- Born
- Died
- Birth namePaul Xavier Gleason
- Height1.84 m
- Character actor Paul Gleason was adept at playing tough guys and white collar sleazebags, making his film debut in Winter A-Go-Go (1965). He made a name for himself portraying these unlikeable characters. A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Gleason studied extensively at the Actor's Studio in New York City in the mid-60s with Lee Strasberg (his mentor) and was seen in a handful of Roger Corman productions before landing a a three-year role on the TV soap opera La force du destin (1970). He appeared in over 60 films, with key roles in Un fauteuil pour deux (1983), Piège de cristal (1988), Miami Blues (1990), L'extrême limite (1993) and American Party : Van Wilder, relations publiques (2002). However, he is perhaps best remembered for his role as the no-nonsense principal "Richard Vernon" in Breakfast Club (1985). He also guest-starred in numerous television series, including Capitaine Furillo (1981), Dawson (1998) and Friends (1994). Gleason passed away of mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer at a Burbank, California hospital on May 29th 2006 at the age of 67.- IMDb mini biography by: Blythe379@cs.com
- SpousesSusan Kehl(August 1995 - May 27, 2006) (his death, 2 children)Candy Moore(March 13, 1971 - 1978) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- ParentsEleanor GleasonGeorge L. Gleason
- Frequently plays principals or teachers who take no nonsense
- Known for playing cranky, obnoxious bullies
- Attended and played football at Florida State University along with fellow actors Burt Reynolds and Robert Urich.
- Died three weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a rare form of lung cancer that is linked to asbestos.
- Decided to become an actor in 1961 after seeing La Fièvre dans le sang (1961) with his friend, author Jack Kerouac.
- Played minor league baseball in the 1950s.
- He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Breakfast Club (1985) and Piège de cristal (1988).
- I went into acting because I had nothing more sensible to do. However, once I began acting classes with Lee Strasberg at the Actor's Studio in New York, I found it stimulating and rewarding.
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