Paul Gleason Dies

[Jo Dawn]

The man responsible for the memorable role as the principal in The Breakfast Club has died...

He was the go-to bad guy in "Trading Places" and the angry high school principal in "The Breakfast Club." Actor Paul Gleason, 67, died on Saturday in a Burbank, Calif., hospital from mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer that has been linked to asbestos, reports The Associated Press.

Once you see his photo, you'll know exactly who Paul Gleason is.

"Whenever you were with Paul, there was never a dull moment," Gleason's wife Susan told AP. "He was awesome." Born in Miami, Gleason was an avid athlete who played Triple-A minor league baseball for several clubs in the late 1950s. When he gave up his baseball glove for the stage, Gleason studied with the renowned Lee Strasburg at the Actors Studio in the early 1960s.


Gleason appeared in more than 60 films during his four-decade career, including "Die Hard," "Johnny Be Good" and "National Lampoon's Van Wilder." He also made several guest TV appearances on "Friends" and "Seinfeld."




Rest in peace, Principal Vernon. We'll miss you.