Shermer High loses Principal Vernon

[Darthtiki]

'Breakfast Club' principal Gleason dies 1 hour, 7 minutes ago

 

 

 

Paul Gleason, who played the go-to bad guy in "Trading Places" and the angry high school principal in "The Breakfast Club," has died. He was 67.

 

Gleason died at a local hospital Saturday of mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer linked to asbestos, said his wife, Susan Gleason.

 

"Whenever you were with Paul, there was never a dull moment," his wife said. "He was awesome."

 

A native of Miami, Gleason was an avid athlete. Before becoming an actor, he played Triple-A minor league baseball for a handful of clubs in the late 1950s.

 

Gleason honed his acting skills with his mentor Lee Strasberg, whom he studied with at the Actors Studio beginning in the mid-1960s, family members said.

 

Through his career, Gleason appeared in over 60 movies that included "Die Hard," "Johnny Be Good," and "National Lampoon's Van Wilder." Most recently, Gleason made a handful of television appearances in hit shows such as "Friends" and "Seinfeld."

 

Gleason's passions went beyond acting. He had recently published a book of poetry.

 

"He was an athlete, an actor and a poet," said his daughter, Shannon Gleason-Grossman. "He gave me and my sister a love that is beyond description that will be with us and keep us strong for the rest of our lives."

 

Actor Jimmy Hawkins, a friend of Gleason's since the 1960s, said he remembered Gleason for a sharp sense of humor.

 

"He just always had great stories to tell," Hawkins said.

 

Gleason was survived by his wife, two daughters and a granddaughter. Funeral plans were pending.

 

One of the great character actors...RIP

[bob_barron]

He was on the best NewsRadio ever.

 

And got punched in the face by Phil Hartman

[The Amazing Rando]

Man, that sucks.

 

RIP.

[SuperJerk]

Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns.

[Black Lushus]

HAKA DAKA! ALRIGHT!

[JHawk]

Stop talking about him or you'll get detention next week too! And another! How many is that?

[the max]

Stop talking about him or you'll get detention next week too! And another! How many is that?

 

Beyond that, I'm going to have to check my calendar!

[Vampiro69]

I always liked the guy so it is sad to see him go.

[razazteca]

Nooooo not Principal Skinner!

[imajackoff?]

Maybe im not remembering things correctly, but I thought he was the Vice Principal in The Breakfast Club.

 

Show Dick some respect. RIP.

[Brush with Greatness]

You beat me to it, but I agree, show Dick some respect.

[Guest Felonies!]

You shut the fuck up.

[Edwin MacPhisto]

Great character actor, and he's superb in Die Hard, especially when the FBI guys show up and he's suddenly one of the good guys by comparison.

[Maztinho]

One of the most memorable high school authority figures in all of film.

 

RIP.