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.
Movies
The Maltese Falcon Luke
The Big Clock O'Brien
Public Pigeon No. 1 Harrigan
We're Not Married! Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
At the Circus John Carter
Bombshell First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Lucky Me Mahoney
Welcome Home Michael Shaughnessy
Lady Killer
Dead End Police Officer Mulligan
Beau Geste Lieutenant Dufour
All Through the Night Police Lt. Forbes
36 Hours to Kill Doyle - Process Server
Toughest Man in Arizona
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise Wilkie, house detective
The Horn Blows at Midnight Policeman (uncredited)
Great Guy Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
Bowery Bombshell Detective O'Malley
Body and Soul Arnold (uncredited)
The Dawn Patrol Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
Such Women Are Dangerous Detective
The Saint Strikes Back Headquarters Police Officer
A Close Call for Ellery Queen Sgt. Velie
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen Sgt. Velie
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring Sgt. Velie
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen Police Sergeant Velie
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime Sgt. Velie
Ellery Queen, Master Detective Sgt. Velle
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery Sgt. Velie
Philo Vance's Gamble Lt. Burke
Love Time Emperor Francis I
The Saint Takes Over Patrolman Mike
Little Miss Marker Detective Reardon (uncredited)
Man on the Flying Trapeze Patrolman
A Night to Remember Pat Murphy (uncredited)
Million Dollar Baby Callahan
My Favorite Blonde Union Secretary
Six of a Kind Detective (uncredited)
Warpath Oldtimer
The Last Outpost Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
The Golden Fleecing Sibley
College Humor Cromwell Dexter
The Cisco Kid and the Lady Pop Saunders
Raton Pass Hank
The Scarlet Empress
Here Comes Cookie Broken-Nose Reilly
Ticket to a Crime Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
Dinky Truck Driver
Easy Come, Easy Go Harry Weston
Men with Wings J.A. Nolan
You Can't Take It with You Chief Detective (uncredited)
So Red the Rose Major Rushton
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven Cop (uncredited)
Let's Dance George (uncredited)
Casanova Brown O'Leary (uncredited)
On Borrowed Time Sheriff Burlingame
The Perfect Specimen Constable Snodgrass
Anchors Aweigh Studio Cop
Two Years Before the Mast Carrick
To the Last Man Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
Joy of Living Mac
June Bride Luke Potter
The Mad Miss Manton Sullivan
Call of the Wild Ole
Shamrock Hill Michael Rogan
Hot Money Police Sgt. Burke
The Affair of Susan Hogan
Treasure Island Pirate of the Spanish Main
High, Wide and Handsome Stackpole
The Mystery Man Managing Editor Marvin
Lone Star Luther Kilgore
Lady by Choice Brannigan
Down to Earth Detective Kelly
Army Surgeon Brooklyn
The Affairs of Annabel Muldoon
A Very Honorable Guy Sergeant
Dixie Riverboat Captain
Broadway Gondolier Uncle Andy
After the Dance Police Lieutenant
The Family Next Door Policeman
City Limits King, a Hobo
Music Is Magic Mickey (uncredited)
Dancing Feet Phil Moore
I Love a Bandleader Charles Gibley
Laughing at Trouble Bill Norton
Face in the Sky Cop (uncredited)
The Unholy Wife Sheriff Tom Watling
Friends of Mr. Sweeney Policeman Arresting Wynn
Within the Law 'Red'
Dodge City Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
Fast and Furious Clancy
It Happened One Night Detective (uncredited)
Song and Dance Man Lt. Mike Boyle
Make a Million Pete
Klondike Annie
The Timber Trail Jed Baker
The Virginian Andy Jones (uncredited)
3 Men in White First Policeman (uncredited)
Beyond Glory Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
Denver and Rio Grande Sheriff Ed Johnson
It Happened in Flatbush Umpire Shaunnessy
The Leathernecks Have Landed Corrigan
Buck Benny Rides Again Taxi Driver
Shady Lady Crane
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood Police Lt. Burke
Queen Christina Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
A Lady's Profession Mulroy
Coronado Slug Moran
Flight Into Nowhere Ike Matthews
Little Nellie Kelly Sergeant McGowan
No Time for Comedy Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Red, Hot and Blue Doorman (uncredited)
The Way of All Flesh Frisco
Champagne Waltz Mr. Scribner
California Pokey
Thank Your Lucky Stars Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)
Gambling Lady Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
Rhythm on the Range Wabash
The Girl in 419 Detective Jackson
All of Me Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
Copper Canyon Jeb Bassett
How DOooo You Do Detective
Ruggles of Red Gap Jeff Tuttle
Little Orphan Annie Mike Moriarty
Double Alibi Police Captain Orr
Frisco Waterfront Corrigan
Sudden Money McPherson
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Self (archive footage)
Life Begins with Love Darby McGraw
Song of the Thin Man Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
Night Wind Sheriff Hamilton
Alias Nick Beal Bum
Twentieth Century Sheriff (uncredited)
No Place for a Lady Police Substation Chief Moriarty
Reaching for the Sun Norm
Torch Singer Taxi Driver
Wharf Angel Brooklyn Jack
The Kennel Murder Case Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
Alias Jesse James Charlie (uncredited)
The Merry Frinks 3rd Expressman (uncredited)
Riding High Pete
Pot o' Gold Lt. Grady
Opened by Mistake Police Sergeant Wilkins
Young Widow Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone The Train Conductor
Case of the Missing Man Police Sergeant Rorty
Nightmare Alley Rural Marshal (uncredited)
Can This Be Dixie? Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
Sadie McKee Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Forgotten Faces Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend
Mississippi Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)
The Farmer Takes a Wife Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets
His Kind of Woman Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)
Shows
Cheyenne Buckshot
Trackdown
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour Horse Handler (uncredited)
I Love Lucy Mr. Watson
Lassie
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
My Little Margie
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Wanted: Dead or Alive Sheriff John Tatum
The DuPont Show with June Allyson Policeman
Wanted: Dead or Alive Sheriff M. Comstock
Wanted: Dead or Alive Sheriff Blore
