James Burke
Acting Born Sep 23, 1886 Died May 23, 1968 New York City, New York, USA 173 credits
Biography
James Michael Burke was an Irish-American film and television character actor born in New York City on September 24, 1886. He made his stage debut in New York around 1912 and later moved to Hollywood in 1933. Throughout his career spanning from 1932 to 1964, he made over two hundred film appearances. He was frequently cast as a police officer, often portraying characters who were not particularly bright. One of his most notable law enforcement roles was Sergeant Velie in Columbia's Ellery Queen mystery films during the early 1940s. His extensive filmography also includes credits in The Maltese Falcon, At the Circus, Lone Star, and Ruggles of Red Gap, where he played a rowdy rancher friend to Charles Ruggles. In the early 1950s, he appeared with Tom Conway on ABC. James Burke died on May 23, 1968.
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Career overview
James Michael Burke was an Irish-American film and television character actor born in New York City on September 24, 1886. He made his stage debut in New York around 1912 before relocating to Hollywood in 1933. Throughout a career spanning from 1932 to 1964, he made over 200 film appearances. Burke was frequently cast as a law enforcement officer, often playing a none-too-bright cop, with one of his most notable roles being Sergeant Velie in Columbia Pictures Ellery Queen mysteries during the early 1940s.
His extensive filmography included appearances in The Maltese Falcon, At the Circus, and Lone Star. Among his standout performances was his role as the rowdy rancher pal of the character played by Charles Ruggles in Ruggles of Red Gap. Later in his career, during the early 1950s, Burke appeared with Tom Conway on ABC.
Burke passed away on May 23, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 81.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Dinah!
Stagecoach WestStagecoach West
The DuPont Show with June AllysonAlias Jesse James
Wanted: Dead or AliveWanted: Dead or AliveWanted: Dead or AliveWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TrackdownThe Lucy–Desi Comedy HourThe Unholy WifePublic Pigeon No. 1
CheyenneThe 20th Century Fox Hour
LassieLucky Me
My Little MargieLone StarWe're Not Married!Denver and Rio GrandeToughest Man in Arizona
I Love LucyHis Kind of WomanThe Last OutpostHere Comes the GroomWarpath
Copper CanyonLet's DanceMrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
Alias Nick BealRed, Hot and BlueShamrock Hill
June BrideThe Big ClockBeyond GloryTexas, Brooklyn & HeavenThe Timber Trail
Nightmare AlleyDown to EarthBody and SoulSong of the Thin ManCalifornia
The VirginianTwo Years Before the MastYoung WidowBowery Bombshell
Shady LadyAnchors AweighThe Horn Blows at MidnightHow DOooo You DoI Love a Bandleader
Casanova Brown3 Men in White
DixieThank Your Lucky StarsRiding HighNo Place for a Lady
All Through the NightA Night to RememberMy Favorite BlondeIt Happened in FlatbushEnemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
The Maltese FalconMillion Dollar BabyEllery Queen and the Murder RingPot o' GoldEllery Queen and the Perfect Crime
No Time for ComedyCharlie Chan's Murder CruiseOpened by MistakeLittle Nellie KellyThe Golden Fleecing
Dodge CityBeau GesteAt the CircusWithin the LawOn Borrowed Time
You Can't Take It with YouThe Dawn PatrolThe Mad Miss MantonJoy of LivingThe Affairs of Annabel
Dead EndHigh, Wide and HandsomeThe Perfect SpecimenLife Begins with LoveChampagne Waltz
Great GuySong and Dance ManForgotten FacesKlondike AnnieLaughing at Trouble
Call of the WildThe Case of the Missing ManSo Red the RoseRuggles of Red GapThe Farmer Takes a Wife
It Happened One NightTreasure IslandThe Scarlet EmpressQueen ChristinaLittle Miss Marker
The BoweryBombshellThe Kennel Murder CaseA Lady's ProfessionCollege Humor
The Hollywood Handicap
Full Filmography
173 titles- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Stagecoach West (1960) as James Burke
- Stagecoach West (1960) as Zeke Bonner
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Policeman
- Alias Jesse James (1959) as Charlie (uncredited)
- 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
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- Trackdown (1957)
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1957) as Horse Handler (uncredited)
- The Unholy Wife (1957) as Sheriff Tom Watling
- Public Pigeon No. 1 (1957) as Harrigan
- Cheyenne (1955) as Buckshot
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Lassie (1954)
- Lucky Me (1954) as Mahoney
- My Little Margie (1952)
- Lone Star (1952) as Luther Kilgore
- We're Not Married! (1952) as Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
- Denver and Rio Grande (1952) as Sheriff Ed Johnson
- Toughest Man in Arizona (1952)
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Mr. Watson
- His Kind of Woman (1951) as Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)
- The Last Outpost (1951) as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
- Here Comes the Groom (1951) as O'Neill, Policeman
- Warpath (1951) as Oldtimer
- Raton Pass (1951) as Hank
- Copper Canyon (1950) as Jeb Bassett
- Let's Dance (1950) as George (uncredited)
- Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone (1950) as The Train Conductor
- Alias Nick Beal (1949) as Bum
- Red, Hot and Blue (1949) as Doorman (uncredited)
- Shamrock Hill (1949) as Michael Rogan
- June Bride (1948) as Luke Potter
- The Big Clock (1948) as O'Brien
- Beyond Glory (1948) as Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
- Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven (1948) as Cop (uncredited)
- The Timber Trail (1948) as Jed Baker
- Night Wind (1948) as Sheriff Hamilton
- Nightmare Alley (1947) as Rural Marshal (uncredited)
- Down to Earth (1947) as Detective Kelly
- Body and Soul (1947) as Arnold (uncredited)
- Song of the Thin Man (1947) as Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
- California (1947) as Pokey
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1947) as Harry Weston
- The Gas House Kids in Hollywood (1947) as Police Lt. Burke
- Philo Vance's Gamble (1947) as Lt. Burke
- The Virginian (1946) as Andy Jones (uncredited)
- Two Years Before the Mast (1946) as Carrick
- Young Widow (1946) as Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
- Bowery Bombshell (1946) as Detective O'Malley
- Shady Lady (1945) as Crane
- Anchors Aweigh (1945) as Studio Cop
- The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) as Policeman (uncredited)
- How DOooo You Do (1945) as Detective
- I Love a Bandleader (1945) as Charles Gibley
- Casanova Brown (1944) as O'Leary (uncredited)
- 3 Men in White (1944) as First Policeman (uncredited)
- Dixie (1943) as Riverboat Captain (uncredited)
- Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) as Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)
- Riding High (1943) as Pete
- No Place for a Lady (1943) as Police Substation Chief Moriarty
- All Through the Night (1942) as Police Lt. Forbes
- A Night to Remember (1942) as Pat Murphy (uncredited)
- My Favorite Blonde (1942) as Union Secretary
- It Happened in Flatbush (1942) as Umpire Shaunnessy
- Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen (1942) as Police Sergeant Velie
- A Close Call for Ellery Queen (1942) as Sgt. Velie
- A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) as Sgt. Velie
- Army Surgeon (1942) as Brooklyn
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Luke
- Million Dollar Baby (1941) as Callahan
- Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring (1941) as Sgt. Velie
- Pot o' Gold (1941) as Lt. Grady
- Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime (1941) as Sgt. Velie
- Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as Sgt. Velie
- Reaching for the Sun (1941) as Norm
- No Time for Comedy (1940) as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise (1940) as Wilkie, house detective
- Opened by Mistake (1940) as Police Sergeant Wilkins
- Little Nellie Kelly (1940) as Sergeant McGowan
- The Golden Fleecing (1940) as Sibley
- Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) as Taxi Driver
- The Way of All Flesh (1940) as Frisco
- Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940) as Sgt. Velle
- Double Alibi (1940) as Police Captain Orr
- The Saint Takes Over (1940) as Patrolman Mike
- Dodge City (1939) as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
- Beau Geste (1939) as Lieutenant Dufour
- At the Circus (1939) as John Carter
- Within the Law (1939) as 'Red'
- On Borrowed Time (1939) as Sheriff Burlingame
- The Cisco Kid and the Lady (1939) as Pop Saunders
- The Saint Strikes Back (1939) as Headquarters Police Officer
- Fast and Furious (1939) as Clancy
- I'm from Missouri (1939) as Walt Bliss
- The Family Next Door (1939) as Policeman
- Sudden Money (1939) as McPherson
- You Can't Take It with You (1938) as Chief Detective (uncredited)
- The Dawn Patrol (1938) as Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
- The Mad Miss Manton (1938) as Sullivan
- Joy of Living (1938) as Mac
- The Affairs of Annabel (1938) as Muldoon
- Men with Wings (1938) as J.A. Nolan
- Flight Into Nowhere (1938) as Ike Matthews
- Little Orphan Annie (1938) as Mike Moriarty
- Dead End (1937) as Mulligan
- High, Wide and Handsome (1937) as Stackpole
- The Perfect Specimen (1937) as Constable Snodgrass
- Life Begins with Love (1937) as Darby McGraw
- Champagne Waltz (1937) as Mr. Scribner
- Great Guy (1936) as Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
- Song and Dance Man (1936) as Lt. Mike Boyle
- Forgotten Faces (1936) as Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend
- Klondike Annie (1936)
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Bill Norton
- 36 Hours to Kill (1936) as Doyle - Process Server
- Rhythm on the Range (1936) as Wabash
- The Leathernecks Have Landed (1936) as Corrigan
- Dancing Feet (1936) as Phil Moore
- Can This Be Dixie? (1936) as Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
- Call of the Wild (1935) as Ole
- The Case of the Missing Man (1935) as Police Sergeant Rorty
- So Red the Rose (1935) as Major Rushton
- Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) as Jeff Tuttle
- The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935) as Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets
- Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935) as Patrolman
- The Mystery Man (1935) as Managing Editor Marvin
- Broadway Gondolier (1935) as Uncle Andy
- Coronado (1935) as Slug Moran
- Music Is Magic (1935) as Mickey (uncredited)
- Mississippi (1935) as Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)
- Dinky (1935) as Truck Driver
- Make a Million (1935) as Pete
- After the Dance (1935) as Police Lieutenant
- Here Comes Cookie (1935) as Broken-Nose Reilly
- Hot Money (1935) as Police Sgt. Burke
- The Affair of Susan (1935) as Hogan
- Welcome Home (1935) as Michael Shaughnessy
- Frisco Waterfront (1935) as Corrigan
- It Happened One Night (1934) as Detective (uncredited)
- Treasure Island (1934) as Pirate of the Spanish Main
- The Scarlet Empress (1934)
- Queen Christina (1934) as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
- Little Miss Marker (1934) as Detective Reardon (uncredited)
- Six of a Kind (1934) as Detective (uncredited)
- Twentieth Century (1934) as Sheriff (uncredited)
- Sisters Under the Skin (1934) as Conroy
- Sadie McKee (1934) as Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
- Gambling Lady (1934) as Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
- All of Me (1934) as Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
- The Merry Frinks (1934) as 3rd Expressman (uncredited)
- Friends of Mr. Sweeney (1934) as Policeman Arresting Wynn
- Ticket to a Crime (1934) as Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
- Love Time (1934) as Emperor Francis I
- Such Women Are Dangerous (1934) as Detective
- Wharf Angel (1934) as Brooklyn Jack
- Lady by Choice (1934) as Brannigan
- City Limits (1934) as King, a Hobo
- A Very Honorable Guy (1934) as Sergeant
- The Bowery (1933) as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
- Bombshell (1933) as First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
- The Kennel Murder Case (1933) as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
- A Lady's Profession (1933) as Mulroy
- College Humor (1933) as Cromwell Dexter
- Lady Killer (1933) as Panhandler (uncredited)
- The Girl in 419 (1933) as Detective Jackson
- Torch Singer (1933) as Taxi Driver
- To the Last Man (1933) as Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
- Face in the Sky (1933) as Cop (uncredited)
- The Hollywood Handicap (1932)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is James Burke best known for?
James Burke is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Dinah! (1974), Stagecoach West (1960), Stagecoach West (1960), The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959).
When and where was James Burke born?
James Burke was born on September 23, 1886 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on May 23, 1968.
How many credits does James Burke have?
James Burke has accumulated over 173 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1932 to 1975.
What is James Burke's background in cinema and television?
James Michael Burke was an Irish-American film and television character actor born in New York City on September 24, 1886. He made his stage debut in New York around 1912 and later moved to Hollywood in 1933. Throughout his career spanning from 1932 to 1964, he made over two hundred film appearances. He was frequently ...