PAUL GLEASON - PAUL GLEASON DIES

American actor PAUL GLEASON has died of lung cancer. He was 67. The actor, who played PRINCIPAL RICHARD VERNON in THE BREAKFAST CLUB in 1985, passed away in a Burbank, California, hospital on Saturday (27MAY06) of mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer linked to asbestos. His widow SUSAN GLEASON says, "Whenever you were with Paul, there was never a dull moment. He was awesome." His daughter SHANNON GLEASON-GROSSMAN adds, "He was an athlete, an actor and a poet. 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." The Florida-born actor started his acting career playing a ski resort guest in 1965 movie WINTER A-GO-GO after training at the Actors Studio. During his career - which spanned five decades, Gleason starred in DIE HARD, TRADING PLACES and NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VAN WILDER. He also appeared in TV shows FRIENDS, DAWSON'S CREEK, COLD CASE, SEINFELD, LA LAW and LOIS + CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. Gleason is survived by his wife, two daughters and a granddaughter.