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 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).
Acting
Movie
The Night of the Hunter
as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
1955
Movie
Arsenic and Old Lace
as Lt. Rooney
1944
Movie
Meet John Doe
as Henry Connell
1941
Movie
The Bishop's Wife
as Sylvester
1947
TV
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Mr. Jorgy
1955
TV
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Howard Fieldstone
1955
Movie
The Broadway Melody
as Music Publisher (uncredited)
1929
Movie
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
as Max Corkle
1941
Movie
Suddenly
as Peter 'Pop' Benson
1954
Movie
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
as McGarrity
1945
TV
Leave It to Beaver
as Pete
1957
Movie
Rock-a-Bye Baby
as Doc Simpkins
1958
Movie
The Last Hurrah
as Cuke Gillen
1958
Movie
A Guy Named Joe
as “Nails” Kilpatrick
1944
Movie
Loving You
as Carl Meade
1957
Movie
The Keys of the Kingdom
as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
1944
Movie
The Clock
as Al Henry
1945
Movie
Man in the Shadow
as Hank James
1957
Movie
A Free Soul
as Eddie
1931
Movie
Tales of Manhattan
as Father Joe
1942
Movie
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
as Inspector Corrigan
1936
Movie
The Falcon Takes Over
as Inspector Mike O'Hara
1942
Movie
We're Not Married!
as Duffy
1952
Movie
Down to Earth
as Max Corkle
1947
Crew
Movie
The Broadway Melody
Dialogue
1929
Movie
The Bowery
Screenplay
1933
Movie
Rain or Shine
Writer
1930
Movie
High Voltage
Screenplay
1929
Movie
Change of Heart
Screenplay
1934
Movie
Mammy
Theatre Play
1930
Movie
Puttin' on the Ritz
Dialogue
1930
Movie
Murder in the Fleet
Additional Writing
1935
Movie
The Flying Fool
Additional Dialogue
1929
Movie
Three Hollywood Girls
Writer
1931
Movie
Dumb-bells in Ermine
Writer
1930
Movie
What a Widow!
Adaptation
1930