Paul Gleason
Known for
An American character actor with a knack for playing pompous authority figures, Paul Gleason was born in Jersey City. He became instantly recognizable as Richard Vernon, the exasperated vice principal of 'The Breakfast Club' (1985), and as the officious Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson in 'Die Hard' (1988). Across decades of film and television he specialized in blustering bureaucrats, smug executives and hard-nosed cops. A dependable supporting player rather than a star, he brought a blunt, brassy energy to every part before his death in 2006, leaving a gallery of memorable jerks-in-charge.
Paul Gleason
48 Movies
42 Series
An American character actor with a knack for playing pompous authority figures, Paul Gleason was born in Jersey City. He became instantly recognizable as Richard Vernon, the exasperated vice principal of 'The Breakfast Club' (1985), and as the officious Deputy Chief Dwayne Robinson in 'Die Hard' (1988). Across decades of film and television he specialized in blustering bureaucrats, smug executives and hard-nosed cops. A dependable supporting player rather than a star, he brought a blunt, brassy energy to every part before his death in 2006, leaving a gallery of memorable jerks-in-charge.
Movies
Plays Dwayne Robinson
Die Hard
1988
Plays Clarence Beeks
Trading Places
1983
Plays Richard Vernon
The Breakfast Club
1985
Plays Richard Vernon
Not Another Teen Movie
2001
Plays Executive
Arthur
1981
Plays Professor McDoogle
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
2002
Plays Lt. Bobby Pickett
Money Talks
1997
Plays FBI Agent
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
1993
Plays Howard
She's Having a Baby
1988
Plays Hank Cooney
Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence
1992
Plays Reporter
Tender Mercies
1983
Plays Detective
Fort Apache, the Bronx
1981
Plays Bagwell
No Code of Conduct
1999
Plays Blythe
Shadow Conspiracy
1997
Plays Father Gil
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning
1998
Plays Sergeant Frank Lackley
Miami Blues
1990
Plays Wayne Hisler
Johnny Be Good
1988
Plays Mr. Burton
There Goes My Baby
1994
Plays Remson
The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper
1981
Plays Maj. Thomas J. 'Long Tom' Roberts
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze
1975
Plays Transaction Man
Boiling Point
1993
Plays Broussard
Night Game
1989
Plays Kenny Bacon
I Love Trouble
1994
Plays Sheriff Halderman
Abominable
2006
Plays Roland Hyde
Spooner
1989
Plays Lt. Sammy
The Great Santini
1979
Plays Warden Doyle
Social Misfits
2001
Plays Det. Frank Daley
He Knows You're Alone
1980
Plays Michael J. Loonius
Vigilante Force
1976
Plays Stan Gordon
Ghost Chase
1987
Plays Mr. Leffingwell's Aide
Where Does It Hurt?
1972
Plays Silverstein
Wishman
1992
Plays Jay Le Soto
Morgan Stewart's Coming Home
1987
Plays Dean Van Buren
Red Letters
2000
Plays Sheriff Brenner
Wild Cactus
1993
Plays Dr. Parker
Digital Man
1995
Plays Mr. Forrester
The Giving Tree
2000
Plays Deidra
A Time to Revenge
1997
Plays Robert
Forever, Lulu
1986
Plays Calvin Hogg
Running Cool
1993
Plays Dr. McClintock
Private Duty Nurses
1971
Plays Sheriff
Little Laura and Big John
1973
Plays Elliot
Nothing to Lose
1994
TV Shows
Plays Captain Herzog
One West Waikiki
1994
Plays Capt. Ernest 'Tex' Lee
Ike
1979
Plays Dean Borak
Boy Meets World
1993
Plays Hank
Veronica's Closet
1997
Plays Mystery Man
Malcolm in the Middle
2000
Plays John Lungren
L.A. Law
1986
Plays Sterling Bose
Murder, She Wrote
1984
Plays Ronnie Meeder / Jacques Arnot
Magnum, P.I.
1980
Plays Parsons
Columbo
1971
Plays Cushman
Seinfeld
1989
Plays Peter Wendt
The District
2000
Plays Scott Kollbrenner
The Guardian
2001
Plays Officer Dan Ryan
The F.B.I.
1965
Plays Jack
Friends
1994
Plays Bunny Berrigan
Miami Vice
1984
Plays Detective Lannigan
Fastlane
2002
Plays Stewart Adams
Cold Case
2003
Plays Det. Robinson
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Plays Lou Powers
George Lopez
2002
Plays Harold Payton
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
Plays Steve
NewsRadio
1995
Plays Detective
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
Plays Greenleaf
The Equalizer
1985
Plays Arthur Jensen
The Wonder Years
1988
Plays Henry Harrison
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
Plays Patrolman Arnold
Adam-12
1968
Plays Mr. Thompson
Drake & Josh
2004
Plays Principal Squires
The Weber Show
2000
Plays Paul Garrett
The Green Hornet
1966
Plays Smith
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Book of Caleb
Full Filmography
The Book of Caleb
James Paddington
2008
Film
Abominable
Sheriff Halderman
2006
Film
Drake & Josh
Mr. Thompson · 1 episode
2004–
TV
Cold Case
Stewart Adams · 1 episode
2003–
TV
The Guardian
Scott Kollbrenner · 1 episode
2002
TV
Fastlane
Detective Lannigan · 1 episode
2002
TV
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
Professor McDoogle
2002
Film
George Lopez
Lou Powers · 1 episode
2002–
TV
The District
Peter Wendt · 1 episode
2000–2001
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paul Gleason still alive?
Paul Gleason passed away on May 27, 2006 at age 67.
What are the most famous roles of Paul Gleason?
Paul Gleason is best known for roles in Die Hard, The Breakfast Club, Trading Places.
How many movies has Paul Gleason been in?
Over a 41-year career (since 1965), Paul Gleason has appeared in 48 movies and 42 TV shows.
What was Paul Gleason's first movie?
The career of Paul Gleason began with Ski Party (1965).
What is Paul Gleason's most recent movie or series?
Paul Gleason's most recent release is The Book of Caleb, which premiered on January 1, 2008.
What TV shows has Paul Gleason appeared in?
On television, Paul Gleason has appeared in Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, Seinfeld, Drake & Josh.
Paul Gleason
1939-05-04 · Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
Paul Xavier Gleason (May 4, 1939 – May 27, 2006) was an American film and television actor. He was known for his roles on television series such as All My Children and films such as The Breakfast Club, Trading Places, and Die Hard.Paul Gleason, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.