Biography for
Paul Gleason (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

4 May 1939, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Date of Death

27 May 2006, Burbank, California, USA (mesothelioma)

Birth Name

Paul Xavier Gleason

Height

6' 0½" (1.84 m)

Mini Biography

Character actor Paul Gleason has been adept at playing tough guys and white collar sleaze bags in motion pictures since the early 1960s, making his film debut in Winter A-Go-Go (1965). Gleason has made a name for himself portraying these unlikeable characters in films. A native of Miami, Florida, Gleason studied extensively at the Actor's Studio in New York City in the mid-60s with Lee Strasberg (his mentor) and was seen in a handful of Roger Corman productions before landing a a three-year role on the TV soap opera "All My Children" (1970). Since the late 1970s, Gleason has had key roles in films that include Trading Places (1983), Die Hard (1988), Miami Blues (1990), Boiling Point (1993/I) and Van Wilder (2002). However, he is probably best remembered for his role as the no-nonsense principal "Richard Vernon" in The Breakfast Club (1985). He has also appeared in over 60 films and has guest-starred on numerous television series that include "Hill Street Blues" (1981), "Dawson's Creek" (1998) and "Friends" (1994). Gleason passed away of mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer at a Burbank, California hospital on May 29th 2006 at the age of 67.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Blythe379@cs.com

Spouse

Susan Kehl	(August 1995 - 27 May 2006) (his death) 2 children
Candy Moore	(13 March 1971 - 1978) (divorced) 1 child

Trade Mark

Frequently plays principals or teachers who take no nonsense.

Trivia

Attended and played football at Florida State University along with fellow actors Burt Reynolds and Robert Urich.

Reportedly owned a restaurant.

1966 graduate of Florida State University.

Was chased by Carl Strano's character in an episode of "The A-Team" (1983). They also acted together in an episode of "Hill Street Blues" (1981).

Decided to become an actor in 1961 after seeing Splendor in the Grass (1961) with his friend, author Jack Kerouac.

Played minor league baseball in the 1950s.

Died three weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a rare form of lung cancer that is linked to asbestos.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch).

Had 2 daughters, Shannon and Kaitlin, and a son.

Personal Quotes

I went into acting because I had nothing more sensible to do. However, once I began acting classes with Lee Strasberg at the Actor's Studio in New York, I found it stimulating and rewarding.

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