Paul Gleason: Another Movie Jerk of the ’80s

There are certain actors that just have that special ability to play the “jerk” role in movies. In the ’80s, I feel nobody did it better than William Atherton with his roles in Ghostbusters (1984), Real Genius (1985) and Die Hard (1988) in particular. If you don’t believe me, please read part one of this piece on how William Atherton played the best movie jerk of the ’80s. Coming in a close second (or maybe even tied for best) is James Spader particularly with his ’80s roles in The New Kids (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), Mannequin (1987) and Less Than Zero (1987). Again, for evidence please read part two of this piece on how James Spader also played the best movie jerk of the ’80s. Now it’s time for part three and Paul Gleason who also was outstanding at playing a jerk in ’80s movies.

Again, we’re not really talking about the stereotypical “bully” role because that recognition would go to William Zabka in the ’80s for his work in The Karate Kid (1984), Just One of the Guys (1985) and Back to School (1986). While Atherton had his own trifecta of “jerk” roles and we called out four for Spader in the decade, you will be reminded of four particular roles Gleason played during the ’80s that qualify him for this honor. Like Atherton and Spader, Gleason is able to radiate a slimy, despicable vibe that makes you immediately dislike him before you even know that much about him. He often is in an authoritative position where he abuses his power or thinks he is more important that he really is. It takes real talent to make the audience want to punch you in the face even after limited screen time and Paul Gleason was definitely a talented character actor.

I first took notice of Gleason with his role as “Clarence Beeks” in the 1983 film Trading Places. This character was on the payroll of Randolph and Mortimer Duke assisting them in their insider trading efforts specifically in regards to frozen orange juice futures. He also frames Winthorpe as a thief, drug dealer and womanizer as part of the Duke brothers’ bet. We learn that “Beeks” is a jerk pretty quickly in this early scene when he shoves one woman out of his way before talking on a payphone and impolitely requests another woman to get away from him…

In a great scene towards the end of the film, Gleason demonstrates just how humorless and unfriendly “Beeks” can be…

The audience surely cheers when “Beeks” eventually gets what he deserves…

“Beeks” gets knocked out and dressed in a gorilla costume then locked up with an actual gorilla in a cage. Not only that, he is later also shipped off to Africa by sea. Prior to that, he got a little more payback for his earlier sinister deeds…

A couple years later we get Gleason in his best and most iconic role as “Vice Principal Richard Vernon” in 1985’s The Breakfast Club. He chews up every scene he appears in throughout the film and you understand the kind of jerk he is from the first moment we meet him. The way he walks into the room, the way he is dressed for Saturday detention, the little smirk before he has even said a word – watch the scene here…

“Don’t mess with the bull, young man, you’ll get the horns.”  What a perfect line for him to say right there. Here is another confrontation between “Vernon” and “Bender” making us dislike the character a little more…

Then he really pushes us over the edge when we see a teacher threaten a student and Gleason makes us despise “Vernon” even more…

In my interview with John Kapelos, you can find out a little more about his relationship with Gleason during filming and watch a scene with “Vernon” and “Carl the Janitor” among a lot of other great stories he shared.

In addition, here’s a featurette on Paul Gleason’s “Vice Principal Vernon” to learn a little more about the actor and the character…

Gleason added so many little touches to make “Vernon” a character we love to hate. And here’s a great behind-the-scenes interview with Paul Gleason while working on The Breakfast Club (and you can tell he’s not really like the characters he often plays)…

In 1988, Gleason has a small role as a hiring executive in another John Hughes movie She’s Having a Baby.  In this scene with Kevin Bacon’s character, you definitely pick up on some of his jerky vibe…

Also in 1988, Gleason plays “Coach Wayne Hisler” in Johnny Be Good. He gets to reunite with Anthony Michael Hall after The Breakfast Club, this time as his high school football coach.  Movie coaches can often be very inspirational and supportive or vile and abusive. Gleason’s character was definitely more of the latter. As an example, here is one of his quotes directed at Robert Downey Jr.’s character: “You looking for sympathy Leo? Look in the dictionary between ‘shit’ and ‘syphilis’.”  “Coach Hisler” strikes a deal with a college to be given their head football coach job if he is able to get his player “Johnny” to choose their school. After “Johnny” gets framed and ends up in jail, “Coach Hisler” only offers to help get him out if he agrees to go to the college that he had the side deal with. You can watch this scene where Gleason is able to put his outstanding jerkiness on display…

Then there is a scene as the guys get a little revenge on their coach and we get to see him suffer a little bit…

During the end credits we find out that ol’ “Coach Hisler” ends up in jail for his attempted recruiting violations. Again, the audience always likes it when the jerk gets what he deserves in the end.

Finishing up the decade, also released in 1988, we get Gleason as “Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson” in Die Hard.  This film also featured William Atherton demonstrating his jerkiness, but Gleason gives us a different jerk character than Atherton. He immediately radiates his jerk vibes when he pulls up to the scene and assumes he knows more about everything than “Sgt. Al Powell” who was already there. He is great at antagonizing a situation which is another jerky character trait that Gleason often employs.

Shortly after McClane takes out a couple bad guys with an explosion, Gleason’s character tries to exhibit his authority stating “This is Deputy Chief Dwayne T. Robinson and I’m in charge of this situation,” but John McClane is having none of it…

At the end of Die Hard, Robinson sees McClane coming out of the building and, instead of thanking him for his help, he attempts to charge him with destruction of property, interfering with police business, and the murder of Ellis. But the tough guy winces when McClane steps forward and he thinks he might punch him. Later, after Powell kills a surviving terrorist to save McClane and Holly, Robinson orders his men to search the building for any others and seemingly drops being ungrateful towards McClane and Powell. He doesn’t ever get his due like Atherton’s character does in Die Hard (that we know of), but I like to think that Deputy Chief Dwayne gets it at some point.

That is where I will stop covering Gleason’s specific roles of the ’80s. Similar to Atherton and Spader, the intense feeling of loathing and contempt that Gleason is able to create for his characters when he wants to is quite impressive. Though I disliked all of these characters, I really do admire Gleason as an actor for being able to make me feel that way. It takes a special kind of actor to accept and excel in those antagonist parts knowing that they will draw the ire of the viewers. His roles help make the heroes that much more heroic.

He began his professional acting career back in 1962 and later gained some attention as “Dr. David Thornton” on All My Children, playing that role from 1976 to 1978. He has more than 150 acting credits in both television and film over his 40+ year career. The consummate character actor, Gleason always made any project he was in better. He directly parodied his Breakfast Club role in the 2000 A*Teens music video for “Dancing Queen” and more memorably in the 2001 comedy film Not Another Teen Movie. Though he took his craft seriously, it is well-documented that Paul Gleason was not at all like the “jerky” characters he is remembered so fondly for playing. Paul Gleason died on May 27, 2006 at age 67.

There are other actors who play the “jerk” well, but in my opinion, nobody does it quite as masterfully as William Atherton did it back in the ’80s, but James Spader and (now you really know) Paul Gleason are not far behind.