Born Arthur William Matthew Carney in Mount Vernon, New York, he gained lifelong fame for his portrayal of upstairs neighbor and sewer worker Ed Norton opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the popular television comedy show The Honeymooners. Art Carney also had many screen and stage roles, including the portrayal on Broadway of Felix Unger in The Odd Couple (opposite Walter Matthau as Oscar). He was nominated for seven Emmy Awards.

Carney had been a busy radio actor before being drafted as an infantryman during World War II. He participated in the Battle of Normandy and was wounded in the leg by shrapnel. He walked with a limp for the rest of his life.

In 1974 he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as an elderly man going on the road with his pet cat in Harry and Tonto. In 1978, Carney appeared in The Star Wars Holiday Special, a spin-off film to the Star Wars series. In it, he played Trader Saun Dann, a member of the Rebel Alliance who was a close friend of Chewbacca and his family. He also appeared in such films as W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, The Late Show, House Calls, Movie Movie and Going in Style. Later movies included The Muppets Take Manhattan, Firestarter, and Last Action Hero.

In 1981, he portrayed Harry Truman, an 84 year old lodge owner in the half-fiction/half-reality based account of events leading to the eruption of Mount St. Helens, in the movie titled St. Helens.

He was married three times to two women:

Barbara Isaac from December 21, 1966 to 1977 Jean Myers, from 1940 to 1965; from 1980 to November 9, 2003: 3 children Carney died at his home of natural causes 5 days after his 85th birthday in Chester, Connecticut; he was survived by his widow and children.

Art Carney has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6627 Hollywood Blvd.