Lucile Gleason
Encyclopedia
Lucile Webster Gleason aka "Lucille Gleason" (February 6, 1888 — May 18, 1947) was an American
stage and screen actress. Gleason was also a civic worker who was active in film colony projects.
A native of Pasadena, California
, Webster went on stage as a teen working with her father's stock company. Her motion picture career started with a number of movies in 1929 and continued until 1945. She became the wife of actor James Gleason
in 1905, when the couple married in Oakland, California
. She took his surname as her professional and legal surname. The couple realized stage success in New York City
in a production of The Shannons of Broadway. The play was later made into a film entitled Goodbye Broadway. The Gleasons continued to perform together in Hollywood. In 1945 they made The Clock
, with Lucile playing the role of "Mrs. Al Henry". Their son, Russell, was paired with his parents in the farcical family comedy, The Higgins Family, in 1938. The story centers around Lucile's performance in two radio programs which threaten to derail her husband's advertising business.
and was a member of the Hollywood U.S.O. and the Veterans' Service Council. In 1947 she was named Mother of 1947 in a Mother's Day
observance conducted by the U.S.O. In the 1930s Gleason served on the advisory board of the Federal Theater Project. On several occasions she was an unsuccessful candidate for political office. In 1944 Gleason ran for the Assembly from the 59th District in California
. In 1946 she was defeated by then incumbent Secretary of State
Frank Jordan.
. She was predeceased by her only child, actor Russell Gleason (1908-1945), whose most prominent role came in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930 film), in which he played the role of Muller. Russell Gleason died on Christmas night in 1945, after falling from the window ledge of a hotel in midtown Manhattan, just before his army regiment was due to leave for a posting in Europe, several months after the end of hostilities there and elsewhere. His death has been variously described both as suicidal and as accidental.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stage and screen actress. Gleason was also a civic worker who was active in film colony projects.
A native of Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, Webster went on stage as a teen working with her father's stock company. Her motion picture career started with a number of movies in 1929 and continued until 1945. She became the wife of actor James Gleason
James Gleason
James Austin Gleason was an American actor born in New York City. He was also a playwright and screenwriter.-Career:...
in 1905, when the couple married in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. She took his surname as her professional and legal surname. The couple realized stage success in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in a production of The Shannons of Broadway. The play was later made into a film entitled Goodbye Broadway. The Gleasons continued to perform together in Hollywood. In 1945 they made The Clock
The Clock (film)
The Clock is a 1945 film starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker and directed by Garland's future husband, Vincente Minnelli. This was Garland's first dramatic role as well as her first starring vehicle in which she did not sing.-Plot:...
, with Lucile playing the role of "Mrs. Al Henry". Their son, Russell, was paired with his parents in the farcical family comedy, The Higgins Family, in 1938. The story centers around Lucile's performance in two radio programs which threaten to derail her husband's advertising business.
Activism
She was a vice-president of the Screen Actors GuildScreen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
and was a member of the Hollywood U.S.O. and the Veterans' Service Council. In 1947 she was named Mother of 1947 in a Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
observance conducted by the U.S.O. In the 1930s Gleason served on the advisory board of the Federal Theater Project. On several occasions she was an unsuccessful candidate for political office. In 1944 Gleason ran for the Assembly from the 59th District in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1946 she was defeated by then incumbent Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Frank Jordan.
Death
Lucile Webster Gleason died in her sleep of heart disease in 1947, aged 59, at her home in Brentwood, CaliforniaBrentwood, California
Brentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 51,481 as of 2010....
. She was predeceased by her only child, actor Russell Gleason (1908-1945), whose most prominent role came in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930 film), in which he played the role of Muller. Russell Gleason died on Christmas night in 1945, after falling from the window ledge of a hotel in midtown Manhattan, just before his army regiment was due to leave for a posting in Europe, several months after the end of hostilities there and elsewhere. His death has been variously described both as suicidal and as accidental.