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