Many factors add to the richness of our lives and certainly two of them would be amusement and laughter. There is no way to measure how much humor, the cleaner and gentler the better, can add to the quality of our existence.

The late Art Carney provided so many of us with brighteners in his 66 years in entertainment. His best-known role, of course, was that of Ed Norton, the New York sewer worker “of unlimited heart and limited brain power.” Carney in a way nobody else could have done gave Honeymooners’ star Jackie Gleason and the cast friendship and a conscience, and made them laugh, too.

Carney, who died recently at the age of 85, began his acting and comedy career in 1937. He wound up with seven Emmy awards and an Academy Award. It is notable that six of those Emmys came on the Gleason show, for which the star never won such an honor. Many think Gleason deserved at least one.

Among Carney’s other achievements, he left the entertainment field to enter military service during World War II. He was wounded during the June 1944 Normandy invasion and had a distinctive limp the rest of his life. He said many times he was blessed with love and good fortune and had a wonderful time in life. But the lovable clown had his problems, too, like so many in his business. He had to fight addictions to alcohol, amphetamines and barbiturates for many years. He managed to conquer all those challenges and remain focused on entertaining others.

In the coming weeks, we will be seeing a lot of the “clips” of Carney’s work in various media. We will appreciate again all that he has added to our experiences on this globe. But his primary point of reference with most, young and old, will be as a gentle, well-meaning blue-collar worker with the open vest over a white T-shirt and that hat with the brim peeled back.

Little wonder so many found Carney so lovable as Ed Norton. He had a menial job but he was not ashamed of it. In fact, he took great pride in the fact he did his work, did it well and found ways to enjoy life with friends. No shame whatever at not being some prince of privilege.

There were times when the pretense-conscious Gleason would introduce “Norton” as working for the city of New York in the field of “subterranean sanitation.” The guileless Norton would always correct him quickly, saying “I work in the sewers.” Such candor and lack of pretense endeared Carney to millions and his acting skills made so many of us laugh and enjoy ourselves — and relate to somebody so charming.

What a wonderful way to be remembered, and Art Carney will be remembered for a long time.