Cast & creator
James Gleason
Best known for Climax!, Cheyenne, Leave It to Beaver
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).
Also known as: James Austin Gleason, Jimmy Gleason
158
film credits
11
television credits
145
1922–1958 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (169)
Showing 169 of 169 credits
Climax!
Reverend Mr. McCarkle
1954
Cheyenne
1955
Leave It to Beaver
Pete
1957
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Mr. Jorgy
1955Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Howard Fieldstone
1955
The Millionaire
Charles Hartford Simpson
1955
This Is Your Life
Self
1952
Cavalcade of America
Noah Larkin
1952
Screen Director's Playhouse
Ed Shafer
1955
Racket Squad
1951
The Night of the Hunter
Uncle Birdie Steptoe
1955
Arsenic and Old Lace
Lt. Rooney
1944
The Bishop's Wife
Sylvester
1947
We're Not Married!
Duffy
1952
The Keys of the Kingdom
Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske
1944
Rock-a-Bye Baby
Doc Simpkins
1958
Meet John Doe
Henry Connell
1941
Sweepstakes
Sleepy Jones
1931
Star in the Dust
Orval Jones
1956
Loving You
Carl Meade
1957
The Clock
Al Henry
1945
What Price Glory
General Cokely
1952
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
McGarrity
1945
Man in the Shadow
Hank James
1957
A Guy Named Joe
“Nails” Kilpatrick
1944
The Broadway Melody
Music Publisher (uncredited)
1929The Broadway Melody
Dialogue
1929
Key to the City
Sergeant Hogan
1950
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Max Corkle
1941
Spring Reunion
Collie
1957
Suddenly
Peter 'Pop' Benson
1954
Take One False Step
Captain Gledhill
1949
My Gal Sal
Pat Hawley
1942
The Last Hurrah
Cuke Gillen
1958
Murder on a Honeymoon
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1935Hollywood Hobbies
Himself
1935
Affectionately Yours
'Chet' Phillips
1941
Blondie of the Follies
Pa McClune
1932
The Story of Will Rogers
Bert Lynn
1952
I'll See You in My Dreams
Fred Townsend
1951
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Inspector Corrigan
1936
Down to Earth
Max Corkle
1947Rookie of the Year
Ed Shafer
1955
Once Upon a Time
Moke McGillicuddy
1944
Lady Luck
Sacramento Sam
1946
Murder in the Fleet
Additional Writing
1935
Come Fill the Cup
Charley Dolan
1951
The Falcon Takes Over
Inspector Mike O'Hara
1942
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Timothy Gleason
1949
Tales of Manhattan
Father Joe
1942
Triple Cross
Knobby Walsh
1951
Her Man
Steve
1930
Money, Women and Guns
Henry Devers
1958
We're Only Human
Detective Danny Walsh
1935
Army Girl
Hennessy
1938
No Time at All
Dolph Grimes
1958
Yours for the Asking
Saratoga
1936
Murder on the Blackboard
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1934
The Female Animal
Tom Maloney
1958
A Date with the Falcon
Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara
1942
Manhattan Merry-Go-Round
Danny The Duck
1937
Crash Dive
Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell
1943
It's a Wise Child
Cool Kelly
1931
The Dude Goes West
Sam Briggs
1948
The Shannons of Broadway
Mickey Shannon
1929The Shannons of Broadway
Writer
1929
My Wife's Relatives
Joe Higgins
1939
The Devil Is Driving
'Beef' Evans
1932
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
Sergeant Daniels
1941
Once Upon a Horse...
Postmaster
1958
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
Hay Foot
Colonel J. A. Barkley
1942
The Count of Ten
Johnny's Manager
1928
Hoopla
Jerry
1933
Murder on a Bridle Path
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1936
High Hats and Low Brows
Danny Ruff
1932
The Yellow Cab Man
Mickey Corkins
1950
Mammy
Theatre Play
1930
This Man's Navy
Jimmy Shannon
1945
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle
Knobby Walsh
1950
The Return of October
Uncle Willie Ramsey
1948
The Billion Dollar Scandal
"Ratsy" Harris
1933
Tycoon
Pop Mathews
1947
The Well Groomed Bride
Captain Hornby
1946
Babes on Broadway
Thornton Reed
1941
Dumb-bells in Ermine
Mike
1930Dumb-bells in Ermine
Writer
1930
Hot Tip
Jimmy McGill
1935Hot Tip
Director
1935
The Penguin Pool Murder
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1932
Big Money
Tom
1930
Forever Female
Eddie Woods
1953
Rule 'Em and Weep
Spike Mc Gorey
1932
West Point of the Air
Joe 'Bags'
1935
The All-American
Chick Knipe
1932
The Hoodlum Saint
Snarp
1946
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1
Self
1930
Don't Turn 'em Loose
Detective Daniels
1936
The Big Gamble
Fred 'Squint' Dugan
1931
When My Baby Smiles at Me
Lefty Moore
1948
Home Sweet Homicide
Sgt. O'Hare
1946
Clear All Wires!
Lefty Williams
1933
The Meanest Gal in Town
Duke Slater
1934
Swellhead
Johnny Trump
1930Swellhead
Dialogue
1930
Fast Companions
Silk Henley
1932
The Bowery
Screenplay
1933Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 6
Self
1938
Two Gals and a Guy
Max Howard
1951
Man or Gun
Sheriff Jim Jackson
1958
The Jackpot
Harry Summers
1950
The Life of Riley
Gillis
1949
The Matrimonial Bed
Gustave Corton
1930
A Free Soul
Eddie
1931
Oh, Yeah!
Dusty
1929
Forty Naughty Girls
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1937
Rain or Shine
Writer
1930
Grandpa Goes To Town
Joe Higgins
1940
Riding High
Racing Secretary
1950
Puttin' on the Ritz
James 'Jimmy' Tierney
1930Puttin' on the Ritz
Dialogue
1930
The Plot Thickens
Police Insp. Oscar Piper
1936
Bad Boy
Chief
1949
On Your Toes
Phil Dolan Sr.
1939
Polly of the Follies
Paul Gordon
1922
The Homestretch
Doc Kilborne
1947
Change of Heart
Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)
1934Change of Heart
Screenplay
1934Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
James Gleason
1938
Suicide Fleet
Skeets
1931
Footlight Serenade
Bruce McKay
1942
The Fall Guy
Writer
1930
High Voltage
Dialogue
1929High Voltage
Screenplay
1929
Smart Woman
Sam Corkle
1948
The Girl Rush
Ether Ferguson
1955
Helldorado
Sam Barnes
1935
Orders Is Orders
Ed Waggermeyer
1933Orders Is Orders
Screenplay
1933
Meet the Missus
Bert La Motte
1929
Manila Calling
Tim O'Rourke
1942
Three Hollywood Girls
Writer
1931
Money To Burn
Joe Higgins
1939
The Big Game
George Scott
1936Fairways and Foul
Husband
1929
Beyond Victory
Jim Mobley
1931Beyond Victory
Writer
1931
Captain Eddie
Tom Clark
1945
Hollywood Thrill-Makers
Risky Russell
1954
The Flying Fool
Additional Dialogue
1929Cinema Circus
Himself
1937Off His Base
Picture in Opening Credits
1932Off His Base
Director
1932Don't Believe It
Jimmy
1930
What a Widow!
Screenplay
1930What a Widow!
Adaptation
1930
The Higgins Family
Joe Higgins
1938
The Crooked Circle
Arthur Crimmer
1932
Tanks a Million
Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley
1941
Lady and Gent
Pin Streaver
1932
His First Command
Screenplay
1929His First Command
Story
1929
Search for Beauty
Dan Healy
1934
The Covered Trailer
Joe Higgins
1939Yoo-Hoo
Jimmy Gleason
1932
Should Husbands Work?
Joe Higgins
1939
Earl of Puddlestone
Joe Higgins
1940
Always Kickin'
Director
1932