--- name: "Paul Gleason" canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-gleason" fi1m_id: "paul-gleason" imdb_id: "nm0322339" tmdb_id: 7675 wikidata_id: "Q537252" roles: ["Actor"] born: "4 May 1939" died: "27 May 2006" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 78 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-04T17:14:47.560047+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Paul Gleason ## Identity Paul Gleason - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-gleason - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** paul-gleason - **IMDb ID:** nm0322339 - **TMDB ID:** 7675 - **Wikidata ID:** Q537252 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gleason, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q537252, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322339/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7675 Actor. Born 4 May 1939 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. Died 27 May 2006. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 4 May 1939, Jersey City, New Jersey, USA - **Died:** 27 May 2006 - **Active:** 1971–1988 - **Also known as:** پال گلیسون, Paul Xavier Gleason - **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 86 (1), 1980s 77 (7) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 82 to 75 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 3, Crime 3, Action 2, Romance 2, Music 1 - **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $452m across 6 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gleason, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q537252, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322339/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7675 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Die Hard*](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md) (89), [*Tender Mercies*](https://film.one/film/tender-mercies.md) (86), [*Trading Places*](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) (80) - **Disney+:** [*The Breakfast Club*](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) (75) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Paul Gleason > Paul Gleason made officious bullies convincing through brusque delivery and an utter lack of doubt. We value the force he brought to these parts, even when the writing gave him little beyond another opportunity to be wrong. Paul Gleason’s screen bullies have little sense of humour and no shortage of confidence. His brusque delivery makes their expectation of obedience convincing, even when their judgement is poor. We rate him as a forceful supporting actor, particularly useful when a film needs someone to get in the hero’s way. He took these men seriously enough for their bad temper to matter. The difficulty came when a script expected repeated mistakes to remain funny. *Trading Places* (1983) gave him a major film role as Clarence Beeks, the Duke brothers’ ruthless fixer. In John Landis’s comedy, that nastiness has a useful place alongside Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd: Gleason need not be agreeable for the company to be enjoyable. We recommend the film, with patience for a middle stretch that needs tightening. *The Breakfast Club* (1985), with Gleason as the disciplinarian vice-principal Richard Vernon, made the authority figure still more central to his screen identity. The two roles helped establish the kind of work that followed. In John McTiernan’s *Die Hard* (1988), the limits of that casting become clear. Gleason gives deputy police chief Dwayne Robinson force, but the script keeps making him wrong so that McClane can look sensible. We grew irritated whenever this foolish police business held up the siege; the central contest was tense enough without another demonstration of official incompetence. The film remains an easy recommendation for its clear staging and the contrast between Bruce Willis’s vulnerability and Alan Rickman’s composure. But Robinson’s repeated errors make the authorities less convincing, and Gleason cannot supply the character with intelligence the writing has withheld. After the mid-1980s successes, similar unsympathetic roles became a restriction. The return as Vernon in a 2001 parody makes the persistence of that casting plain. We would have welcomed more parts that asked something beyond bad temper of him, though the conviction he brought to it is easy to value. Start with *Trading Places*, allowing for that leisurely middle stretch; it gives his unpleasant company an evening worth spending. ## Biography Paul Gleason (1939–2006) was an American character actor known for portraying authority figures and antagonists. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he attended Florida State University and trained at the Actors Studio in New York under Lee Strasberg. He began his career with small roles in films and television in the 1960s, including a recurring part as Dr David Thornton on the soap opera *All My Children*. Gleason gained wider recognition for his supporting roles in 1980s comedies and action films. He played Clarence Beeks in *Trading Places* (1983), Principal Richard Vernon in *The Breakfast Club* (1985) and Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson in *Die Hard* (1988). He appeared in numerous television series including *The A-Team*, *Seinfeld*, *Friends* and *Malcolm in the Middle*, and reprised the Vernon character in *Not Another Teen Movie* (2001). Gleason died in Burbank, California, from mesothelioma. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *Die Hard* (1988), Fi1m 89, as Dwayne Robinson — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md) - *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Fi1m 75, as Richard Vernon — [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) - *Tender Mercies* (1983), Fi1m 86, as Reporter — [page](https://film.one/film/tender-mercies.md) - *Trading Places* (1983), Fi1m 80, as Clarence Beeks — [page](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) - *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), Fi1m 81, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md) - *Arthur* (1981), Fi1m 72, as Executive — [page](https://film.one/film/arthur.md) - *Fort Apache, the Bronx* (1981), Fi1m 56, as Detective — [page](https://film.one/film/fort-apache-the-bronx.md) - *Columbo* (1971), Fi1m 86, as Parsons — [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) ## Complete filmography (120) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Passing* (2011), as Det. Sanders - *Sincerely Yours* (2008), as Richard Vernon (archive footage) (uncredited) - *The Book of Caleb* (2008), as James Paddington - *Abominable* (2006), as Sheriff Halderman - *Drake & Josh* (2004), series, as Mr. Thompson - *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Stewart Adams - *Dragnet: Sticks and Stones* (2003), as Matt Margolis - *Fastlane* (2002), series, as Detective Lannigan - *National Lampoon's Van Wilder* (2002), as Professor McDoogle - *George Lopez* (2002), series, as Lou Powers - *Not Another Teen Movie* (2001), as Richard Vernon - *The Guardian* (2001), series, as Scott Kollbrenner - *Social Misfits* (2001), as Warden Doyle - *The Weber Show* (2000), series, as Principal Squires - *The District* (2000), series, as Peter Wendt - *Red Letters* (2000), as Dean Van Buren - *The Giving Tree* (2000), as Mr. Forrester - *Malcolm in the Middle* (2000), series, as Mystery Man - *No Code of Conduct* (1999), as Bagwell - *Best of the Best 4: Without Warning* (1998), as Father Gil - *Dawson's Creek* (1998), series, as Larry Newman - *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Hank - *Money Talks* (1997), as Lt. Bobby Pickett - *Shadow Conspiracy* (1997), as Blythe - *Lost on Earth* (1997), series, as George Greckin - *A Time to Revenge* (1997), as Deidra - *Dark Skies* (1996), as Nelson Rockefeller - *Nash Bridges* (1996), series, as Mickey Tripp - *The Drew Carey Show* (1995), series, as Judge Crawford - *Digital Man* (1995), as Dr. Parker - *NewsRadio* (1995), series, as Steve - *Friends* (1994), series, as Jack — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md) - *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Tom McNeil - *There Goes My Baby* (1994), as Mr. Burton - *One West Waikiki* (1994), series, as Captain Herzog - *I Love Trouble* (1994), as Kenny Bacon - *Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love* (1994), Actor - *Nothing to Lose* (1994), as Elliot - *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Detective - *Boy Meets World* (1993), series, as Dean Borak - *Running Cool* (1993), as Calvin Hogg - *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Henry Harrison - *The Waiter* (1993), as Dad - *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Harold Payton - *Boiling Point* (1993), as Transaction Man - *Wild Cactus* (1993), as Sheriff Brenner - *National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1* (1993), as FBI Agent - *Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence* (1992), as Hank Cooney - *Majority Rule* (1992), as Harley Graham - *Wishman* (1992), as Silverstein - *Melrose Place* (1992), series, Actor - *False Arrest* (1991), as Arthur Ross - *Rich Girl* (1991), as Marvin Wells - *Fourth Story* (1991), as Lt. Hank Petkavich - *Miami Blues* (1990), as Sergeant Frank Lackley - *Spooner* (1989), as Roland Hyde - *Hardball* (1989), series, Actor - *Night Game* (1989), as Broussard - *Life Goes On* (1989), series, Actor - *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Cushman — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md) - *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Det. Robinson - *Die Hard* (1988), as Dwayne Robinson — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md) - *Johnny Be Good* (1988), as Wayne Hisler - *Supercarrier* (1988), series, Actor - *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Howard - *The Wonder Years* (1988), series, as Arthur Jensen — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wonder-years.md) - *Beauty and the Beast* (1987), series, as Henry Dutton - *Ghost Chase* (1987), as Stan Gordon - *21 Jump Street* (1987), series, as Phil Daniels - *Morgan Stewart's Coming Home* (1987), as Jay Le Soto - *Forever, Lulu* (1986), as Robert - *Sidekicks* (1986), series, Actor - *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as John Lungren - *Ewoks: The Battle for Endor* (1985), as Jeremitt Towani - *Doubletake* (1985), as Howie Henley - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Greenleaf - *The Breakfast Club* (1985), as Richard Vernon — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) - *Challenge of a Lifetime* (1985), as John Schoonover - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Sterling Bose, Barney Claymore, Steve Morrison - *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Bunny Berrigan — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md) - *Kate & Allie* (1984), series, Actor - *Scarecrow and Mrs. King* (1983), series, Actor - *Hardcastle and McCormick* (1983), series, as Jack Fish - *Trading Places* (1983), as Clarence Beeks — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) - *Tender Mercies* (1983), as Reporter — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/tender-mercies.md) - *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Roy Kelsey - *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Actor — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md) - *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Andy Stryker - *The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper* (1981), as Remson - *Arthur* (1981), as Executive — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/arthur.md) - *Fort Apache, the Bronx* (1981), as Detective — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/fort-apache-the-bronx.md) - *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md) - *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Ronnie Meeder / Jacques Arnot - *He Knows You're Alone* (1980), as Det. Frank Daley - *The Great Santini* (1979), as Lt. Sammy - *Ike* (1979), as Gen. Ernest "Tex" Lee - *Ike* (1979), series, as Capt. Ernest 'Tex' Lee - *Women at West Point* (1979), as Maj. James T. Kirk - *Vigilante Force* (1976), as Michael J. Loonius - *Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze* (1975), as Maj. Thomas J. 'Long Tom' Roberts - *Little Laura and Big John* (1973), as Sheriff - *Toma* (1973), as Drake - *Hit Man* (1972), as Cop (uncredited) - *Banacek* (1972), series, as Border Guard - *Where Does It Hurt?* (1972), as Mr. Leffingwell's Aide - *Monty Nash* (1971), series, as Doctor - *Columbo* (1971), series, as Parsons — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) - *Private Duty Nurses* (1971), as Dr. McClintock - *McCloud* (1970), series, as Detective with Broadhurst (uncredited) - *Then Came Bronson* (1969), series, as Deputy - *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Smith - *Adam-12* (1968), series, as Patrolman Arnold, Smitty, John Suntor, Instructor Chuck Williams - *Banning* (1967), as Golfer (uncredited) - *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Alien - *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, as Joe Borden - *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Lieutenant Blair — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md) - *The Green Hornet* (1966), series, as Paul Garrett - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Officer Dan Ryan - *Ski Party* (1965), as Beach Boy In Red Shorts (uncredited) - *The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet* (1952), series, as Fraternity Brother (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Paul Gleason](https://film.one/media/person/103234/gallery-fdcff994125a.jpg) Paul Gleason — Image via TMDB - ![Paul Gleason](https://film.one/media/person/103234/gallery-683693a30107.jpg) Paul Gleason — Image via TMDB - ![Paul Gleason](https://film.one/media/person/103234/gallery-f7aeab35128a.jpg) Paul Gleason — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/paul-gleason