From IMDB:

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 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 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.

As soon as I saw the name, I thought I recognized it --- but not from The Breakfast Club. Gleason appeared for a couple of years in the late 1970s on All My Children as Dr. David Thornton, ex-husband of Edna Thornton and father of Dottie Thornton (future 1st wife of Tad Martin). If I'm not mistaken, David came between Joe & Ruth for a time and Ruth almost left Joe for David.

According to IMDB, he was on All My Children 1976-78.

ETA: Matt beat me to it!

He was also in another soap opera as a doctor I think. It was Another Life, on the Christian network.

He was also in another soap opera as a doctor I think. It was Another Life, on the Christian network.

Gleason played politician Lee Carothers on CBN's ANOTHER LIFE.

On AMC, Gleason's was if I remember correctly also involved for a time with Robin Strasser's Dr. Christina Karras, whom he wanted to marry but that was blocked by the outrageous Edna, who refused to give him a divorce. So David decided finally just kill wacky Edna and put poison in a glass of wine he was going to serve her. But in a twist of fate, young Dottie accidently switched the glasses, and David died by his own hand. Now THAT is CLASSIC AMC!

Rest in peace Mr. Gleason, and thank you for the joy your work brought to so many.

Gleason played politician Lee Carothers on CBN's ANOTHER LIFE.

On AMC, Gleason's was if I remember correctly also involved for a time with Robin Strasser's Dr. Christina Karras, whom he wanted to marry but that was blocked by the outrageous Edna, who refused to give him a divorce. So David decided finally just kill wacky Edna and put poison in a glass of wine he was going to serve her. But in a twist of fate, young Dottie accidently switched the glasses, and David died by his own hand. Now THAT is CLASSIC AMC!

Rest in peace Mr. Gleason, and thank you for the joy your work brought to so many.

I loved that storyline on AMC. I also liked his time with Ruth. They never did have the affair as I remember but the flirtation and friendship was nice.

I *really* wish I could see some of the David Thornton stuff (and I believe he joined right around the time AMC started saving their episodes, so maybe one day...). I read about how David and Ruth would have nice chats while working in his garden. That's just some good character and plot development right there.