ames Gleason was born in New York City to William Gleason and Mina Crolius, who were both in the theatre. He was married to Lucile Gleason (born Lucile Webster), and had a son, Russell Gleason. As a young man James fought in the Spanish-American War. After the war he joined the stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland, California, which his parents were running. James and his wife then moved to Portland, Oregon, where they played in stock at the Baker Theater.
18岁在音乐剧中扮演配角，1929年登上银幕，30年代末开始走下坡路，大多担任配角，70年代初息影。 代表作：《弗兰肯斯坦》、《滑铁卢大桥》（老版）、《娜娜》等。
