James Joseph Gleason IV was born on May 30, 1964, in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana, to Shirley (Faris) Gleason and James Joseph Gleason III, an accomplished attorney, magistrate judge, and City Councilman in the Mandeville/Covington areas of Louisiana. Growing up, Gleason was drawn to the world of acting, and his passion for performing in plays during his youth ultimately led him to decide to make a career out of it as a young adult.
Classically trained, Gleason earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre from Tulane University in 1986, marking the beginning of his journey in the film and television industry. For the next decade, he worked extensively in New Orleans, which was still a burgeoning hub for the industry at the time. In late 1997, Gleason made the bold decision to relocate to Los Angeles, driven by a desire to push beyond the boundaries of what New Orleans could offer him.
Over the course of his career, Gleason has worked extensively on screen, primarily in episodic television. In addition to his on-camera work, he has also dedicated himself to teaching and mentoring other actors. In 2002, he began instructing at the Margie Haber Studio in Los Angeles, and has since continued to share his expertise through The Working Actors' Studio with Jim Gleason, where he finds immense joy in helping others achieve their acting goals.
In 2012, Gleason made the heartwarming decision to return to his hometown of New Orleans to marry his wonderful wife, Lydia, and recreate the success he had achieved in Los Angeles. His impressive career has been marked by numerous accolades, including being chosen as St. Tammany Parish President's Arts Award, 2015 Performing Artist of the Year, and most recently, being elected New Orleans Local SAG-AFTRA President.
