
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

Cheyenne
1955

Leave It to Beaver
1957
as Pete

The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Mr. Jorgy / Howard Fieldstone

The Millionaire
1955
as Charles Hartford Simpson

Cavalcade of America
1952
as Noah Larkin

This Is Your Life
1952
as Self

Screen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Ed Shafer

Racket Squad
1951
Movies (133)

The Night of the Hunter
1955
as Uncle Birdie Steptoe

Loving You
1957
as Carl Meade

Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
as Lt. Rooney

Suddenly
1954
as Peter 'Pop' Benson

The Falcon Takes Over
1942
as Inspector Mike O'Hara

Crash Dive
1943
as Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell

Meet John Doe
1941
as Henry Connell

The Jackpot
1950
as Harry Summers

Rock-a-Bye Baby
1958
as Doc Simpkins

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1945
as McGarrity

Hot Tip
1935
as Jimmy McGill

Smart Woman
1948
as Sam Corkle

Forever Female
1953
as Eddie Woods

A Guy Named Joe
1944
as “Nails” Kilpatrick

Big Money
1930
as Tom

Once Upon a Time
1944
as Moke McGillicuddy

The Bishop's Wife
1947
as Sylvester

Spring Reunion
1957
as Collie

The Hoodlum Saint
1946
as Snarp

Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1941
as Max Corkle

Star in the Dust
1956
as Orval Jones

A Free Soul
1931
as Eddie

Blondie of the Follies
1932
as Pa McClune

Riding High
1950
as Racing Secretary

Tycoon
1947
as Pop Mathews

Army Girl
1938
as Hennessy

The Clock
1945
as Al Henry

The All-American
1932
as Chick Knipe

We're Not Married!
1952
as Duffy
Yoo-Hoo
1932
as Jimmy Gleason

Hay Foot
1942
as Colonel J. A. Barkley

The Keys of the Kingdom
1944
as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske

Affectionately Yours
1941
as 'Chet' Phillips

Down to Earth
1947
as Max Corkle

Key to the City
1950
as Sergeant Hogan

Helldorado
1935
as Sam Barnes

Tales of Manhattan
1942
as Father Joe

The Dude Goes West
1948
as Sam Briggs

I'll See You in My Dreams
1951
as Fred Townsend

The Broadway Melody
1929
as Music Publisher (uncredited)

Breakdowns of 1941
1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Last Hurrah
1958
as Cuke Gillen

Man in the Shadow
1957
as Hank James

Take One False Step
1949
as Captain Gledhill

Nine Lives Are Not Enough
1941
as Sergeant Daniels

Miss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
as Timothy Gleason

Swellhead
1930
as Johnny Trump

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Inspector Corrigan

Murder on a Bridle Path
1936
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

The Count of Ten
1928
as Johnny's Manager

The Girl Rush
1955
as Ether Ferguson

Bad Boy
1949
as Chief

Clear All Wires!
1933
as Lefty Williams

The Penguin Pool Murder
1932
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

Home Sweet Homicide
1946
as Sgt. O'Hare

What Price Glory
1952
as General Cokely

The Yellow Cab Man
1950
as Mickey Corkins

My Wife's Relatives
1939
as Joe Higgins

Money To Burn
1939
as Joe Higgins

The Female Animal
1958
as Tom Maloney

My Gal Sal
1942
as Pat Hawley

Orders Is Orders
1933
as Ed Waggermeyer
Cinema Circus
1937
as Himself

Murder on a Honeymoon
1935
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

A Date with the Falcon
1942
as Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara

The Devil Is Driving
1932
as 'Beef' Evans

Babes on Broadway
1941
as Thornton Reed

Manila Calling
1942
as Tim O'Rourke

Man or Gun
1958
as Sheriff Jim Jackson

Footlight Serenade
1942
as Bruce McKay

The Plot Thickens
1936
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

On Your Toes
1939
as Phil Dolan Sr.

Suicide Fleet
1931
as Skeets

West Point of the Air
1935
as Joe 'Bags'

Lady Luck
1946
as Sacramento Sam

Murder on the Blackboard
1934
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

Hoopla
1933
as Jerry

The Story of Will Rogers
1952
as Bert Lynn

Come Fill the Cup
1951
as Charley Dolan

Her Man
1930
as Steve

The Homestretch
1947
as Doc Kilborne

It's a Wise Child
1931
as Cool Kelly

Don't Turn 'em Loose
1936
as Detective Daniels

Change of Heart
1934
as Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)

We're Only Human
1935
as Detective Danny Walsh

Sweepstakes
1931
as Sleepy Jones

The Billion Dollar Scandal
1933
as "Ratsy" Harris

The Big Gamble
1931
as Fred 'Squint' Dugan

The Big Game
1936
as George Scott

Once Upon a Horse...
1958
as Postmaster

Hollywood Thrill-Makers
1954
as Risky Russell

The Crooked Circle
1932
as Arthur Crimmer

Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
1950
as Knobby Walsh

The Return of October
1948
as Uncle Willie Ramsey

Yours for the Asking
1936
as Saratoga

Money, Women and Guns
1958
as Henry Devers

The Well Groomed Bride
1946
as Captain Hornby

Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
1930
as Self

Earl of Puddlestone
1940
as Joe Higgins

Lady and Gent
1932
as Pin Streaver

Search for Beauty
1934
as Dan Healy

Forty Naughty Girls
1937
as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

Captain Eddie
1945
as Tom Clark

The Life of Riley
1949
as Gillis

The Higgins Family
1938
as Joe Higgins

Oh, Yeah!
1929
as Dusty

Two Gals and a Guy
1951
as Max Howard

The Shannons of Broadway
1929
as Mickey Shannon

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
1938
as James Gleason

Grandpa Goes To Town
1940
as Joe Higgins

This Man's Navy
1945
as Jimmy Shannon

Fast Companions
1932
as Silk Henley

No Time at All
1958
as Dolph Grimes
Off His Base
1932
as Picture in Opening Credits

Polly of the Follies
1922
as Paul Gordon

When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
as Lefty Moore

Beyond Victory
1931
as Jim Mobley
Hollywood Hobbies
1935
as Himself

Tanks a Million
1941
as Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley

The Meanest Gal in Town
1934
as Duke Slater
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 CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Gleason Movies
- The Night of the Hunter (1955) — as Uncle Birdie Steptoe
- Loving You (1957) — as Carl Meade
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) — as Lt. Rooney
- Suddenly (1954) — as Peter 'Pop' Benson
- The Falcon Takes Over (1942) — as Inspector Mike O'Hara
Where to Watch James Gleason Films
Most James Gleason movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.