James Gleason
Actor

James Gleason Net Worth

James Gleason was a prolific actor, writer, and director born in New York City in 1882. He fought in the Spanish-American War and then joined his parents' stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland, California. He and his wife Lucile toured in road shows until he enlisted in the army during World War I. After the war, he wrote and acted in several plays and films, including The Broadway Melody (1929) and Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). He and his wife were then contracted to Pathe, with Lucille acting and James writing. Throughout his career, James Gleason was a major contributor to the entertainment industry.
James Gleason is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Writer, Director
Birth Day May 23, 1882
Birth Place  New York City, New York, United States
Age 137 YEARS OLD
Died On April 12, 1959(1959-04-12) (aged 76)\nWoodland Hills, California, U.S.
Birth Sign Gemini
Years active 1914–59
Spouse(s) Lucile Gleason (1905-1947) (her death)
Children Russell Gleason

💰 Net worth: $700,000 (2024)

James Gleason, a multi-talented individual hailing from the United States, is a well-known actor, writer, and director. In 2024, his net worth is estimated to reach an impressive $700,000. Throughout his career, Gleason has showcased his versatility and skill in various creative fields, leaving a remarkable impact on the entertainment industry. As an actor, he has captivated audiences with his exceptional performances on both stage and screen. Alongside his acting endeavors, Gleason has also made a name for himself as a talented writer and director, contributing to the world of storytelling in his own unique way. With his remarkable talent and formidable net worth, James Gleason is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world.

Biography/Timeline

1858

Gleason was born in New York City, the son of Mina (née Crolius; 1858-1931) and william L. Gleason (1850-1909). Coming from theatrical stock, as a schoolboy he made stage appearances while on holiday. He 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. He enlisted in the United States Army at age 16 and served three years in the Philippines.

1922

His film debut was in Polly of the Follies (1922), starring Constance Talmadge. Balding and slender with a craggy voice and a master of the double-take, Gleason portrayed tough but warm-hearted characters, usually with a New York background. He co-wrote The Broadway Melody, the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and had a small uncredited role in it. He also co-wrote and briefly appeared as a hot dog vendor in the 1934 Janet Gaynor vehicle Change of Heart. He performed in a number of films with his wife Lucile. In The Clock (1945), he played a milk cart driver who gives lessons in marriage to the characters played by Judy Garland and Robert Walker, while Lucile played his wife. The same year, he played the bartender in the film adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. In the Frank Capra classic Meet John Doe, he played the cynical, "hard boiled" Editor brought in to pump up the newspaper that runs with the "John Doe" story. 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. 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.

1931

Gleason also performed in other media. In 1931, he co-starred with Robert Armstrong in the radio sitcom Gleason and Armstrong. His television credits include several episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the Reed Hadley legal drama The Public Defender and ABC's The Real McCoys. In "The Child", the Christmas 1957 episode of John Payne's The Restless Gun on NBC, Gleason and Anthony Caruso played Roman Catholic Priests who run an orphanage. Dan Blocker, just launching his acting career, also guest starred in the episode.

1945

James and Lucile Gleason had a son, actor Russell Gleason. On December 26, 1945, the younger Gleason was in New York City awaiting deployment to Europe with his regiment, when he fell out of a fourth story window in the Hotel Sutton, which the army had commandeered to house the troops, resulting in his death. Reports varied, some saying the fall was accidental, while others stating it was a suicide. Russell's most prominent role had been as Muller in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). Russell Gleason was married to Cynthia Lindsay, a former Busby Berkeley chorus girl who later wrote a biography of family friend Boris Karloff.

Some James Gleason images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.