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).
Birthday: May 22, 1882
Death: April 12, 1959
March 20, 1930
January 04, 1931
September 18, 1932
May 10, 1930
May 18, 1934
August 15, 1930
October 07, 1933
April 03, 1931
March 26, 1930
December 28, 1929
February 19, 1930
August 20, 1935
September 12, 1930
February 08, 1929
June 15, 1930
July 18, 1933
May 24, 1935
October 09, 1932
June 29, 1929
July 10, 1929
September 01, 1944
August 26, 1955
September 01, 1932
February 28, 1945
August 14, 1949
July 11, 1952
August 31, 1940
November 10, 1939
March 14, 1941
August 05, 1942
December 24, 1943
December 06, 1951
October 20, 1949
August 01, 1942
January 16, 1942
September 04, 1931
January 15, 1954
May 29, 1942
August 07, 1941
January 30, 1922
April 17, 1936
June 29, 1944
August 21, 1947
July 09, 1957
December 15, 1944
September 17, 1954
December 25, 1947
December 07, 1955
June 02, 1931
October 19, 1929
August 22, 1952
April 04, 1946
April 24, 1936
May 25, 1945
April 22, 1943
November 30, 1933
December 31, 1958
May 10, 1941
December 09, 1932
December 27, 1947
February 22, 1935
May 30, 1958
January 05, 1935
September 20, 1941
January 04, 1945
December 11, 1936
January 02, 1942
March 25, 1950
October 14, 1939
July 17, 1952
April 30, 1942
March 23, 1935
October 01, 1958
February 02, 1950
October 24, 1951
April 12, 1950
November 01, 1950
June 13, 1956
April 30, 1948
October 02, 1946
January 27, 1937
September 25, 1932
September 21, 1930
November 28, 1953
September 24, 1937
July 29, 1938
September 16, 1955
February 24, 1933
November 10, 1948
June 15, 1934
July 10, 1932
March 01, 1957
August 11, 1938
July 10, 1931
October 26, 1948
November 20, 1931
July 10, 1932
March 30, 1929
November 26, 1937
September 18, 1936
December 27, 1935
October 09, 1936
May 04, 1947
April 16, 1949
January 22, 1958
October 30, 1946
January 12, 1934
February 22, 1949
December 09, 1932
July 23, 1958
August 01, 1930
February 02, 1934
May 30, 1948
October 16, 1942
July 01, 1951
May 17, 1946
July 23, 1936
December 12, 1957
August 15, 2002
February 13, 1958
November 04, 1950
July 26, 1939
February 08, 1930
April 10, 1931
March 28, 1938
May 20, 1939
December 31, 1939
May 02, 1932
April 13, 1940
September 12, 1941
December 31, 1941
June 18, 1945
November 14, 1941
October 04, 1932
June 22, 1932
October 01, 1932
October 19, 1929
September 16, 1951
January 06, 1933
July 05, 1935
October 28, 1930
September 01, 1958
September 20, 1955
September 10, 1950
October 04, 1957
October 02, 1955
January 19, 1955
October 01, 1952
October 07, 1954
June 07, 1951
October 01, 1952
October 05, 1955