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