James Gleason

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Actor | Playwright | Screenwriter Born May 23, 1882 in New York, NY

James Gleason had made a name for himself both as an actor and a playwright in New York before coming to Hollywood to begin a lengthy motion picture career.

He wrote "The Fall Guy," in which he starred in the Broadway production, and "The Shannons of Broadway" and "The Broadway Melody."

Gleason also wrote and produced "Is Zat So?," which later was made into the motion picture film "Two- Fisted," and collaborated in the stage production of "The Bowery."

Explaining how he had been part of show business almost all of his life. Gleason told The Times: "I was carried on in my first part in a play called 'Clouds' when I was 2 months old."

Gleason was nominated for an Academy Award for supporting actor in "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" in 1941. One of his last films was in the role of Spencer Tracy's political crony in "The Last Hurrah" in 1958.

— Los Angeles Times April 13, 1959