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Paul GleasonAmerican actor, director and screenwriter
Date of Birth: 04.05.1944
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Paul Gleason
Paul Gleason, an American actor, director, and screenwriter, was born on May 4, 1944, in Jersey, New Jersey, USA. Despite not aspiring to be an actor during his childhood, Gleason was actively involved in sports and even received a football scholarship for college. After completing college, he played in the minor basketball league for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox teams.
Early Career
In the 1960s, Gleason's path crossed with the acting profession. He began studying at the renowned Actors Studio and later became an actor in off-Broadway theater. Gleason wrote scripts, directed plays, and also acted in them. He made his Broadway debut in Neil Simon's "The Gingerbread Lady" in 1971. He then appeared in "The Front Page" in New York and Los Angeles, starring alongside John Lithgow and Richard Thomas. Gleason gained significant recognition for his portrayal of McMurphy in the off-Broadway production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in 1973.
Television Career
Gleason's next career milestone was working in television. He appeared in episodes of various series such as "Love American Style," "Adam-12," and "Mission: Impossible." He landed a recurring role in the drama series "All My Children" from 1975 to 1978. He then starred alongside Robert Duvall and Lee Remick in the miniseries "Ike" in 1979. Over the following years, Gleason continued to appear on television screens, primarily in roles as police officers in shows like "Fourth Story" (1991) and "One West Waikiki" (1994), or as teachers in films such as "Spooner" (1989) and "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love" (1994).
Film Career
Gleason's filmography includes numerous roles in movies and television series. Over the past decade, he has appeared in films such as "Not Another Teen Movie" (2001), "Social Misfits" (2001), "Van Wilder" (2002), "Abominable" (2006), "The Book of Caleb" (2008), "The Passing" (2009), and many others.
Personal Life
Paul Gleason was previously married to Candy Moore, but they are currently divorced. They have one child together.
Gleason's striking appearance often led him to be cast as government agents, police officers, or unscrupulous clerks who were so dedicated to their duty that it sometimes seemed as though he had never been embraced by his own mother in childhood. His breakthrough role came as the emotionless agent Beeks, involved in industrial espionage and ultimately ending up in a cage with a gorilla, in the film "Trading Places" (1983). One of his most memorable roles is likely the dean in the film "The Breakfast Club" (1985), who managed to deceive not only the students but also the administration.
