Photo of James Burke
Acting

James Burke

Profession
Acting
Born
September 23, 1886 · New York City, New York, USA
Died
May 23, 1968

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

The Maltese Falcon poster
The Maltese Falcon
Film · 1941 · ★ 7.7
It Happened One Night poster
It Happened One Night
Film · 1934 · ★ 7.8
You Can't Take It with You poster
You Can't Take It with You
Film · 1938 · ★ 7.5
I Love Lucy poster
I Love Lucy
Series · 1951 · ★ 7.9
Nightmare Alley poster
Nightmare Alley
Film · 1947 · ★ 7.2
The Big Clock poster
The Big Clock
Film · 1948 · ★ 7.3
Anchors Aweigh poster
Anchors Aweigh
Film · 1945 · ★ 6.8
Dead End poster
Dead End
Film · 1937 · ★ 7.1
The Scarlet Empress poster
The Scarlet Empress
Film · 1934 · ★ 6.9
Queen Christina poster
Queen Christina
Film · 1934 · ★ 6.9
Body and Soul poster
Body and Soul
Film · 1947 · ★ 6.7
Twentieth Century poster
Twentieth Century
Film · 1934 · ★ 6.8

Filmography