James Gleason
Acting • Born 1882-05-23 – Died 1959-04-12
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).
Filmography
144 credits
Arsenic and Old Lace
Movie • 1944
Lt. Rooney
The Night of the Hunter
Movie • 1955
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Blondie of the Follies
Movie • 1932
Pa McClune
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Movie • 1945
McGarrity
Take One False Step
Movie • 1949
Captain Gledhill
We're Not Married!
Movie • 1952
Duffy
Earl of Puddlestone
Movie • 1940
Joe Higgins
The Covered Trailer
Movie • 1939
Joe Higgins
Meet John Doe
Movie • 1941
Henry Connell
Tales of Manhattan
Movie • 1942
Father Joe
A Guy Named Joe
Movie • 1944
“Nails” Kilpatrick
I'll See You in My Dreams
Movie • 1951
Fred Townsend
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Movie • 1949
Timothy Gleason
Footlight Serenade
Movie • 1942
Bruce McKay
A Date with the Falcon
Movie • 1942
Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
The Big Gamble
Movie • 1931
Fred 'Squint' Dugan
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
Movie • 1954
Risky Russell
The Falcon Takes Over
Movie • 1942
Inspector Mike O'Hara
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Movie • 1941
Max Corkle
Polly of the Follies
Movie • 1922
Paul Gordon
Murder on a Bridle Path
Movie • 1936
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Once Upon a Time
Movie • 1944
Moke McGillicuddy
Down to Earth
Movie • 1947
Max Corkle
Loving You
Movie • 1957
Carl Meade
The Keys of the Kingdom
Movie • 1944
Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
Suddenly
Movie • 1954
Peter 'Pop' Benson
The Bishop's Wife
Movie • 1947
Sylvester
A Free Soul
Movie • 1931
Eddie
Oh, Yeah!
Movie • 1929
Dusty
What Price Glory
Movie • 1952
General Cokely
The Hoodlum Saint
Movie • 1946
Snarp
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Movie • 1936
Inspector Corrigan
The Clock
Movie • 1945
Al Henry
Crash Dive
Movie • 1943
Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
Hoopla
Movie • 1933
Jerry
The Last Hurrah
Movie • 1958
Cuke Gillen
Affectionately Yours
Movie • 1941
'Chet' Phillips
The Penguin Pool Murder
Movie • 1932
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Tycoon
Movie • 1947
Pop Mathews
Murder on a Honeymoon
Movie • 1935
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Man or Gun
Movie • 1958
Sheriff Jim Jackson
Helldorado
Movie • 1935
Sam Barnes
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
Movie • 1941
Sergeant Daniels
Puttin' on the Ritz
Movie • 1930
James 'Jimmy' Tierney
This Man's Navy
Movie • 1945
Jimmy Shannon
The Plot Thickens
Movie • 1936
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Hay Foot
Movie • 1942
Colonel J. A. Barkley
The Yellow Cab Man
Movie • 1950
Mickey Corkins
On Your Toes
Movie • 1939
Phil Dolan Sr.
The Story of Will Rogers
Movie • 1952
Bert Lynn
My Gal Sal
Movie • 1942
Pat Hawley
West Point of the Air
Movie • 1935
Joe 'Bags'
Money, Women and Guns
Movie • 1958
Henry Devers
Key to the City
Movie • 1950
Sergeant Hogan
Come Fill the Cup
Movie • 1951
Charley Dolan
Riding High
Movie • 1950
Racing Secretary
The Jackpot
Movie • 1950
Harry Summers
Star in the Dust
Movie • 1956
Orval Jones
Smart Woman
Movie • 1948
Sam Corkle
Home Sweet Homicide
Movie • 1946
Sgt. O'Hare
Cinema Circus
Movie • 1937
Himself
Swellhead
Movie • 1930
Johnny Trump
The Crooked Circle
Movie • 1932
Arthur Crimmer
Her Man
Movie • 1930
Steve
Forever Female
Movie • 1953
Eddie Woods
Forty Naughty Girls
Movie • 1937
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
Movie • 1938
James Gleason
The Girl Rush
Movie • 1955
Ether Ferguson
Clear All Wires!
Movie • 1933
Lefty Williams
When My Baby Smiles at Me
Movie • 1948
Lefty Moore
Murder on the Blackboard
Movie • 1934
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Lady and Gent
Movie • 1932
Pin Streaver
Spring Reunion
Movie • 1957
Collie
Army Girl
Movie • 1938
Hennessy
Sweepstakes
Movie • 1931
Sleepy Jones
The Return of October
Movie • 1948
Uncle Willie Ramsey
Suicide Fleet
Movie • 1931
Skeets
High Hats and Low Brows
Movie • 1932
Danny Ruff
Meet the Missus
Movie • 1929
Bert La Motte
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
Movie • 1937
Danny The Duck
Don't Turn 'em Loose
Movie • 1936
Detective Daniels
We're Only Human
Movie • 1935
Detective Danny Walsh
The Big Game
Movie • 1936
George Scott
The Homestretch
Movie • 1947
Doc Kilborne
Off His Base
Movie • 1932
Picture in Opening Credits
The Life of Riley
Movie • 1949
Gillis
The Female Animal
Movie • 1958
Tom Maloney
Lady Luck
Movie • 1946
Sacramento Sam
Dumb-bells in Ermine
Movie • 1930
Mike
The Meanest Gal in Town
Movie • 1934
Duke Slater
Bad Boy
Movie • 1949
Chief
The Devil Is Driving
Movie • 1932
'Beef' Evans
Rock-a-Bye Baby
Movie • 1958
Doc Simpkins
The Matrimonial Bed
Movie • 1930
Gustave Corton
Search for Beauty
Movie • 1934
Dan Healy
The Dude Goes West
Movie • 1948
Sam Briggs
Beyond Victory
Movie • 1931
Jim Mobley
Manila Calling
Movie • 1942
Tim O'Rourke
Two Gals and a Guy
Movie • 1951
Max Howard
The Well Groomed Bride
Movie • 1946
Captain Hornby
Yours for the Asking
Movie • 1936
Saratoga
Man in the Shadow
Movie • 1957
Hank James
Change of Heart
Movie • 1934
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
No Time at All
Movie • 1958
Dolph Grimes
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
Movie • 1950
Knobby Walsh
Should Husbands Work?
Movie • 1939
Joe Higgins
Don't Believe It
Movie • 1930
Jimmy
It's a Wise Child
Movie • 1931
Cool Kelly
The Higgins Family
Movie • 1938
Joe Higgins
My Wife's Relatives
Movie • 1939
Joe Higgins
Money To Burn
Movie • 1939
Joe Higgins
Rule 'Em and Weep
Movie • 1932
Spike Mc Gorey
Grandpa Goes To Town
Movie • 1940
Joe Higgins
Tanks a Million
Movie • 1941
Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
Babes on Broadway
Movie • 1941
Thornton Reed
Captain Eddie
Movie • 1945
Tom Clark
Breakdowns of 1941
Movie • 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hot Tip
Movie • 1935
Jimmy McGill
Yoo-Hoo
Movie • 1932
Jimmy Gleason
The Broadway Melody
Movie • 1929
Music Publisher (uncredited)
Fast Companions
Movie • 1932
Silk Henley
The All-American
Movie • 1932
Chick Knipe
Fairways and Foul
Movie • 1929
Husband
Triple Cross
Movie • 1951
Knobby Walsh
Orders Is Orders
Movie • 1933
Ed Waggermeyer
The Billion Dollar Scandal
Movie • 1933
"Ratsy" Harris
Hollywood Hobbies
Movie • 1935
Himself
Big Money
Movie • 1930
Tom
Once Upon a Horse...
Movie • 1958
Postmaster
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6
Movie • 1938
Self
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
Movie • 1930
Self
The Shannons of Broadway
Movie • 1929
Mickey Shannon
The Count of Ten
Movie • 1928
Johnny's Manager
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
Leave It to Beaver
TV • 1957
Pete
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Mr. Jorgy
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Charles Hartford Simpson
This Is Your Life
TV • 1952
Self
Climax!
TV • 1954
Reverend Mr. McCarkle
Racket Squad
TV • 1951
Cavalcade of America
TV • 1952
Noah Larkin
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Howard Fieldstone
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV • 1955
Ed Shafer