James Gleason was a versatile and prolific actor, playwright, and screenwriter who appeared in over 100 films and wrote dozens of plays and scripts. He was known for his witty and realistic dialogue, his distinctive voice, and his portrayal of tough but warm-hearted characters. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died on April 12, 1959, at the age of 76, due to asthmatic complications. This article will explore his life, career, and cause of death in more detail.
Early Life and Military Service
James Gleason was born on May 23, 1882, in New York City, to William L. Gleason and Mina Crolius. His parents were both actors and he grew up in a theatrical environment. He made his stage debut as a child and began working as a messenger boy, printer’s devil, and elevator operator to support himself. He enlisted in the United States Army at age 16 and served for three years in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. He returned to the stage after his discharge and traveled to London, where he performed for two years.
Career as a Playwright and Screenwriter
Gleason developed a talent for writing dialogue and creating realistic characters. He wrote several plays, some of which he also acted in and directed. His most successful play was The Broadway Melody (1925), which he co-wrote with Edmund Goulding. The play was adapted into a film in 1929, which became the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Gleason also had a small uncredited role in the film as a hot dog vendor. He continued to write and act in plays throughout the 1920s and 1930s, such as Is Zat So? (1925), The Fall Guy (1925), and The Shannons of Broadway (1927).
Gleason also transitioned to screenwriting and wrote dialogue for comedies, dramas, and musicals. He collaborated with some of the most prominent directors and stars of the time, such as Frank Capra, George Cukor, Jean Harlow, and Clark Gable. Some of his notable films as a screenwriter include The Clock (1936), The Shopworn Angel (1938), The Strawberry Blonde (1941), and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944). He also wrote and produced his own films, such as Meet the Missus (1937) and A Date with Judy (1948).
Career as a Film and Television Actor
Gleason was also a prolific and versatile actor who appeared in over 100 films and several television shows. He often played supporting roles as comic relief, authority figures, or mentors. He was praised for his natural and expressive acting style, his impeccable timing, and his ability to improvise. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Max “Pop” Corkle, a boxing manager, in Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941). He also starred in two film series, playing police inspector Oscar Piper in six Hildegarde Withers mystery films and Joe Higgins in seven of nine films about the Higgins Family. His wife, Lucile Webster, and his son, Russell Gleason, also appeared in some of these films with him.
Some of his other memorable films as an actor include The Night of the Hunter (1955), where he played a friendly and helpful bird shop owner; The Bishop’s Wife (1947), where he played a cynical cab driver who witnesses a miracle; and Meet John Doe (1941), where he played a hard-boiled newspaper editor who exploits a populist movement. He also appeared in several television shows, such as The Ford Television Theatre, The Twilight Zone, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Personal Life and Death
Gleason married Lucile Webster, an actress and singer, in 1905. They had one son, Russell Gleason, who also became an actor. The couple remained married until Lucile’s death in 1947. Gleason never remarried and devoted himself to his work and his son. Russell Gleason died in 1945, at the age of 31, after falling from a hotel window. The circumstances of his death were unclear and some speculated that it was a suicide, a murder, or an accident. Gleason was devastated by the loss of his wife and son and suffered from depression and alcoholism.
Gleason also suffered from asthma, a chronic respiratory condition that causes difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma can be triggered by various factors, such as allergens, pollutants, stress, or exercise. Asthma can be managed with medication, inhalers, and avoiding triggers, but it can also be fatal if not treated properly or promptly. Gleason died of asthmatic complications on April 12, 1959, at his home in Woodland Hills, California. He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, next to his wife and son.
Conclusion
James Gleason was a talented and prolific actor, playwright, and screenwriter who left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry. He was known for his witty and realistic dialogue, his distinctive voice, and his portrayal of tough but warm-hearted characters. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Here Comes Mr. Jordan and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died of asthmatic complications at the age of 76, after losing his wife and son. He is remembered as one of the most versatile and beloved figures of the golden age of Hollywood.
