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
Leave It to Beaver
1957
as Pete
Cheyenne
1955
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Mr. Jorgy / Howard Fieldstone
The Millionaire
1955
as Charles Hartford Simpson
This Is Your Life
1952
as Self
Cavalcade of America
1952
as Noah Larkin
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Ed Shafer
Racket Squad
1951
Movies (133)
The Night of the Hunter
1955
as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Spring Reunion
1957
as Collie
Hoopla
1933
as Jerry
Her Man
1930
as Steve
Hay Foot
1942
as Colonel J. A. Barkley
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
as Lt. Rooney
The Clock
1945
as Al Henry
Sweepstakes
1931
as Sleepy Jones
The Female Animal
1958
as Tom Maloney
It's a Wise Child
1931
as Cool Kelly
Star in the Dust
1956
as Orval Jones
Big Money
1930
as Tom
Triple Cross
1951
as Knobby Walsh
What Price Glory
1952
as General Cokely
The Keys of the Kingdom
1944
as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
Breakdowns of 1941
1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Army Girl
1938
as Hennessy
Lady Luck
1946
as Sacramento Sam
Hollywood Hobbies
1935
as Himself
Down to Earth
1947
as Max Corkle
Clear All Wires!
1933
as Lefty Williams
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
as McGarrity
Affectionately Yours
1941
as 'Chet' Phillips
Babes on Broadway
1941
as Thornton Reed
Hot Tip
1935
as Jimmy McGill
The Last Hurrah
1958
as Cuke Gillen
Oh, Yeah!
1929
as Dusty
The Bishop's Wife
1947
as Sylvester
Tales of Manhattan
1942
as Father Joe
The Matrimonial Bed
1930
as Gustave Corton
The Penguin Pool Murder
1932
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Broadway Melody
1929
as Music Publisher (uncredited)
Blondie of the Follies
1932
as Pa McClune
The Dude Goes West
1948
as Sam Briggs
Riding High
1950
as Racing Secretary
The All-American
1932
as Chick Knipe
Rock-a-Bye Baby
1958
as Doc Simpkins
Once Upon a Time
1944
as Moke McGillicuddy
The Meanest Gal in Town
1934
as Duke Slater
Forty Naughty Girls
1937
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Man in the Shadow
1957
as Hank James
Meet John Doe
1941
as Henry Connell
We're Not Married!
1952
as Duffy
Money, Women and Guns
1958
as Henry Devers
Fairways and Foul
1929
as Husband
A Guy Named Joe
1944
as “Nails” Kilpatrick
Suddenly
1954
as Peter 'Pop' Benson
The Jackpot
1950
as Harry Summers
The Shannons of Broadway
1929
as Mickey Shannon
Murder on a Bridle Path
1936
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Well Groomed Bride
1946
as Captain Hornby
High Hats and Low Brows
1932
as Danny Ruff
This Man's Navy
1945
as Jimmy Shannon
Crash Dive
1943
as Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
Tycoon
1947
as Pop Mathews
West Point of the Air
1935
as Joe 'Bags'
Change of Heart
1934
as Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
The Big Gamble
1931
as Fred 'Squint' Dugan
The Falcon Takes Over
1942
as Inspector Mike O'Hara
The Hoodlum Saint
1946
as Snarp
Murder on a Honeymoon
1935
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
The Count of Ten
1928
as Johnny's Manager
Beyond Victory
1931
as Jim Mobley
Lady and Gent
1932
as Pin Streaver
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
as Timothy Gleason
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
1941
as Sergeant Daniels
The Return of October
1948
as Uncle Willie Ramsey
The Yellow Cab Man
1950
as Mickey Corkins
Loving You
1957
as Carl Meade
On Your Toes
1939
as Phil Dolan Sr.
The Story of Will Rogers
1952
as Bert Lynn
The Homestretch
1947
as Doc Kilborne
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1941
as Max Corkle
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Inspector Corrigan
Tanks a Million
1941
as Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
Swellhead
1930
as Johnny Trump
The Plot Thickens
1936
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Come Fill the Cup
1951
as Charley Dolan
Home Sweet Homicide
1946
as Sgt. O'Hare
My Wife's Relatives
1939
as Joe Higgins
Key to the City
1950
as Sergeant Hogan
Man or Gun
1958
as Sheriff Jim Jackson
The Billion Dollar Scandal
1933
as "Ratsy" Harris
We're Only Human
1935
as Detective Danny Walsh
The Devil Is Driving
1932
as 'Beef' Evans
Forever Female
1953
as Eddie Woods
My Gal Sal
1942
as Pat Hawley
Murder on the Blackboard
1934
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper
I'll See You in My Dreams
1951
as Fred Townsend
Captain Eddie
1945
as Tom Clark
Dumb-bells in Ermine
1930
as Mike
Search for Beauty
1934
as Dan Healy
A Date with the Falcon
1942
as Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
Footlight Serenade
1942
as Bruce McKay
Fast Companions
1932
as Silk Henley
A Free Soul
1931
as Eddie
The Big Game
1936
as George Scott
Meet the Missus
1929
as Bert La Motte
Cinema Circus
1937
as Himself
The Crooked Circle
1932
as Arthur Crimmer
The Life of Riley
1949
as Gillis
No Time at All
1958
as Dolph Grimes
Smart Woman
1948
as Sam Corkle
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
1954
as Risky Russell
Take One False Step
1949
as Captain Gledhill
Manila Calling
1942
as Tim O'Rourke
When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
as Lefty Moore
Suicide Fleet
1931
as Skeets
Orders Is Orders
1933
as Ed Waggermeyer
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
1937
as Danny The Duck
The Girl Rush
1955
as Ether Ferguson
Once Upon a Horse...
1958
as Postmaster
Don't Turn 'em Loose
1936
as Detective Daniels
Rule 'Em and Weep
1932
as Spike Mc Gorey
Two Gals and a Guy
1951
as Max Howard
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
1930
as Self
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938
as James Gleason
Yoo-Hoo
1932
as Jimmy Gleason
Off His Base
1932
as Picture in Opening Credits
Yours for the Asking
1936
as Saratoga
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
- Spring Reunion (1957) — as Collie
- Hoopla (1933) — as Jerry
- Her Man (1930) — as Steve
- Hay Foot (1942) — as Colonel J. A. Barkley
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.