Paul Gleason
Biography
Paul Gleason was an American actor who worked largely in film and television and grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. He trained at The Actors Studio and then settled in Los Angeles, and he first became well known as Dr. David Thornton on All My Children, a role he played from 1976 to 1978. He was often cast as antagonistic authority figures, among them the villainous Clarence Beeks in Trading Places (1983), Vice Principal Vernon in The Breakfast Club (1985), and Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson in Die Hard (1988). Critics praised his Breakfast Club performance, and Roger Ebert described his Die Hard character as a foil for Bruce Willis and Reginald VelJohnson. He also appeared in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985), Johnny Be Good (1988), Not Another Teen Movie (2001), Van Wilder (2002), and Abominable (2006), and he guest starred on Columbo, The A-Team, and Seinfeld. He died in 2006.
67years old at death
- Born Jersey City
- Died Burbank
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Also credited as Paul Xavier Gleason
Movie Career
- Films
- 27
- Career span
- 31 years1975 to 2006
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Early training
Gleason moved to New York City and eventually became a member of The Actors Studio, studying there for four years. He then moved to Los Angeles.
First role
In 1960, a trip to the West Coast brought Gleason an introduction to Ozzie Nelson, and that led to a guest appearance on Ozzie and Harriet, since Nelson often hired athletes for such spots.
Paul Gleason movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Hughes directed two of these films. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Robert Duvall's page
Charlie Sheen's page
Seymour Cassel's page
Ed Lauter's page
Tobin Bell's page
James Rebhorn's page
All films by John Hughes
Also two films together7 more actors
- Molly RingwaldNot Another Teen Movie (2001) and The Breakfast Club (1985)
- Rex LinnAbominable (2006) and Night Game (1989)
- Anthony Michael HallJohnny Be Good (1988) and The Breakfast Club (1985)
- Wilford BrimleyEwoks: The Battle for Endor (1985) and Tender Mercies (1983)
- Larry HankinMoney Talks (1997) and She's Having a Baby (1988)
- Tony FrankNight Game (1989) and Tender Mercies (1983)
- Deon RichmondVan Wilder: Party Liaison (2002) and Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Paul Gleason's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$662 million
18 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 27 films: 18 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 5 figure not found.
- 18Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 5Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 90% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$141M21.3% of the total
- 2$95M14.4% of the total
- 3$90M13.7% of the total
- 4$66M10.0% of the total
- 5$62M9.4% of the total
- 6$52M7.8% of the total
- 7$48M7.3% of the total
- 8$39M5.9% of the total
$68.0 millionfrom the other 10 films with a worldwide figure, 10% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.