James Burke
Known for Acting · 170 credits
- Born
- 1886-09-23
- Died
- 1968-05-23
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Jim Burke · James Michael Burke
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Burke (September 24, 1886 – May 23, 1968) was an American film and television actor born in New York City. He made his stage debut in New York around 1912 and went to Hollywood in 1933. He made over 200 film appearances during his career, which ranged from 1932 to 1964; he was more often than not cast as a cop, usually a none-too-bright one, most notably as Sgt. Velie in Columbia's Ellery Queen mysteries in the early 1940s. He appeared in The Maltese Falcon, At the Circus, Lone Star, and many others. One of his best roles was as Charles Ruggles' rowdy rancher pal in Ruggles of Red Gap.
In the early 1950s, Burke appeared with Tom Conway in the ABC detective drama series then called Inspector Mark Saber -- Homicide Detective, later renamed, reformatted, and switched to NBC under the title Saber of London. From 1960-1961, Burke appeared in the role of Zeke Bonner in seven episodes of the ABC western television series Stagecoach West, starring Wayne Rogers, Robert Bray, and Richard Eyer.
Burke suffered from a heart condition, which took his life at the age of eighty-one.
Known For
TV Shows (12)
Lassie
1954
Cheyenne
1955
as Buckshot
I Love Lucy
1951
as Mr. Watson
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Sheriff John Tatum / Sheriff M. Comstock / Sheriff Blore
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Trackdown
1957
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Policeman
Stagecoach West
1960
as James Burke / Zeke Bonner
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
as Horse Handler (uncredited)
My Little Margie
1952
Movies (158)
The Maltese Falcon
1941
as Luke
It Happened One Night
1934
as Detective (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
1938
as Chief Detective (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
1945
as Studio Cop
Nightmare Alley
1947
as Rural Marshal (uncredited)
Dead End
1937
as Mulligan
Call of the Wild
1935
as Ole
The Scarlet Empress
1934
Beau Geste
1939
as Lieutenant Dufour
Dodge City
1939
as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
Treasure Island
1934
as Pirate of the Spanish Main
California
1947
as Pokey
The Big Clock
1948
as O'Brien
Queen Christina
1934
as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
Lone Star
1952
as Luther Kilgore
At the Circus
1939
as John Carter
Twentieth Century
1934
as Sheriff (uncredited)
Warpath
1951
as Oldtimer
The Last Outpost
1951
as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
Body and Soul
1947
as Arnold (uncredited)
Song of the Thin Man
1947
as Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
Alias Jesse James
1959
as Charlie (uncredited)
Alias Nick Beal
1949
as Bum
Pot o' Gold
1941
as Lt. Grady
Lady Killer
1933
as Panhandler (uncredited)
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
as Cop (uncredited)
To the Last Man
1933
as Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
All Through the Night
1942
as Police Lt. Forbes
Copper Canyon
1950
as Jeb Bassett
Man on the Flying Trapeze
1935
as Patrolman
Bombshell
1933
as First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
1939
as Clancy
Rhythm on the Range
1936
as Wabash
Red, Hot and Blue
1949
as Doorman (uncredited)
Ruggles of Red Gap
1935
as Jeff Tuttle
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
The Kennel Murder Case
1933
as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
Young Widow
1946
as Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
The Virginian
1946
as Andy Jones (uncredited)
The Mad Miss Manton
1938
as Sullivan
His Kind of Woman
1951
as Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)
On Borrowed Time
1939
as Sheriff Burlingame
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)
Mississippi
1935
as Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)
The Way of All Flesh
1940
as Frisco
We're Not Married!
1952
as Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
1942
as Sgt. Velie
Torch Singer
1933
as Taxi Driver
Casanova Brown
1944
as O'Leary (uncredited)
It Happened in Flatbush
1942
as Umpire Shaunnessy
Raton Pass
1951
as Hank
Philo Vance's Gamble
1947
as Lt. Burke
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
1941
as Sgt. Velie
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
1940
as Wilkie, house detective
The Bowery
1933
as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Down to Earth
1947
as Detective Kelly
Gambling Lady
1934
as Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
Double Alibi
1940
as Police Captain Orr
I'm from Missouri
1939
as Walt Bliss
The Timber Trail
1948
as Jed Baker
Can This Be Dixie?
1936
as Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
All of Me
1934
as Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
Broadway Gondolier
1935
as Uncle Andy
The Affairs of Annabel
1938
as Muldoon
Men with Wings
1938
as J.A. Nolan
The Perfect Specimen
1937
as Constable Snodgrass
So Red the Rose
1935
as Major Rushton
Sadie McKee
1934
as Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Great Guy
1936
as Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
No Time for Comedy
1940
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
The Leathernecks Have Landed
1936
as Corrigan
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
1934
as Policeman Arresting Wynn
Two Years Before the Mast
1946
as Carrick
The Dawn Patrol
1938
as Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
Toughest Man in Arizona
1952
The Saint Takes Over
1940
as Patrolman Mike
Dinky
1935
as Truck Driver
Million Dollar Baby
1941
as Callahan
June Bride
1948
as Luke Potter
Here Comes Cookie
1935
as Broken-Nose Reilly
The Unholy Wife
1957
as Sheriff Tom Watling
A Night to Remember
1942
as Pat Murphy (uncredited)
Life Begins with Love
1937
as Darby McGraw
Lucky Me
1954
as Mahoney
Little Nellie Kelly
1940
as Sergeant McGowan
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
1942
as Sgt. Velie
Klondike Annie
1936
Little Miss Marker
1934
as Detective Reardon (uncredited)
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941
as Sgt. Velie
The Girl in 419
1933
as Detective Jackson
High, Wide and Handsome
1937
as Stackpole
Joy of Living
1938
as Mac
Laughing at Trouble
1936
as Bill Norton
Wharf Angel
1934
as Brooklyn Jack
Within the Law
1939
as 'Red'
The Farmer Takes a Wife
1935
as Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets
The Golden Fleecing
1940
as Sibley
Denver and Rio Grande
1952
as Sheriff Ed Johnson
Let's Dance
1950
as George (uncredited)
The Saint Strikes Back
1939
as Headquarters Police Officer
36 Hours to Kill
1936
as Doyle - Process Server
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
1941
as Sgt. Velie
Here Comes the Groom
1951
as O'Neill, Policeman
City Limits
1934
as King, a Hobo
The Mystery Man
1935
as Managing Editor Marvin
Beyond Glory
1948
as Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
Little Orphan Annie
1938
as Mike Moriarty
Shamrock Hill
1949
as Michael Rogan
Ticket to a Crime
1934
as Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
Champagne Waltz
1937
as Mr. Scribner
Coronado
1935
as Slug Moran
Riding High
1943
as Pete
Face in the Sky
1933
as Cop (uncredited)
How DOooo You Do
1945
as Detective
Such Women Are Dangerous
1934
as Detective
3 Men in White
1944
as First Policeman (uncredited)
No Place for a Lady
1943
as Police Substation Chief Moriarty
After the Dance
1935
as Police Lieutenant
Dixie
1943
as Riverboat Captain (uncredited)
Love Time
1934
as Emperor Francis I
About James Burke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Burke (September 24, 1886 – May 23, 1968) was an American film and television actor born in New York City. He made his stage debut in New York around 1912 and went to Hollywood in 1933. He made over 200 film appearances during his career, which ranged from 1932 to 1964; he was more often than not cast as a cop, usually a none-too-bright one, most notably as Sgt. Velie in Columbia's Ellery Queen mysteries in the early 1940s. He appeared in The Maltese Falcon, At the Circus, Lone Star, and many others.… With 170 credits spanning from 1932 to 1975, James Burke has appeared in 158 films and 12 TV shows.
Fans searching for James Burke movies, James Burke filmography, or the latest projects starring James Burke can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Burke Movies
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) — as Luke
- It Happened One Night (1934) — as Detective (uncredited)
- You Can't Take It with You (1938) — as Chief Detective (uncredited)
- Anchors Aweigh (1945) — as Studio Cop
- Nightmare Alley (1947) — as Rural Marshal (uncredited)
Where to Watch James Burke Films
Most James Burke movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring James Burke, check our movies catalogue and browse page.