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).
Filmography Charles Laughton Directs 'The Night of the Hunter'
2002
Self (archive footage)
Details The Last Hurrah
1958
Cuke Gillen
Details Money, Women and Guns
1958
Henry Devers
Details Once Upon a Horse...
1958
Postmaster
Details Rock-a-Bye Baby
1958
Doc Simpkins
Details Man or Gun
1958
Sheriff Jim Jackson
Details No Time at All
1958
Dolph Grimes
Details The Female Animal
1958
Tom Maloney
Details Man in the Shadow
1957
Hank James
Details Star in the Dust
1956
Orval Jones
Details The Girl Rush
1955
Ether Ferguson
Details The Night of the Hunter
1955
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
Details Suddenly
1954
Peter 'Pop' Benson
Details Hollywood Thrill-Makers
1954
Risky Russell
Details Forever Female
1953
Eddie Woods
Details What Price Glory
1952
General Cokely
Details The Story of Will Rogers
1952
Bert Lynn
Details We're Not Married!
1952
Duffy
Details I'll See You in My Dreams
1951
Fred Townsend
Details Come Fill the Cup
1951
Charley Dolan
Details Joe Palooka in Triple Cross
1951
Knobby Walsh
Details Two Gals and a Guy
1951
Max Howard
Details Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
1950
Knobby Walsh
Details The Jackpot
1950
Harry Summers
Details Riding High
1950
Racing Secretary
Details The Yellow Cab Man
1950
Mickey Corkins
Details Key to the City
1950
Sergeant Hogan
Details Miss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
Timothy Gleason
Details Take One False Step
1949
Captain Gledhill
Details The Life of Riley
1949
Gillis
Details When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
Lefty Moore
Details The Return of October
1948
Uncle Willie Ramsey
Details The Dude Goes West
1948
Sam Briggs
Details The Bishop's Wife
1947
Sylvester
Details Down to Earth
1947
Max Corkle
Details The Homestretch
1947
Doc Kilborne
Details Lady Luck
1946
Sacramento Sam
Details Home Sweet Homicide
1946
Sgt. O'Hare
Details The Well Groomed Bride
1946
Captain Hornby
Details A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
McGarrity
Details This Man's Navy
1945
Jimmy Shannon
Details The Keys of the Kingdom
1944
Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
Details Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
Lt. Rooney
Details Once Upon a Time
1944
Moke McGillicuddy
Details A Guy Named Joe
1943
“Nails” Kilpatrick
Details Crash Dive
1943
Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
Details Manila Calling
1942
Tim O'Rourke
Details Tales of Manhattan
1942
Joe - Mission Aid Society
Details Footlight Serenade
1942
Bruce McKay
Details The Falcon Takes Over
1942
Inspector Mike O'Hara
Details A Date with the Falcon
1942
Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
Details Hay Foot
1942
Colonel J. A. Barkley
Details Babes on Broadway
1941
Thornton Reed
Details Breakdowns of 1941
1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Details Nine Lives Are Not Enough
1941
Sergeant Daniels
Details Tanks a Million
1941
Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
Details Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1941
Max Corkle
Details Affectionately Yours
1941
'Chet' Phillips
Details Meet John Doe
1941
Henry Connell
Details Earl of Puddlestone
1940
Joe Higgins
Details Grandpa Goes To Town
1940
Joe Higgins
Details Money To Burn
1939
Joe Higgins
Details The Covered Trailer
1939
Joe Higgins
Details On Your Toes
1939
Phil Dolan Sr.
Details Should Husbands Work?
1939
Joe Higgins
Details My Wife's Relatives
1939
Joe Higgins
Details Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938
James Gleason
Details The Higgins Family
1938
Joe Higgins
Details Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
1937
Danny The Duck
Details Forty Naughty Girls
1937
Inspector Oscar Piper
Details The Plot Thickens
1936
Oscar Piper
Details The Big Game
1936
George Scott
Details Don't Turn 'em Loose
1936
Detective Daniels
Details Yours for the Asking
1936
Saratoga
Details The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
Inspector Corrigan
Details Murder on a Bridle Path
1936
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
Details We're Only Human
1935
Detective Danny Walsh
Details Hollywood Hobbies
1935
Himself
Details West Point of the Air
1935
Joe 'Bags'
Details Murder on a Honeymoon
1935
Inspector Oscar Piper
Details Murder on the Blackboard
1934
Inspector Oscar Piper
Details Change of Heart
1934
Hot Dog Vendor
Details Search for Beauty
1934
Dan Healy
Details The Meanest Gal in Town
1934
Duke Slater
Details Orders Is Orders
1933
Ed Waggermeyer
Details Clear All Wires!
1933
Lefty Williams
Details The Billion Dollar Scandal
1933
"Ratsy" Harris
Details Penguin Pool Murder
1932
Police Inspector Oscar Piper
Details The Devil Is Driving
1932
'Beef' Evans
Details The All-American
1932
Chick Knipe
Details The Crooked Circle
1932
Arthur Crimmer
Details Off His Base
1932
Picture in Opening Credits
Details Blondie of the Follies
1932
Pa McClune
Details Lady and Gent
1932
Pin Streaver
Details High Hats and Low Brows
1932
Danny Ruff
Details Fast Companions
1932
Silk Henley
Details Rule 'Em and Weep
1932
Spike Mc Gorey
Details The Big Gamble
1931
Fred 'Squint' Dugan
Details Sweepstakes
1931
Sleepy Jones
Details It's a Wise Child
1931
Cool Kelly
Details Beyond Victory
1931
Jim Mobley
Details The Matrimonial Bed
1930
Gustave Corton
Details Dumb-bells in Ermine
1930
Mike
Details Puttin' on the Ritz
1930
James 'Jimmy' Tierney
Details Fairways and Foul
1929
Husband
Details Meet the Missus
1929
Bert La Motte
Details The Broadway Melody
1929
Music Publisher (uncredited)
Details Polly of the Follies
1922
Paul Gordon
Details 