James Gleason
James Austin Gleason (* May 23, 1882 in New York City, New York, USA, † April 12, 1959 in Los Angeles, California ) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter.
Life
The frail and bald at an early age actor played especially rough, but warm -hearted characters, usually with a New York background. He appeared in numerous films on the side of his wife Lucile Gleason ( 1888-1947 ).
Gleason wrote the script for The Broadway Melody, the second film, which won the Oscar for best film. He had a minor role in it. In the film, leave for the love of 1945, he starred alongside his wife a milk truck driver who instructs Judy Garland and Robert Walker in aspects of marriage.
For the film, a holiday from heaven he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
However, his most famous role was that of Birdie Steptoe in Charles Laughton's legendary, the only directorial effort The Night of the Hunter, on the side of Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. He played an old, good-natured widower who finally, as he gets drunk in grief, can not contribute to the protection of Robert Mitchum movie character children. In 1958, he starred opposite Spencer Tracy in The Last Hurrah.
James Gleason was 42 years ( until her death ) married Lucile, they had a son, Russell, who was also an actor. James Gleason died in 1959 from asthma and was buried in the cemetery "Holy Cross Cemetery " in Culver City, California.