James Gleason(1882-1959)
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
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), Quelle veuve! (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 Le défunt récalcitrant (1941).
