashion could empower women. In Trixie’s chic armor, she could spar with Ralph Kramden as an equal.

That personas left an impression on designers. Trixie’s trademark cat eye glasses later inspired a namesake style by Salvatore Ferragamo. Her fondness for leopard prints led to Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic 60s collection. And traces of her go-getter attitude emerged in collections from powerhouses like Chanel, Dior and Givenchy.

Beyond fashion, Trixie embodied possibility for women. At a time when husbands dominated marriages, Trixie constantly outwitted Ralph with her street smarts. Her sly comebacks sent the message that wives need not suffer fools. And though she could be genteelly feminine, Trixie showed that women could also throw back a drink at their favorite bar.

Five decades later, today’s independent, fashion-forward woman owes a debt to Trixie. So let us raise a White Cadillac to Joyce Randolph, knowing her legacy lives on in countless ways. We will never again hear Trixie’s brassy cackle or see Randolph’s radiant smile. But on our darkest days when we need a bit of moxie, her strength, spirit and style remain only a rerun away.