James Gleason
Actor
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).
As Director
Filmography
The Night of the Hunter
as Uncle Birdie Steptoe 1955
Arsenic and Old Lace
as Lt. Rooney 1944
Meet John Doe
as Henry Connell 1941
The Bishop's Wife
as Sylvester 1947
The Broadway Melody
as Music Publisher (uncredited) 1929
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
as Max Corkle 1941
Suddenly
as Peter 'Pop' Benson 1954
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
as McGarrity 1945
Rock-a-Bye Baby
as Doc Simpkins 1958
The Last Hurrah
as Cuke Gillen 1958
A Guy Named Joe
as “Nails” Kilpatrick 1944
Loving You
as Carl Meade 1957
The Keys of the Kingdom
as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske 1944
The Clock
as Al Henry 1945
Man in the Shadow
as Hank James 1957
A Free Soul
as Eddie 1931
Tales of Manhattan
as Father Joe 1942