Paul Gleason

Career Gleason starred in many movies, often as an antagonistic figure, and became well-known initially as Dr. David Thornton on All My Children, playing the role from 1976 to 1978. He then portrayed Capt. Ernest "Tex" Lee in the 1979 television miniseries Ike. He guest-starred in "The Trouble with Harry" and "Fire", Columbo and two episodes of The A-Team. Additionally, Gleason played the villainous Clarence Beeks, the Duke brothers' security consultant and fixer, in the 1983 comedy Trading Places starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy.

Gleason played the disciplinarian Vice Principal Richard Vernon, in the 1985 coming-of-age film The Breakfast Club opposite many members of the Brat Pack. The film has been noted as one of the most prominent and well-remembered of its genre, and many reviews praised Gleason's performance as the vice principal who was frequently at odds with members of the titular group, particularly Judd Nelson's John Bender. In an on-set interview, Gleason spoke at length about the skill of the teenage actors he worked with, adding that he believed he "could never have been as good at [their] age." He also described the finale of the film, during which Vernon reads an essay from the Club dismantling his assertions about them, as a satori for the character, stating that Vernon is "supposed to realize something about the fact that he has let these kids down, and that he really hasn't understood them." When Gleason died the same year, his NPR obituary referred to his turn as Vernon, referring to Gleason as "a 'principal' screen presence." and as a foil for Willis and Reginald VelJohnson. In late 1997, Gleason guest starred on Walker, Texas Ranger in the episode Brainchild. In the episode, he played the owner of a research facility who has held an employee hostage leaving a telepathic kid, Chad Morgan (David Gallagher), to work with Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris) to arrest him. The episode reunited him with fellow Die Hard co-star Clarence Gilyard, who plays Jimmy Trivette on the show, although the don't share any scenes together in the film.

In 2002, Gleason appeared in episodes of Dawson's Creek as Larry Newman, the sex-and-violence obsessed chief of a B movie studio. He appeared as a nonsensical judge in an episode of Drake & Josh, as well as in an episode of George Lopez as the brother of George's boss, a crazy old drunk. In 2005, he appeared as the Sheriff in the horror film Abominable. Gleason made a guest appearance on Friends as Jack, Phoebe's boss at an investment company, in the season 6 episode "The One That Could Have Been," and also appeared in one episode of Seinfeld, as the man ultimately responsible for George Costanza (Jason Alexander) being hired by the New York Yankees. His final appearance before his death was in an independent film called The Book of Caleb.

Personal life Gleason, in addition to his acting career, participated in many celebrity charity golf events each year, and was known to mingle with fans and sign autographs during these golf tournaments. Shortly before his death, he also published a book of poetry. Actor Jimmy Hawkins, a friend of Gleason's, stated after his death that "he always had great stories to tell."

From 1971 to 1978, he was married to actress Candy Moore; they had one daughter, Shannon. From 1995 until his death, he was married to Susan Kehl; they had one daughter, Kaitlin. At the time of his death, he also had a granddaughter.

Death Gleason died on May 27, 2006, at a Burbank, California, hospital from pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung connected with asbestos, which he is thought to have contracted from asbestos exposure on building sites while working for his father as a teenager. Gleason was 67 years old. He is buried near the southeast corner of the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles.

Filmography + Year Title Role Notes 1962 Panic in Year Zero! Gas Station Owner (uncredited) Film (debut) 1965 Winter A-Go-Go Ski Resort Guest Film1967It's About Time Man 1 episode (TV debut) The Green Hornet Paul Garrett 1 episode C'mon, Let's Live a Little Frat Boy (uncredited) Film The Invaders Alien 2 Episodes: "The Experiment" & "Task Force" 1968 The F.B.I. Officer Dan Ryan 1 episode The Secret War of Harry Frigg Prisoner (uncredited) Film 1969 Then Came Bronson Deputy 1 episode 1971 Private Duty Nurses Dr. McClintock Film 1971–1974 Adam-12 Smitty / Patrolman Arnold / Instructor Chuck Williams / John Suntor 4 episodes1972 Where Does It Hurt? Mr. Leffingwell's Aide Film Mission: Impossible Blair 1 episode Banacek Border Guard 1 episode Hit Man Cop (uncredited) Film 1973 Little Laura and Big John Sheriff Film1975 Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze Maj. Thomas J. "Long Tom" Roberts Film Columbo Parsons 1 episode 1976 Vigilante Force Michael J. Loonius Film (as Paul X. Gleason) 1976–1978 All My Children Dr. David Thornton 2 episodes1979 Women at West Point Major James T. Kirk TV movie Ike Capt. Ernest "Tex" Lee TV miniseries. AKA Ike: The War Years The Great Santini Lt. Sammy Film 1980 He Knows You're Alone Det. Frank Daley Film1981 Fort Apache the Bronx Detective Film Another Life Lee Carothers #1 TV series Arthur Executive Film The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper Remson Film 1982 MysteryDisc: Murder, Anyone? Stewart Cavanaugh Direct-to-video interactive film1983 Tender Mercies Reporter Film Trading Places Clarence Beeks Film MysteryDisc: Many Roads to Murder Steward Cavanaugh Direct-to-video interactive film1984 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Edson Ballon 1 episode Remington Steele Sheriff Jeff 'Jed' Nebbins 1 episode Cagney & Lacey Detective Crespi 1 episode Call to Glory Marty Colby 1 episode Hardcastle and McCormick Jack Fish 1 episode Riptide Detective Commander Phillip Hallins Everitt 2 episodes Hill Street Blues Biff Lowe 2 episodes Magnum, P.I. Ronnie Meeder AKA Jacques Arnot 1 episode 1984–1986 The A-Team Roy Kelsey / Harry Sullivan 2 episodes1985 The Breakfast Club Asst. Principal Richard Vernon Film Challenge of a Lifetime John Schoonover TV movie Dallas Lt. Lee Spaulding 3 episodes Anything for Love Larry Worth TV movie Doubletake Howie Henley TV movie Ewoks: The Battle for Endor Jeremitt TV movie1986 Kate & Allie Tom Fitzgerald 1 episode Miami Vice Bunny Berrigan 1 episode The Equalizer Greenleaf Episode: "Tip on a Sure Thing" Gimme a Break! Mr. Kimball 1 episode Superior Court Attorney TV series1987 Morgan Stewart's Coming Home Jay Le Soto Film Sidekicks Fargo 1 episode Falcon Crest Andy Stryker 1 episode Forever, Lulu Robert Film Hollywood-Monster Stan Gordon Film. West Germany. AKA Ghost Chase (U.S.) Beauty and the Beast Henry Dutton 1 episode1988 She's Having a Baby Howard Film Johnny Be Good Wayne Hisler Film Die Hard Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson Film Lifted Commanding Officer U.S.S Georgetown TV movie. Supercarrier (pilot)1989 Night Game Broussard Film 21 Jump Street Phil Daniels 1 episodeSpooner Roland Bishop TV movie 1989–1992Murder, She Wrote Sterling Rose / Lt. Barney Claymore / Steve Morrison 3 episodes 1990 Miami Blues Sgt. Frank Lackley Film1991 Rich Girl Marvin Wells Film L.A. Law Coach John Lungren Episode: "Speak, Lawyers, for Me" False Arrest Arthur Ross TV movie1992 Wishman Silverstein Film The Wonder Years Arthur Jensen Episode: "Scenes from a Wedding" 1993 Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence Hank Cooney Film Loaded Weapon 1 FBI Agent Film Wild Cactus Sheriff Brenner Film Boiling Point Transaction Man Film Running Cool Calvin Hogg Film1994 Seinfeld Cushman Episode: "The Opposite" I Love Trouble Kenny Bacon Film Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Henry Harrison Episode: "The Ides of Metropolis") There Goes My Baby Mr. Burton Film Nothing to Lose Elliot Film In the Living Years Tony Film 1994–1996 One West Waikiki Captain Dave Herzog 19 episodes 1995 Digital Man Dr. Parker Film1997 Shadow Conspiracy Blythe Film Money Talks Detective Bobby Pickett FilmWalker, Texas Ranger Dr. Harold Payton Episode: "Brainchild" Boy Meets World Dean Borak 2 episodes NewsRadio Steve Johnson Episode: "The Public Domain" A Time to Revenge Whittmar Film1998 Day at the Beach Detective Johnson Film No Code of Conduct John Bagwell Film 1998 Best of the Best 4: Without Warning Father Gil Film1999 Nash Bridges Micky Tripp (Radio DJ) Episode: "Hardball" Dancing Queen Asst. Principal Richard Vernon Cameo; A-Teens Music video2000 The Giving Tree Mr. Forrester Film Red Letters Dean Van Buren Film Friends Jack Episode: "The One That Could Have Been" 2001 Not Another Teen Movie Principal Richard "Dick" Vernon Film The Organization Death Film The Myersons Dean Hanson Film Social Misfits Warden Doyle Film 2002 National Lampoon's Van Wilder Professor McDougal Film 2003 Dawson's Creek Larry Newman 2 episodes2004 Drake & Josh Mr. Thompson Episode: "Honor Council" Malcolm in the Middle Mystery Man (Gordon Walker) Episode: "Reese Joins the Army" 2005 Abominable Sheriff Halderman Film George Lopez Lou Powers Episode: "George to the Third Power" Cold Case Stewart Adams 1 episode 2008 The Book of Caleb James Paddington Film (posthumous) 2011 The Passing Det. Sanders Film (posthumous; final film role)