Known For
Acting
Born
May 23, 1882
Died
Apr 12, 1959
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Credits
154 titles
James Gleason
Biography
James Gleason was born in New York City to William Gleason and Mina Crolius, who were both in the theatre. He was married to Lucile Gleason (born Lucile Webster), and had a son, Russell Gleason. As a young man James fought in the Spanish-American War. After the war he joined the stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland, California, which his parents were running. James and his wife then moved to Portland, Oregon, where they played in stock at the Baker Theater. For several years afterward they toured in road shows until James enlisted in the army during World War I. When he returned he appeared on the stage in "The Five Million." He then turned to writing, including "Is Zat So", which he produced for the NY stage. He also wrote and acted in "The Fall Guy" and "The Shannons on Broadway." Next he wrote The Broadway Melody (1929) for MGM. He collaborated, in 1930, on The Swellhead (1930), Dumbbells in Ermine (1930), What a Widow! (1930), Rain or Shine (1930) and His First Command (1929). He and his wife were then contracted to Pathe, Lucille to act, and James (or Jimmie as he was known) as a writer. Probably his most famous acting role was as Max Corkle, the manager of Joe Pendleton who was wrongly plucked from this life into the next, in the hit fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941).
Known For
Filmography
The Last Hurrah
Cuke Gillen
Money, Women and Guns
Henry Devers
Once Upon a Horse...
Postmaster
Rock-a-Bye Baby
Doc Simpkins
Man or Gun
Sheriff Jim Jackson
No Time at All
Dolph Grimes
The Female Animal
Tom Maloney
Man in the Shadow
Hank James
Leave It to Beaver
Pete
Loving You
Carl Meade
Spring Reunion
Collie
Star in the Dust
Orval Jones
Screen Director's Playhouse
Ed Shafer
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Mr. Jorgy
Cheyenne
The Girl Rush
Ether Ferguson
The Night of the Hunter
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
The Millionaire
Charles Hartford Simpson
Climax!
Reverend Mr. McCarkle
Suddenly
Peter 'Pop' Benson
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
Risky Russell
Forever Female
Eddie Woods
This Is Your Life
Self
Cavalcade of America
Noah Larkin
What Price Glory
General Cokely
The Story of Will Rogers
Bert Lynn
We're Not Married!
Duffy
I'll See You in My Dreams
Fred Townsend
Come Fill the Cup
Charley Dolan
Triple Cross
Knobby Walsh
Two Gals and a Guy
Max Howard
Racket Squad
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
Knobby Walsh
The Jackpot
Harry Summers
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
Riding High
Racing Secretary
The Yellow Cab Man
Mickey Corkins
Key to the City
Sergeant Hogan
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Timothy Gleason
Take One False Step
Captain Gledhill
The Life of Riley
Gillis
Bad Boy
Chief
When My Baby Smiles at Me
Lefty Moore
The Return of October
Uncle Willie Ramsey
The Dude Goes West
Sam Briggs
Smart Woman
Sam Corkle
Tycoon
Pop Mathews
The Bishop's Wife
Sylvester
Down to Earth
Max Corkle
The Homestretch
Doc Kilborne