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