Character actor Paul Gleason has been adept at playing tough guys and white collar sleaze bags in motion pictures since the early 1960s, making his film debut in "Winter a Go-Go". Gleason has made a name for himself portraying these unlikeable characters in films. A native of Miami, Florida, Gleason studied extensively at the Actor's Studio in New York city and was seen in a handful of Roger Corman productions before landing a a three-year role on the TV soap opera "All My Children". Since the late 1970s, Gleason has had key roles in films that include "Trading Places", "Die Hard", "Miami Blues", "Boiling Point" and "Van Wilder". However he is probably best remembered for his role as the no-nonsense principal Richard Vernon in "The Breakfast Club". He has also appeared in over 60 films and has guest-starred on numerous television series that include "Hill Street Blues", "Dawson's Creek" and "Friends". Gleason passed away of mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer at a Burbank, California hospital on May 29th 2006 at the age of 67.


Attended and played football at Florida State University along with fellow actors Burt Reynolds and Robert Urich. 1966 graduate of Florida State University. Decided to become an actor in 1961 after seeing Splendor in the Grass (1961) with his friend, author Jack Kerouac. Died three weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a rare form of lung cancer that is linked to asbestos. Had 2 daughters, Shannon and Kaitlin, and a son.