James Gleason
Born May 23, 1882 (Age: 143)
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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).
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).
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Filmography
The Last Hurrah
1958
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as Cuke Gillen
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Age: 76
Money, Women and Guns
1958
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as Henry Devers
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Age: 76
Once Upon a Horse...
1958
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as Postmaster
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Age: 76
Rock-a-Bye Baby
1958
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as Doc Simpkins
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Age: 76
Man or Gun
1958
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as Sheriff Jim Jackson
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Age: 76
No Time at All
1958
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as Dolph Grimes
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Age: 75
The Female Animal
1958
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as Tom Maloney
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Age: 75
Star in the Dust
1956
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as Orval Jones
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Age: 74
The Girl Rush
1955
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as Ether Ferguson
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Age: 73
The Night of the Hunter
1955
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as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
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Age: 73
Suddenly
1954
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as Peter 'Pop' Benson
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Age: 72
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
1954
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as Risky Russell
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Age: 71
Forever Female
1953
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as Eddie Woods
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Age: 71
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
1950
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as Knobby Walsh
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Age: 68
The Jackpot
1950
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as Harry Summers
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Age: 68
Riding High
1950
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as Racing Secretary
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Age: 67
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
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as Mickey Corkins
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Age: 67
Key to the City
1950
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as Sergeant Hogan
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Age: 67
Captain Eddie
1945
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as Tom Clark
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Age: 63
The Clock
1945
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as Al Henry
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Age: 63
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
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as McGarrity
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Age: 62
This Man's Navy
1945
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as Jimmy Shannon
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Age: 62
Manila Calling
1942
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as Tim O'Rourke
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Age: 60
Tales of Manhattan
1942
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as Father Joe
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Age: 60
Footlight Serenade
1942
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as Bruce McKay
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Age: 60
The Falcon Takes Over
1942
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as Inspector Mike O'Hara
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Age: 60
My Gal Sal
1942
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as Pat Hawley
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Age: 59
A Date with the Falcon
1942
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as Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
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Age: 59
Hay Foot
1942
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as Colonel J. A. Barkley
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Age: 59
Babes on Broadway
1941
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as Thornton Reed
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Age: 59
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
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as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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Age: 59
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
1941
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as Sergeant Daniels
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Age: 59
Tanks a Million
1941
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as Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
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Age: 59
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1941
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as Max Corkle
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Age: 59
Affectionately Yours
1941
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as 'Chet' Phillips
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Age: 58
Meet John Doe
1941
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as Henry Connell
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Age: 58
The Penguin Pool Murder
1932
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as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
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Age: 50
The Devil Is Driving
1932
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as 'Beef' Evans
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Age: 50
No Image
Yoo-Hoo
1932
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as Jimmy Gleason
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Age: 50
The All-American
1932
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as Chick Knipe
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Age: 50
The Crooked Circle
1932
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as Arthur Crimmer
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Age: 50
No Image
Off His Base
1932
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as Picture in Opening Credits
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Age: 50
Blondie of the Follies
1932
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as Pa McClune
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Age: 50
High Hats and Low Brows
1932
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as Danny Ruff
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Age: 50
Lady and Gent
1932
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as Pin Streaver
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Age: 50
Fast Companions
1932
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as Silk Henley
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Age: 50
Rule 'Em and Weep
1932
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as Spike Mc Gorey
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Age: 49
Suicide Fleet
1931
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as Skeets
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Age: 49
The Big Gamble
1931
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as Fred 'Squint' Dugan
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Age: 49
Sweepstakes
1931
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as Sleepy Jones
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Age: 49
A Free Soul
1931
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as Eddie
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Age: 49
It's a Wise Child
1931
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as Cool Kelly
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Age: 48
Beyond Victory
1931
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as Jim Mobley
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Age: 48
Big Money
1930
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as Tom
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Age: 48
Her Man
1930
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as Steve
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Age: 48
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
1930
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as Self
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Age: 48
The Matrimonial Bed
1930
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as Gustave Corton
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Age: 48
Dumb-bells in Ermine
1930
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as Mike
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Age: 47
Swellhead
1930
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as Johnny Trump
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Age: 47
Puttin' on the Ritz
1930
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as James 'Jimmy' Tierney
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Age: 47
No Image
Don't Believe It
1930
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as Jimmy
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Age: 47