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).

Filmography (143 Appearances)

The Last Hurrah

1958

Money, Women and Guns

Once Upon a Horse...

Rock-a-Bye Baby

Man or Gun

No Time at All

The Female Animal

Man in the Shadow

Leave It to Beaver

Loving You

Spring Reunion

Star in the Dust

Screen Director's Playhouse

1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

1955

Cheyenne

1955

The Girl Rush

1955

The Night of the Hunter

The Millionaire

Climax!

Suddenly

Hollywood Thrill-Makers

Forever Female

This Is Your Life

Cavalcade of America

What Price Glory

The Story of Will Rogers

1952

We're Not Married!

1952

I'll See You in My Dreams

Come Fill the Cup

Triple Cross

Two Gals and a Guy

Racket Squad

Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle

1950

The Jackpot

1950

The Colgate Comedy Hour

Riding High

The Yellow Cab Man

Key to the City

Miss Grant Takes Richmond

Take One False Step

The Life of Riley

Bad Boy

When My Baby Smiles at Me

1948

The Return of October

The Dude Goes West

Smart Woman

Tycoon

The Bishop's Wife

Down to Earth

The Homestretch

Lady Luck

Home Sweet Homicide

The Well Groomed Bride

The Hoodlum Saint

Captain Eddie

The Clock

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

1945

This Man's Navy

1945

The Keys of the Kingdom

Arsenic and Old Lace

Once Upon a Time

A Guy Named Joe

Crash Dive

Manila Calling

Tales of Manhattan

Footlight Serenade

The Falcon Takes Over

1942

My Gal Sal

1942

A Date with the Falcon

Hay Foot

Babes on Broadway

Breakdowns of 1941

Nine Lives Are Not Enough

1941

Tanks a Million

1941

Here Comes Mr. Jordan

Affectionately Yours

Meet John Doe

Earl of Puddlestone

Grandpa Goes To Town

Money To Burn

The Covered Trailer

On Your Toes

Should Husbands Work?

1939

My Wife's Relatives

1939

Army Girl

1938

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

1938

The Higgins Family

1938

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6

1938

Manhattan Merry-Go-Round

Forty Naughty Girls

Cinema Circus

The Plot Thickens

The Big Game

Don't Turn 'em Loose

Yours for the Asking

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

Murder on a Bridle Path

We're Only Human

Hot Tip

Hollywood Hobbies

West Point of the Air

1935

Murder on a Honeymoon

1935

Helldorado

1935

Murder on the Blackboard

1934

Change of Heart

1934

Search for Beauty

1934

The Meanest Gal in Town

Hoopla

Orders Is Orders

Clear All Wires!

The Billion Dollar Scandal

1933

The Penguin Pool Murder

The Devil Is Driving

Yoo-Hoo

The All-American

The Crooked Circle

Off His Base

Blondie of the Follies

1932

Lady and Gent

1932

High Hats and Low Brows

Fast Companions

Rule 'Em and Weep

Suicide Fleet

The Big Gamble

Sweepstakes

A Free Soul

It's a Wise Child

Beyond Victory

Big Money

Her Man

Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1

The Matrimonial Bed

Dumb-bells in Ermine

Swellhead

Puttin' on the Ritz

Don't Believe It

The Shannons of Broadway

Oh, Yeah!

Fairways and Foul

Meet the Missus

The Broadway Melody

The Count of Ten

Polly of the Follies