James Burke
Born
September 23, 1886
Died
May 23, 1968 (81 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
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
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Policeman · (1 episode)
1959
Alias Jesse James
Charlie (uncredited)
1959
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
(1 episode)
1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Sheriff John Tatum · (1 episode)
1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Sheriff M. Comstock · (1 episode)
1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Sheriff Blore · (1 episode)
1958
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Horse Handler (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1957
Trackdown
(1 episode)
1957
The Unholy Wife
Sheriff Tom Watling
1957
Public Pigeon No. 1
Harrigan
1957
The 20th Century Fox Hour
(1 episode)
1955
Cheyenne
Buckshot · (1 episode)
1955
Lassie
(1 episode)
1954
Lucky Me
Mahoney
1954
Lone Star
Luther Kilgore
1952
Toughest Man in Arizona
1952
We're Not Married!
Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
1952
My Little Margie
(1 episode)
1952
Denver and Rio Grande
Sheriff Ed Johnson
1952
Warpath
Oldtimer
1951
I Love Lucy
Mr. Watson · (1 episode)
1951
Here Comes the Groom
O'Neill, Policeman
1951
His Kind of Woman
Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)
1951
Raton Pass
Hank
1951
The Last Outpost
Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
1951
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
The Train Conductor
1950
Let's Dance
George (uncredited)
1950
Copper Canyon
Jeb Bassett
1950
Red, Hot and Blue
Doorman (uncredited)
1949
Alias Nick Beal
Bum
1949
Shamrock Hill
Michael Rogan
1949
June Bride
Luke Potter
1948
Night Wind
Sheriff Hamilton
1948
Beyond Glory
Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
1948
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Cop (uncredited)
1948
The Timber Trail
Jed Baker
1948
The Big Clock
O'Brien
1948
Body and Soul
Arnold (uncredited)
1947
Nightmare Alley
Rural Marshal (uncredited)
1947
Song of the Thin Man
Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
1947
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
Police Lt. Burke
1947
Down to Earth
Detective Kelly
1947
Philo Vance's Gamble
Lt. Burke
1947
Easy Come, Easy Go
Harry Weston
1947
California
Pokey
1947
Two Years Before the Mast
Carrick
1946
Bowery Bombshell
Detective O'Malley
1946
The Virginian
Andy Jones (uncredited)
1946
Young Widow
Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
1946
How DOooo You Do
Detective
1945
I Love a Bandleader
Charles Gibley
1945
Shady Lady
Crane
1945
Anchors Aweigh
Studio Cop
1945
The Horn Blows at Midnight
Policeman (uncredited)
1945
Casanova Brown
O'Leary (uncredited)
1944
3 Men in White
First Policeman (uncredited)
1944
Riding High
Pete
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)
1943
Dixie
Riverboat Captain (uncredited)
1943
No Place for a Lady
Police Substation Chief Moriarty
1943
A Night to Remember
Pat Murphy (uncredited)
1942
Army Surgeon
Brooklyn
1942
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
Police Sergeant Velie
1942
It Happened in Flatbush
Umpire Shaunnessy
1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Sgt. Velie
1942
My Favorite Blonde
Union Secretary
1942
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
Sgt. Velie
1942
All Through the Night
Police Lt. Forbes
1942
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Sgt. Velie
1941
The Maltese Falcon
Luke
1941
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Sgt. Velie
1941
Million Dollar Baby
Callahan
1941
Reaching for the Sun
Norm
1941
Pot o' Gold
Lt. Grady
1941
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
Sgt. Velie
1941
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Sgt. Velle
1940
Little Nellie Kelly
Sergeant McGowan
1940
No Time for Comedy
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
The Golden Fleecing
Sibley
1940
The Way of All Flesh
Frisco
1940
The Saint Takes Over
Patrolman Mike
1940
Buck Benny Rides Again
Taxi Driver
1940
Opened by Mistake
Police Sergeant Wilkins
1940
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
Wilkie, house detective
1940
Double Alibi
Police Captain Orr
1940
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
Pop Saunders
1939
At the Circus
John Carter
1939
Fast and Furious
Clancy
1939
Beau Geste
Lieutenant Dufour
1939
On Borrowed Time
Sheriff Burlingame
1939
Dodge City
Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
1939
I'm from Missouri
Walt Bliss
1939
Sudden Money
McPherson
1939
The Family Next Door
Policeman
1939
Within the Law
'Red'
1939
The Saint Strikes Back
Headquarters Police Officer
1939
The Dawn Patrol
Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
1938
Little Orphan Annie
Mike Moriarty
1938
The Mad Miss Manton
Sullivan
1938
The Affairs of Annabel
Muldoon
1938
You Can't Take It with You
Chief Detective (uncredited)
1938
Men with Wings
J.A. Nolan
1938
Joy of Living
Mac
1938
Flight Into Nowhere
Ike Matthews
1938
The Perfect Specimen
Constable Snodgrass
1937
Life Begins with Love
Darby McGraw
1937
Dead End
Police Officer Mulligan
1937
High, Wide and Handsome
Stackpole
1937
Champagne Waltz
Mr. Scribner
1937
Laughing at Trouble
Bill Norton
1936
Great Guy
Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
1936
Can This Be Dixie?
Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
1936
36 Hours to Kill
Doyle - Process Server
1936
Rhythm on the Range
Wabash
1936
Forgotten Faces
Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend
1936
Song and Dance Man
Lt. Mike Boyle
1936
Klondike Annie
1936
The Leathernecks Have Landed
Corrigan
1936
Dancing Feet
Phil Moore
1936
So Red the Rose
Major Rushton
1935
Frisco Waterfront
Corrigan
1935
Coronado
Slug Moran
1935
Hot Money
Police Sgt. Burke
1935
Music Is Magic
Mickey (uncredited)
1935
Case of the Missing Man
Police Sergeant Rorty
1935
The Affair of Susan
Hogan
1935
Here Comes Cookie
Broken-Nose Reilly
1935
Welcome Home
Michael Shaughnessy
1935
Call of the Wild
Ole
1935
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Patrolman
1935
Broadway Gondolier
Uncle Andy
1935
Make a Million
Pete
1935
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets
1935
After the Dance
Police Lieutenant
1935
Dinky
Truck Driver
1935
Mississippi
Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)
1935
Ruggles of Red Gap
Jeff Tuttle
1935
The Mystery Man
Managing Editor Marvin
1935
Ticket to a Crime
Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
1934
Love Time
Emperor Francis I
1934
Lady by Choice
Brannigan
1934
Treasure Island
Pirate of the Spanish Main
1934
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
Policeman Arresting Wynn
1934
Such Women Are Dangerous
Detective
1934
Little Miss Marker
Detective Reardon (uncredited)
1934
The Merry Frinks
3rd Expressman (uncredited)
1934
Twentieth Century
Sheriff (uncredited)
1934
The Scarlet Empress
1934
Sadie McKee
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
1934
A Very Honorable Guy
Sergeant
1934
City Limits
King, a Hobo
1934
Wharf Angel
Brooklyn Jack
1934
Gambling Lady
Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
1934
It Happened One Night
Detective (uncredited)
1934
Six of a Kind
Detective (uncredited)
1934
All of Me
Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
1934
Queen Christina
Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
1933
Lady Killer
1933
The Kennel Murder Case
Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
1933
Bombshell
First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
1933
To the Last Man
Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
1933
Torch Singer
Taxi Driver
1933
College Humor
Cromwell Dexter
1933
The Girl in 419
Detective Jackson
1933
A Lady's Profession
Mulroy
1933
Face in the Sky
Cop (uncredited)
1933
The Hollywood Handicap
1932