James Gleason
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 23, 1882
- Died
- April 12, 1959 (aged 76)
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
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
Photos
Filmography
The Last Hurrah
Movie · as Cuke Gillen
Man or Gun
Movie · as Sheriff Jim Jackson
Money, Women and Guns
Movie · as Henry Devers
The Female Animal
Movie · as Tom Maloney
Rock-a-Bye Baby
Movie · as Doc Simpkins
No Time at All
Movie · as Dolph Grimes
Once Upon a Horse...
Movie · as Postmaster
Loving You
Movie · as Carl Meade
Spring Reunion
Movie · as Collie
Man in the Shadow
Movie · as Hank James
Leave It to Beaver
TV · as Pete · 1 ep
Star in the Dust
Movie · as Orval Jones
The Night of the Hunter
Movie · as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
The Girl Rush
Movie · as Ether Ferguson
Rookie of the Year
Movie · as Ed Shafer
Cheyenne
TV · 1 ep
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV · as Mr. Jorgy, Howard Fieldstone · 1 ep
The Millionaire
TV · as Charles Hartford Simpson · 1 ep
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV · as Ed Shafer · 1 ep
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
Movie · as Risky Russell
Suddenly
Movie · as Peter 'Pop' Benson
Climax!
TV · as Reverend Mr. McCarkle · 1 ep
Forever Female
Movie · as Eddie Woods
We're Not Married!
Movie · as Duffy
What Price Glory
Movie · as General Cokely
The Story of Will Rogers
Movie · as Bert Lynn
This Is Your Life
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Cavalcade of America
TV · as Noah Larkin · 1 ep
I'll See You in My Dreams
Movie · as Fred Townsend
Come Fill the Cup
Movie · as Charley Dolan
Two Gals and a Guy
Movie · as Max Howard
Triple Cross
Movie · as Knobby Walsh
Racket Squad
TV · 1 ep
The Yellow Cab Man
Movie · as Mickey Corkins
Key to the City
Movie · as Sergeant Hogan
Riding High
Movie · as Racing Secretary
The Jackpot
Movie · as Harry Summers
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
Movie · as Knobby Walsh
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Take One False Step
Movie · as Captain Gledhill
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Movie · as Timothy Gleason
The Life of Riley
Movie · as Gillis
Bad Boy
Movie · as Chief
Smart Woman
Movie · as Sam Corkle
When My Baby Smiles at Me
Movie · as Lefty Moore
The Return of October
Movie · as Uncle Willie Ramsey
The Dude Goes West
Movie · as Sam Briggs
Down to Earth
Movie · as Max Corkle
The Bishop's Wife
Movie · as Sylvester
Tycoon
Movie · as Pop Mathews
The Homestretch
Movie · as Doc Kilborne
The Hoodlum Saint
Movie · as Snarp
Home Sweet Homicide
Movie · as Sgt. O'Hare
Lady Luck
Movie · as Sacramento Sam
The Well Groomed Bride
Movie · as Captain Hornby
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Movie · as McGarrity
The Clock
Movie · as Al Henry
This Man's Navy
Movie · as Jimmy Shannon
Captain Eddie
Movie · as Tom Clark
Arsenic and Old Lace
Movie · as Lt. Rooney
A Guy Named Joe
Movie · as “Nails” Kilpatrick
Once Upon a Time
Movie · as Moke McGillicuddy
The Keys of the Kingdom
Movie · as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
Crash Dive
Movie · as Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
Tales of Manhattan
Movie · as Father Joe
Footlight Serenade
Movie · as Bruce McKay
A Date with the Falcon
Movie · as Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
The Falcon Takes Over
Movie · as Inspector Mike O'Hara
Hay Foot
Movie · as Colonel J. A. Barkley
My Gal Sal
Movie · as Pat Hawley
Manila Calling
Movie · as Tim O'Rourke
Meet John Doe
Movie · as Henry Connell
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Movie · as Max Corkle
Affectionately Yours
Movie · as 'Chet' Phillips
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
Movie · as Sergeant Daniels
Tanks a Million
Movie · as Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
Babes on Broadway
Movie · as Thornton Reed
Breakdowns of 1941
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Earl of Puddlestone
Movie · as Joe Higgins
Grandpa Goes To Town
Movie · as Joe Higgins
The Covered Trailer
Movie · as Joe Higgins
On Your Toes
Movie · as Phil Dolan Sr.
Should Husbands Work?
Movie · as Joe Higgins
My Wife's Relatives
Movie · as Joe Higgins
Money To Burn
Movie · as Joe Higgins
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
Movie · as James Gleason
Army Girl
Movie · as Hennessy
The Higgins Family
Movie · as Joe Higgins
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6
Movie · as Self
Cinema Circus
Movie · as Himself
Forty Naughty Girls
Movie · as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
Movie · as Danny The Duck
Murder on a Bridle Path
Movie · as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Movie · as Inspector Corrigan
The Plot Thickens
Movie · as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Don't Turn 'em Loose
Movie · as Detective Daniels
The Big Game
Movie · as George Scott
Yours for the Asking
Movie · as Saratoga
Murder on a Honeymoon
Movie · as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Helldorado
Movie · as Sam Barnes
West Point of the Air
Movie · as Joe 'Bags'
We're Only Human
Movie · as Detective Danny Walsh
Hot Tip
Movie · as Jimmy McGill
Hollywood Hobbies
Movie · as Himself
Murder on the Blackboard
Movie · as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Meanest Gal in Town
Movie · as Duke Slater
Search for Beauty
Movie · as Dan Healy
Change of Heart
Movie · as Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
Hoopla
Movie · as Jerry
Clear All Wires!
Movie · as Lefty Williams
Orders Is Orders
Movie · as Ed Waggermeyer
The Billion Dollar Scandal
Movie · as "Ratsy" Harris
Blondie of the Follies
Movie · as Pa McClune
The Penguin Pool Murder
Movie · as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Crooked Circle
Movie · as Arthur Crimmer
Lady and Gent
Movie · as Pin Streaver
High Hats and Low Brows
Movie · as Danny Ruff
Off His Base
Movie · as Picture in Opening Credits
The Devil Is Driving
Movie · as 'Beef' Evans
Rule 'Em and Weep
Movie · as Spike Mc Gorey
Yoo-Hoo
Movie · as Jimmy Gleason
Fast Companions
Movie · as Silk Henley
The All-American
Movie · as Chick Knipe
The Big Gamble
Movie · as Fred 'Squint' Dugan
A Free Soul
Movie · as Eddie
Sweepstakes
Movie · as Sleepy Jones
Suicide Fleet
Movie · as Skeets
Beyond Victory
Movie · as Jim Mobley
It's a Wise Child
Movie · as Cool Kelly
Puttin' on the Ritz
Movie · as James 'Jimmy' Tierney
Swellhead
Movie · as Johnny Trump
Her Man
Movie · as Steve
Dumb-bells in Ermine
Movie · as Mike
The Matrimonial Bed
Movie · as Gustave Corton
Don't Believe It
Movie · as Jimmy
Big Money
Movie · as Tom
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
Movie · as Self
Oh, Yeah!
Movie · as Dusty
Meet the Missus
Movie · as Bert La Motte
The Broadway Melody
Movie · as Music Publisher (uncredited)
Fairways and Foul
Movie · as Husband
The Shannons of Broadway
Movie · as Mickey Shannon
The Count of Ten
Movie · as Johnny's Manager
Polly of the Follies
Movie · as Paul Gordon