James Gleason
Known for Acting · 143 credits
- Born
- 1882-05-23
- Died
- 1959-04-12
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- James Austin Gleason · Jimmy Gleason
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
TV Shows (10)
Climax!
1954
as Reverend Mr. McCarkle
Cheyenne
1955
Leave It to Beaver
1957
as Pete
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Mr. Jorgy / Howard Fieldstone
The Millionaire
1955
as Charles Hartford Simpson
Cavalcade of America
1952
as Noah Larkin
This Is Your Life
1952
as Self
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Ed Shafer
Racket Squad
1951
Movies (133)
The Night of the Hunter
1955
as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
as Lt. Rooney
Loving You
1957
as Carl Meade
Suddenly
1954
as Peter 'Pop' Benson
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
as McGarrity
Crash Dive
1943
as Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
The Falcon Takes Over
1942
as Inspector Mike O'Hara
The Jackpot
1950
as Harry Summers
Meet John Doe
1941
as Henry Connell
Forever Female
1953
as Eddie Woods
A Guy Named Joe
1944
as “Nails” Kilpatrick
A Free Soul
1931
as Eddie
Rock-a-Bye Baby
1958
as Doc Simpkins
Smart Woman
1948
as Sam Corkle
The Bishop's Wife
1947
as Sylvester
Star in the Dust
1956
as Orval Jones
Once Upon a Time
1944
as Moke McGillicuddy
Blondie of the Follies
1932
as Pa McClune
Big Money
1930
as Tom
Hot Tip
1935
as Jimmy McGill
The Hoodlum Saint
1946
as Snarp
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1941
as Max Corkle
Riding High
1950
as Racing Secretary
The Keys of the Kingdom
1944
as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
The All-American
1932
as Chick Knipe
We're Not Married!
1952
as Duffy
Down to Earth
1947
as Max Corkle
Army Girl
1938
as Hennessy
Tycoon
1947
as Pop Mathews
Hay Foot
1942
as Colonel J. A. Barkley
Helldorado
1935
as Sam Barnes
The Broadway Melody
1929
as Music Publisher (uncredited)
Affectionately Yours
1941
as 'Chet' Phillips
The Clock
1945
as Al Henry
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
as Timothy Gleason
Key to the City
1950
as Sergeant Hogan
The Dude Goes West
1948
as Sam Briggs
Spring Reunion
1957
as Collie
Take One False Step
1949
as Captain Gledhill
Tales of Manhattan
1942
as Father Joe
Man in the Shadow
1957
as Hank James
The Last Hurrah
1958
as Cuke Gillen
The Girl Rush
1955
as Ether Ferguson
Bad Boy
1949
as Chief
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
1941
as Sergeant Daniels
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
I'll See You in My Dreams
1951
as Fred Townsend
Cinema Circus
1937
as Himself
Yoo-Hoo
1932
as Jimmy Gleason
Murder on the Blackboard
1934
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
My Gal Sal
1942
as Pat Hawley
The Female Animal
1958
as Tom Maloney
The Count of Ten
1928
as Johnny's Manager
Clear All Wires!
1933
as Lefty Williams
Murder on a Honeymoon
1935
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Devil Is Driving
1932
as 'Beef' Evans
Man or Gun
1958
as Sheriff Jim Jackson
Footlight Serenade
1942
as Bruce McKay
Swellhead
1930
as Johnny Trump
Babes on Broadway
1941
as Thornton Reed
Don't Turn 'em Loose
1936
as Detective Daniels
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Inspector Corrigan
My Wife's Relatives
1939
as Joe Higgins
What Price Glory
1952
as General Cokely
Home Sweet Homicide
1946
as Sgt. O'Hare
The Story of Will Rogers
1952
as Bert Lynn
Suicide Fleet
1931
as Skeets
The Penguin Pool Murder
1932
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
It's a Wise Child
1931
as Cool Kelly
Search for Beauty
1934
as Dan Healy
The Big Gamble
1931
as Fred 'Squint' Dugan
Murder on a Bridle Path
1936
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Money To Burn
1939
as Joe Higgins
Come Fill the Cup
1951
as Charley Dolan
Lady Luck
1946
as Sacramento Sam
Yours for the Asking
1936
as Saratoga
Hoopla
1933
as Jerry
The Homestretch
1947
as Doc Kilborne
Change of Heart
1934
as Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
We're Only Human
1935
as Detective Danny Walsh
The Crooked Circle
1932
as Arthur Crimmer
Fast Companions
1932
as Silk Henley
A Date with the Falcon
1942
as Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
The Plot Thickens
1936
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Orders Is Orders
1933
as Ed Waggermeyer
West Point of the Air
1935
as Joe 'Bags'
Captain Eddie
1945
as Tom Clark
On Your Toes
1939
as Phil Dolan Sr.
Money, Women and Guns
1958
as Henry Devers
The Billion Dollar Scandal
1933
as "Ratsy" Harris
The Big Game
1936
as George Scott
Her Man
1930
as Steve
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
1950
as Knobby Walsh
The Shannons of Broadway
1929
as Mickey Shannon
Once Upon a Horse...
1958
as Postmaster
Manila Calling
1942
as Tim O'Rourke
No Time at All
1958
as Dolph Grimes
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
1930
as Self
Oh, Yeah!
1929
as Dusty
The Well Groomed Bride
1946
as Captain Hornby
The Life of Riley
1949
as Gillis
Earl of Puddlestone
1940
as Joe Higgins
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
1954
as Risky Russell
The Return of October
1948
as Uncle Willie Ramsey
When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
as Lefty Moore
The Higgins Family
1938
as Joe Higgins
Lady and Gent
1932
as Pin Streaver
Triple Cross
1951
as Knobby Walsh
Grandpa Goes To Town
1940
as Joe Higgins
Sweepstakes
1931
as Sleepy Jones
Polly of the Follies
1922
as Paul Gordon
Forty Naughty Girls
1937
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Tanks a Million
1941
as Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
1937
as Danny The Duck
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938
as James Gleason
Two Gals and a Guy
1951
as Max Howard
Beyond Victory
1931
as Jim Mobley
The Meanest Gal in Town
1934
as Duke Slater
Puttin' on the Ritz
1930
as James 'Jimmy' Tierney
This Man's Navy
1945
as Jimmy Shannon
About James Gleason
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 i… With 143 credits spanning from 1922 to 1958, James Gleason has appeared in 133 films and 10 TV shows.
Fans searching for James Gleason movies, James Gleason filmography, or the latest projects starring James Gleason can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Gleason Movies
- The Night of the Hunter (1955) — as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) — as Lt. Rooney
- Loving You (1957) — as Carl Meade
- Suddenly (1954) — as Peter 'Pop' Benson
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) — as McGarrity
Where to Watch James Gleason Films
Most James Gleason movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring James Gleason, check our movies catalogue and browse page.