Vaughan Glaser

Vaughan Glaser (November 17, 1872 – November 23, 1958) was an American actor whose career spanned both stage and film. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Glaser built an extensive theatrical career that began well before the First World War, during which he frequently appeared opposite Fay Courteney in the 1910s.

Glaser's Broadway career stretched from 1902 to 1945, encompassing numerous productions over more than four decades. Among his stage credits were Many Mansions, Cross-town, Joy of Living, What a Life, and A Boy Who Lived Twice. His run in What a Life proved particularly significant, as the production played for a year and four months on Broadway, allowing Glaser to refine his portrayal of high school principal Mr. Bradley across hundreds of performances.

Glaser made his film debut in 1939, reprising the role of principal Bradley in the screen adaptation of What a Life. Writing in The New York Times, critic Frank S. Nugent described the performance as the most perfect comical characterization of the year and something encountered only once or twice in a generation, citing Glaser's embodiment of the character's weary dignity, monumental patience, and pedagogical deliberation. Glaser continued playing Bradley into the 1940s through the Henry Aldrich film series, which was itself derived from What a Life.

Beyond the Aldrich series, Glaser appeared in a range of notable Hollywood productions. He portrayed the blind and wise uncle of Priscilla Lane in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Saboteur, and took supporting roles in two Frank Capra films, Meet John Doe and Arsenic and Old Lace. Over five years, Glaser appeared in 21 films before retiring from the screen.