Nisha Rathode (Editor)

James Gleason

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Years active
  
1914–59

Name
  
James Gleason


Role
  
Actor

Children
  
Russell Gleason

James Gleason HOLLYWOODLAND James Gleason

Born
  
May 23, 1882 (
1882-05-23
)

Died
  
April 12, 1959, Woodland Hills, California, United States

Spouse
  
Lucile Gleason (m. 1905–1947)

Parents
  
William Gleason, Mina Gleason

Movies
  
The Night of the Hunter, Suddenly, The Penguin Pool Mur, Meet John Doe, Here Comes Mr Jordan

Similar People
  
Lucile Gleason, Russell Gleason, Edna May Oliver, Alexander Hall, Billy Chapin

Life after war aaron solomona and james gleason episode 2


James Austin Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor born in New York City. He was also a playwright and screenwriter.

Contents

James Gleason image1findagravecomphotos250photos200824445

Pert kelton james gleason new girl in town 1936


Life and career

James Gleason Know Your Character Actor James Gleason Smum County

Gleason was born in New York City, the son of Mina (née Crolius; 1858-1931) and William L. Gleason (1850-1909). Coming from theatrical stock, as a schoolboy he made stage appearances while on holiday. He began earning his living at the age of thirteen, being a messenger boy, printer's devil, assistant in an electrical store and a lift boy. He enlisted in the United States Army at age 16 and served three years in the Philippines.

James Gleason James Gleason Hollywood Star Walk Los Angeles Times

On discharge, he began his stage career, later taking it up professionally. He played in London for two years and following his return to the United States, he began in films by writing dialogue for "comedies". He wrote a number of plays, several of which were performed on Broadway. He also acted on Broadway, including in a couple of his own plays. When World War I broke out, Gleason reenlisted in the United States Army and served to the end of the war.

His film debut was in Polly of the Follies (1922), starring Constance Talmadge. Balding and slender with a craggy voice and a master of the double-take, Gleason portrayed tough but warm-hearted characters, usually with a New York background. He co-wrote The Broadway Melody, the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and had a small uncredited role in it. He also co-wrote and briefly appeared as a hot dog vendor in the 1934 Janet Gaynor vehicle Change of Heart. He performed in a number of films with his wife Lucile. In The Clock (1945), he played a milk cart driver who gives lessons in marriage to the characters played by Judy Garland and Robert Walker, while Lucille played his wife. The same year, he played the bartender in the film adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. In the Frank Capra classic Meet John Doe, he played the cynical, "hard boiled" editor brought in to pump up the newspaper that runs with the "John Doe" story. Gleason starred in two movie series, playing police inspector Oscar Piper in six Hildegarde Withers mystery films during the 1930s, starting with The Penguin Pool Murder, and Joe Higgins in the first seven of nine films about the Higgins Family, in which his wife Lucile and son Russell played Lil and Sydney Higgins. Gleason was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as boxing manager Max "Pop" Corkle in the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

Gleason also performed in other media. In 1931, he co-starred with Robert Armstrong in the radio sitcom Gleason and Armstrong. His television credits include several episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the Reed Hadley legal drama The Public Defender and ABC's The Real McCoys. In "The Child", the Christmas 1957 episode of John Payne's The Restless Gun on NBC, Gleason and Anthony Caruso played Roman Catholic priests who run an orphanage. Dan Blocker, just launching his acting career, also guest starred in the episode.

For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Gleason has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7038 Hollywood Boulevard.

Family

James and Lucille Gleason had a son, actor Russell Gleason. On December 26, 1945, the younger Gleason was in New York City awaiting deployment to Europe with his regiment, when he fell out of a fourth story window in the Hotel Sutton, which the army had commandeered to house the troops, resulting in his death. Reports varied, some saying the fall was accidental, while others stating it was a suicide. Russell's most prominent role had been as Muller in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). Russell Gleason was married to Cynthia Lindsay, a former Busby Berkeley chorus girl who later wrote a biography of family friend Boris Karloff.

James Gleason was interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Filmography

Actor
1958
Money, Women and Guns as
Henry Devers
1958
The Last Hurrah as
'Cuke' Gillen
1958
Once Upon a Horse... as
Postmaster
1958
Rock-a-Bye Baby as
Doc Simpkins
1958
Man or Gun as
Sheriff Jim Jackson
1958
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) as
Dolph Grimes
- No Time at All (1958) - Dolph Grimes
1958
The Real McCoys (TV Series) as
Joe Johnson
- The Matchmaker (1958) - Joe Johnson
1958
The Female Animal as
Tom Maloney
1957
The Restless Gun (TV Series) as
Padre Terrence
- The Child (1957) - Padre Terrence
1957
Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) as
Pete
- The Clubhouse (1957) - Pete
1957
Code 3 (TV Series) as
Matt Nelson
- Lonesome Whistles (1957) - Matt Nelson
1957
Man in the Shadow as
Hank James
1957
Loving You as
Carl Meade
1957
Cavalcade of America (TV Series) as
Noah Larkin
- Shark of the Mountain (1957) - Noah Larkin
1956
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) as
Howard Fieldstone / Mr. Jorgy
- The End of Indian Summer (1957) - Howard Fieldstone
- Kill with Kindness (1956) - Mr. Jorgy
1956
Spring Reunion as
Mr. 'Collie' Collyer (as Jimmy Gleason)
1956
The Millionaire (TV Series) as
Charles Hartford Simpson
- The Charles Hartford Simpson Story (1956) - Charles Hartford Simpson
1956
Star in the Dust as
Orval Jones
1956
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) as
The Delicatessen Clerk
- Watching Thorny's House (1956) - The Delicatessen Clerk
1956
Climax! (TV Series) as
Reverend Mr. McCarkle
- The Fifth Wheel (1956) - Reverend Mr. McCarkle
1953
The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) as
Cal
- Try Me for Size (1956) - Cal
- Sweet Talk Me, Jackson (1953)
1956
Cheyenne (TV Series) as
Pop Keith
- The Travelers (1956) - Pop Keith
1955
Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) as
Spider McCoy
- Dog About Town (1955) - Spider McCoy
- The Big Umbrella (1955) - Spider McCoy
1955
Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) as
Ed Shafer
- Rookie of the Year (1955) - Ed Shafer
1955
The Girl Rush as
Ether Ferguson
1955
The Night of the Hunter as
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
1955
Your Play Time (TV Series)
- A Frame-Up (1955)
1953
The Life of Riley (TV Series) as
Pa Riley / Mike Riley
- Brotherhood of the B.P.L.A. (1955) - Pa Riley
- Chicken Ranch (1955) - Mike Riley
- Destination Brooklyn (1954) - Mike Riley
- Riley's Family Reunion (1953) - Pa Riley
1955
So This Is Hollywood (TV Series)
- The Old Timer (1955) - (as Jimmy Gleason)
1954
The Stu Erwin Show (TV Series) as
Uncle Matt
- The Matchmakers (1955) - Uncle Matt (as Jimmy Gleason)
- Father's Boy (1954)
1955
Shower of Stars (TV Series)
- Burlesque (1955)
1955
The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater (TV Series)
- The Big Bargain (1955)
1954
The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) as
Sergeant Humphrey Wiggins
- Let's Face It (1954) - Sergeant Humphrey Wiggins
1954
The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series)
- Danny Lands in Pictures (1954)
1954
Suddenly as
Pop Benson
1954
Public Defender (TV Series) as
Duke Scanlon
- The Ring (1954) - Duke Scanlon
1954
Hollywood Thrill-Makers as
Risky Russell
1953
Forever Female as
Eddie Woods
1953
Racket Squad (TV Series) as
Longshot
- His Brother's Keeper (1953) - Longshot
1952
Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson (TV Series)
- Mr. Influence (1952)
1952
What Price Glory as
Gen. Cokely
1952
The Story of Will Rogers as
Bert Lynn
1952
We're Not Married! as
Duffy
1951
I'll See You in My Dreams as
Fred Thompson
1951
Come Fill the Cup as
Charley Dolan
1951
Joe Palooka in Triple Cross as
Knobby Walsh
1951
Two Gals and a Guy as
Max Howard
1950
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle as
Knobby Walsh
1950
The Jackpot as
Harry Summers
1950
Riding High as
Racing Secretary
1950
The Yellow Cab Man as
Mickey Corkins
1950
Screen Snapshots 2856: It Was Only Yesterday (Short) as
Commentator
1950
Key to the City as
Sergeant Hogan
1949
Miss Grant Takes Richmond as
Timothy P. Gleason
1949
Take One False Step as
Gledhill
1949
The Life of Riley as
Gillis
1949
Bad Boy as
Chief
1948
When My Baby Smiles at Me as
Lefty Moore
1948
Incident as
Narrator (uncredited)
1948
The Return of October as
Uncle Willie Ramsey
1948
The Dude Goes West as
Sam Briggs
1948
Smart Woman as
Sam Corkle
1947
Tycoon as
Pop
1947
The Bishop's Wife as
Sylvester
1947
Down to Earth as
Max Corkle
1947
The Homestretch as
Doc Kilborne
1946
Lady Luck as
Sacramento Sam
1946
Home, Sweet Homicide as
Sgt. O'Hare
1946
The Well Groomed Bride as
Capt. Hornby
1946
The Hoodlum Saint as
Snarp
1945
Captain Eddie as
Tom Clark
1945
The Clock as
Al Henry
1945
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as
McGarrity
1945
This Man's Navy as
Jimmy Shannon
1944
The Keys of the Kingdom as
Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
1944
Arsenic and Old Lace as
Police Lt. Rooney
1944
Once Upon a Time as
McGillicuddy aka The Moke
1943
A Guy Named Joe as
'Nails' Kilpatrick
1943
Crash Dive as
Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
1942
Manila Calling as
Tim O'Rourke
1942
Tales of Manhattan as
Joe
1942
Footlight Serenade as
Bruce McKay
1942
The Falcon Takes Over as
Inspector Mike O'Hara
1942
My Gal Sal as
Pat Hawley
1942
A Date with the Falcon as
Inspector Mike O'Hara
1942
Hay Foot as
Colonel J. A. Barkley
1941
Babes on Broadway as
Thornton Reed
1941
Nine Lives Are Not Enough as
Sergeant Daniels
1941
Tanks a Million as
Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
1941
Here Comes Mr. Jordan as
Max Corkle
1941
Affectionately Yours as
Chester Phillips
1941
Meet John Doe as
Henry Connell
1940
Earl of Puddlestone as
Joe Higgins
1940
Grandpa Goes to Town as
Joe Higgins
1939
Money to Burn as
Joe Higgins
1939
The Covered Trailer as
Joe Higgins
1939
On Your Toes as
Phil Dolan Sr.
1939
Should Husbands Work? as
Joe Higgins
1939
My Wife's Relatives as
Joe Higgins
1938
Army Girl as
Sgt. 'Three Star' Hennessy
1938
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 (Documentary short) as
James Gleason
1938
The Higgins Family as
Joe Higgins
1937
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round as
Danny The Duck
1937
Forty Naughty Girls as
Inspector Oscar Piper
1936
The Plot Thickens as
Oscar Piper
1936
The Big Game as
George Scott
1936
Don't Turn 'em Loose as
Detective Daniels
1936
Yours for the Asking as
Saratoga
1936
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford as
Inspector Corrigan
1936
Murder on a Bridle Path as
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1935
We're Only Human as
Detective Danny Walsh
1935
Hot Tip as
Jimmy McGill
1935
West Point of the Air as
'Bags'
1935
Murder on a Honeymoon as
Inspector Oscar Piper
1934
Helldorado as
Sam Barnes
1934
Murder on the Blackboard as
Inspector Oscar Piper
1934
Change of Heart as
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
1934
Search for Beauty as
Dan Healy
1934
The Meanest Gal in Town as
Duke Slater
1933
Pie for Two (Short)
1933
Hoopla as
Jerry
1933
Orders Is Orders as
Ed Waggermeyer
1933
Gleason's New Deal (Short)
1933
Mister Mugg (Short)
1933
Alias the Professor (Short)
1933
Clear All Wires! as
Lefty
1933
Rock-a-Bye Cowboy (Short) as
Jimmy
1933
The Billion Dollar Scandal as
Ratsy Harris
1932
Lights Out (Short)
1932
A Hockey Hick (Short)
1932
Penguin Pool Murder as
Oscar Piper
1932
The Devil Is Driving as
'Beef' Evans
1932
Yoo-Hoo (Short) as
Jimmy Gleason
1932
The All-American as
Chick Knipe
1932
The Crooked Circle as
Arthur Crimmer
1932
Off His Base (Short) as
Picture in Opening Credits (credit only)
1932
Blondie of the Follies as
Pa (Lou)McClune
1932
Lady and Gent as
Pin Streaver
1932
High Hats and Low Brows (Short) as
Danny Ruff
1932
Fast Companions as
Silk Henley
1932
Stealin' Home (Short)
1932
Rule 'Em and Weep (Short) as
Spike Mc Gorey
1932
Battle Royal (Short) as
Danny Ruff
1931
Doomed to Win (Short)
1931
Suicide Fleet as
Skeets
1931
Slow Poison (Short)
1931
The Big Gamble as
Squint Dugan
1931
Where Canaries Sing Bass (Short)
1931
Sweepstakes as
Sleepy Jones
1931
A Free Soul as
Eddie
1931
It's a Wise Child as
Cool Kelly
1931
Beyond Victory as
Private Jim Mobley
1930
Big Money as
Tom
1930
Her Man as
Steve
1930
The Matrimonial Bed as
Gustave Corton
1930
Dumbbells in Ermine as
Mike
1930
The Swellhead as
Johnny Trump
1930
Puttin' on the Ritz as
James Tierney
1930
Don't Believe It (Short)
1929
The Shannons of Broadway as
Mickey Shannon
1929
Fairways and Foul (Short) as
Husband
1929
Oh, Yeah? as
Dusty Reilly
1929
The Garden of Eatin' (Short)
1929
Meet the Missus (Short) as
Bert La Motte
1929
The Broadway Melody as
Music Publisher (uncredited)
1928
The Count of Ten as
Johnny's Manager
1922
Polly of the Follies as
Paul Gordon
Writer
1938
Goodbye Broadway (play "The Shannons of Broadway" - based on the Broadway Stge Success by James A. Gleason)
1936
Song and Dance Man (contributing writer - uncredited)
1935
Two Fisted (play "Is Zat So?")
1935
Murder in the Fleet (additional writer - uncredited)
1934
Servants' Entrance (contributor to dialogue - uncredited)
1934
The World Moves On (uncredited)
1934
Change of Heart (screen play)
1933
The Bowery (screen play)
1933
Orders Is Orders
1931
Doomed to Win (Short) (dialogue)
1931
Beyond Victory
1931
Three Hollywood Girls (Short) (dialogue)
1930
What a Widow! (adaptation) / (screenplay)
1930
Rain or Shine (book of musical play)
1930
The Fall Guy (by)
1930
Dumbbells in Ermine (dialogue)
1930
Mammy (play "Mr. Bones" - uncredited)
1930
The Swellhead (dialogue)
1930
Puttin' on the Ritz (dialogue)
1930
Don't Believe It (Short) (story)
1929
His First Command (screenplay) / (story)
1929
The Shannons of Broadway (dialogue) / (play) / (titles)
1929
Oh, Yeah? (dialogue) / (scenario)
1929
The Garden of Eatin' (Short) (story)
1929
High Voltage (dialogue) / (screen play)
1929
The Flying Fool (additional dialogue)
1929
The Broadway Melody (dialogue)
1927
Is Zat So? (based on stage play by)
Director
1935
Hot Tip
1932
A Hockey Hick (Short)
1932
Always Kickin' (Short)
1932
Off His Base (Short)
Soundtrack
1957
The Restless Gun (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- The Child (1957) - (performer: "Sitting Under an Old Oak Tree" - uncredited)
1956
The Millionaire (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- The Charles Hartford Simpson Story (1956) - (performer: "Mademoiselle from Armentières")
1955
The Night of the Hunter (performer: "Cresap's Landing Party" - uncredited)
1939
On Your Toes (performer: "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" (1911) - uncredited)
1935
West Point of the Air (performer: "You're In The Army Now" (1917) - uncredited)
Miscellaneous
1934
Change of Heart (dialogue director - uncredited)
1929
Oh, Yeah? (dialogue director - uncredited)
Producer
1932
Off His Base (Short) (producer)
Script Department
1931
Three Hollywood Girls (Short) (continuity)
Self
1953
This Is Your Life (TV Series) as
Self
- Jimmy Gleason (1958) - Self
- Pat O'Brien (1953) - Self
1951
The Alan Young Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 27 March 1951 (1951) - Self
- Episode #2.28 (1951) - Self
1951
Cavalcade of Stars (TV Series) as
Self - Guest Actor
- James Gleason, Maureen Cannon, Florence Desmond (1951) - Self - Guest Actor
1941
Picture People No. 1: Stars in Defense (Short) as
Self
1938
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6 (Documentary short) as
Self
1937
Screen Snapshots Series 16, No. 7 (Documentary short) as
Self
1935
Hollywood Hobbies (Documentary short) as
Self
1930
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1 (Short) as
Self
1930
The Voice of Hollywood No. 4 (Short) as
Self (uncredited)
Archive Footage
2008
The Naked Archaeologist (TV Series documentary) as
Cop
- Naked Letters (2010) - Cop
- The Hairy Show (2010) - Cop
- The Curse of the Maccabee Tomb (2008) - Cop
- A Nabatean by Any Other Name (2008) - Cop
- Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness - Cop
2006
Private Screenings (TV Series) as
Thornton Reed - 'Babes On Broadway'
- Child Stars (2006) - Thornton Reed - 'Babes On Broadway' (uncredited)
1965
Hollywood My Home Town (Documentary) as
Self
1950
The Soundman (Documentary short) as
Man at Racetrack (uncredited)
1948
Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Party (Short) as
Self
1941
Breakdowns of 1941 (Short) as
Self (uncredited)
1937
Cinema Circus (Short) as
James Gleason

References

James Gleason Wikipedia


Similar Topics