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)

Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley

1947

as Rural Marshal (uncredited)

Lone Star
Lone Star

1952

as Luther Kilgore

June Bride
June Bride

1948

as Luke Potter

Anchors Aweigh
Anchors Aweigh

1945

as Studio Cop

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

1938

as Chief Detective (uncredited)

The Virginian
The Virginian

1946

as Andy Jones (uncredited)

Dead End
Dead End

1937

as Mulligan

Treasure Island
Treasure Island

1934

as Pirate of the Spanish Main

Dodge City
Dodge City

1939

as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)

California
California

1947

as Pokey

Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon

1950

as Jeb Bassett

Broadway Gondolier
Broadway Gondolier

1935

as Uncle Andy

Warpath
Warpath

1951

as Oldtimer

Night Wind
Night Wind

1948

as Sheriff Hamilton

Alias Jesse James
Alias Jesse James

1959

as Charlie (uncredited)

Mississippi
Mississippi

1935

as Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)

Sudden Money
Sudden Money

1939

as McPherson

All Through the Night
All Through the Night

1942

as Police Lt. Forbes