James Gleason is a favorite character actor among classic film fans, and we could rattle off a giant list of movies he appeared in. Less well known are his wife and his son, who pose with him in this trio shot from Stars of the Photoplay (1930).
Lucille Webster performed in a stock company owned by James Gleason's theatrical parents. They were married in 1905. His first Broadway appearance was in 1914, and after several years of acting, writing, and directing for the theatre, both husband and wife scored in the Broadway hit The Shannons of Broadway in 1927, which Gleason wrote.
His first film was in 1922. He also wrote and directed for the movies. He appeared in several with Lucille. Their son Russell continued the family trade and appeared in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930).
This photo was taken around that time, when he was about 22 years old, when the family had so much to look forward to and, at least for James, was on the brink of a solid and respected film career.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck fifteen years later, when Russell, who had enlisted in the Army in 1943, was awaiting deployment to Europe with his troop in New York City when he died on Christmas Day 1945, having fallen out a fourth-story hotel window.
Mrs. Gleason, who also served as vice president of the Screen Actors Guild, served on the advisory board for the Federal Theater Project, and ran for office in local politics, died about a year and a half later in 1947.
James went on to more roles in both films and TV, and died in 1959 at the age of 76.
I think my favorite line of his is from Meet John Doe (1941): "There y'are Norton, the people. Try and lick that!"
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