James Burke

James Burke

1886-09-23 – 1968-05-23 (age 81) New York City, New York, USA
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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.

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Known For

The Maltese Falcon
It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night

1934

as Detective (uncredited)

Dead End
Dead End

1937

as Mulligan

Anchors Aweigh
Anchors Aweigh

1945

as Studio Cop

Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley

1947

as Rural Marshal (uncredited)

Two Years Before the Mast
Warpath
Warpath

1951

as Oldtimer

Lone Star
Lone Star

1952

as Luther Kilgore

Dodge City
Dodge City

1939

as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)

Beau Geste
Beau Geste

1939

as Lieutenant Dufour

You Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You

1938

as Chief Detective (uncredited)

Broadway Gondolier
Broadway Gondolier

1935

as Uncle Andy

Alias Jesse James
Alias Jesse James

1959

as Charlie (uncredited)

Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild

1935

as Ole

Queen Christina
Queen Christina

1934

as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)

At the Circus
At the Circus

1939

as John Carter

The Virginian
The Virginian

1946

as Andy Jones (uncredited)

Alias Nick Beal
Alias Nick Beal

1949

as Bum

The Big Clock
The Big Clock

1948

as O'Brien

The Kennel Murder Case
The Kennel Murder Case

1933

as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)