16 Facts About James Gleason

James Austin Gleason was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter born in New York City.

James Gleason began earning his living at the age of thirteen, being a messenger boy, printer's devil, assistant in an electrical store and a lift boy.

James Gleason enlisted in the United States Army at age 16 and served three years in the Philippines.

James Gleason played in London for two years and following his return to the United States, he began in films by writing dialogue for comedies.

James Gleason wrote a number of plays, several of which were performed on Broadway.

James Gleason acted on Broadway, including in a couple of his own plays.

When World War I broke out, James Gleason reenlisted in the United States Army and served to the end of the war.

Balding and slender with a craggy voice and a master of the double-take, James Gleason portrayed tough but warm-hearted characters, usually with a New York background.

James Gleason co-wrote The Broadway Melody, the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and had a small uncredited role in it.

James Gleason co-wrote and briefly appeared as a hot dog vendor in the 1934 Janet Gaynor vehicle Change of Heart.

James Gleason performed in a number of films with his wife Lucile.

James Gleason was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as boxing manager Max "Pop" Corkle in the 1941 film Here Comes Mr Jordan.

James Gleason starred in two movie series, playing police inspector Oscar Piper in six Hildegarde Withers mystery films during the 1930s, starting with The Penguin Pool Murder, and Joe Higgins in the first seven of nine films about the Higgins Family, in which his wife Lucile and son Russell played Lil and Sydney Higgins.

James and Lucile Gleason had a son, actor Russell Gleason.

Russell James Gleason was married to Cynthia Hobart, a swimmer and stunt woman who later wrote a biography of family friend Boris Karloff.

In 1959, James Gleason died of asthmatic complications and was interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.