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James Burke

James Burke

Acting

Born: September 23, 1886New 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
Filmography
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

1975
Alias Jesse James

Alias Jesse James

Charlie (uncredited)

1959
The Unholy Wife

The Unholy Wife

Sheriff Tom Watling

1957
Public Pigeon No. 1

Public Pigeon No. 1

Harrigan

1957
Lucky Me

Lucky Me

Mahoney

1954
Lone Star

Lone Star

Luther Kilgore

1952
Toughest Man in Arizona

Toughest Man in Arizona

1952
We're Not Married!

We're Not Married!

Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)

1952
Denver and Rio Grande

Denver and Rio Grande

Sheriff Ed Johnson

1952
Warpath

Warpath

Oldtimer

1951
Here Comes the Groom

Here Comes the Groom

O'Neill, Policeman

1951
His Kind of Woman

His Kind of Woman

Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)

1951
Raton Pass

Raton Pass

Hank

1951
The Last Outpost

The Last Outpost

Stagecoach driver (uncredited)

1951
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

The Train Conductor

1950
Let's Dance

Let's Dance

George (uncredited)

1950
Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon

Jeb Bassett

1950
Red, Hot and Blue

Red, Hot and Blue

Doorman (uncredited)

1949
Alias Nick Beal

Alias Nick Beal

Bum

1949
Shamrock Hill

Shamrock Hill

Michael Rogan

1949
June Bride

June Bride

Luke Potter

1948
Night Wind

Night Wind

Sheriff Hamilton

1948
Beyond Glory

Beyond Glory

Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)

1948
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Cop (uncredited)

1948
The Timber Trail

The Timber Trail

Jed Baker

1948
The Big Clock

The Big Clock

O'Brien

1948
Body and Soul

Body and Soul

Arnold (uncredited)

1947
Nightmare Alley

Nightmare Alley

Rural Marshal (uncredited)

1947
Song of the Thin Man

Song of the Thin Man

Policeman Callahan (uncredited)

1947
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood

The Gas House Kids in Hollywood

Police Lt. Burke

1947
Down to Earth

Down to Earth

Detective Kelly

1947
Philo Vance's Gamble

Philo Vance's Gamble

Lt. Burke

1947
Easy Come, Easy Go

Easy Come, Easy Go

Harry Weston

1947
California

California

Pokey

1947
Two Years Before the Mast

Two Years Before the Mast

Carrick

1946
Bowery Bombshell

Bowery Bombshell

Detective O'Malley

1946
The Virginian

The Virginian

Andy Jones (uncredited)

1946
Young Widow

Young Widow

Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)

1946
How DOooo You Do

How DOooo You Do

Detective

1945
I Love a Bandleader

I Love a Bandleader

Charles Gibley

1945
Shady Lady

Shady Lady

Crane

1945
Anchors Aweigh

Anchors Aweigh

Studio Cop

1945
The Horn Blows at Midnight

The Horn Blows at Midnight

Policeman (uncredited)

1945
Casanova Brown

Casanova Brown

O'Leary (uncredited)

1944
3 Men in White

3 Men in White

First Policeman (uncredited)

1944
Riding High

Riding High

Pete

1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)

1943
Dixie

Dixie

Riverboat Captain (uncredited)

1943
No Place for a Lady

No Place for a Lady

Police Substation Chief Moriarty

1943
A Night to Remember

A Night to Remember

Pat Murphy (uncredited)

1942
Army Surgeon

Army Surgeon

Brooklyn

1942
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen

Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen

Police Sergeant Velie

1942
It Happened in Flatbush

It Happened in Flatbush

Umpire Shaunnessy

1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

Sgt. Velie

1942
My Favorite Blonde

My Favorite Blonde

Union Secretary

1942
A Close Call for Ellery Queen

A Close Call for Ellery Queen

Sgt. Velie

1942
All Through the Night

All Through the Night

Police Lt. Forbes

1942
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

Sgt. Velie

1941
The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon

Luke

1941
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

Sgt. Velie

1941
Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby

Callahan

1941
Reaching for the Sun

Reaching for the Sun

Norm

1941
Pot o' Gold

Pot o' Gold

Lt. Grady

1941
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery

Sgt. Velie

1941
Ellery Queen, Master Detective

Ellery Queen, Master Detective

Sgt. Velle

1940
Little Nellie Kelly

Little Nellie Kelly

Sergeant McGowan

1940
No Time for Comedy

No Time for Comedy

Police Sergeant (uncredited)

1940
The Golden Fleecing

The Golden Fleecing

Sibley

1940
The Way of All Flesh

The Way of All Flesh

Frisco

1940
The Saint Takes Over

The Saint Takes Over

Patrolman Mike

1940
Buck Benny Rides Again

Buck Benny Rides Again

Taxi Driver

1940
Opened by Mistake

Opened by Mistake

Police Sergeant Wilkins

1940
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise

Wilkie, house detective

1940
Double Alibi

Double Alibi

Police Captain Orr

1940
The Cisco Kid and the Lady

The Cisco Kid and the Lady

Pop Saunders

1939
At the Circus

At the Circus

John Carter

1939
Fast and Furious

Fast and Furious

Clancy

1939
Beau Geste

Beau Geste

Lieutenant Dufour

1939
On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time

Sheriff Burlingame

1939
Dodge City

Dodge City

Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)

1939
I'm from Missouri

I'm from Missouri

Walt Bliss

1939
Sudden Money

Sudden Money

McPherson

1939
The Family Next Door

The Family Next Door

Policeman

1939
Within the Law

Within the Law

'Red'

1939
The Saint Strikes Back

The Saint Strikes Back

Headquarters Police Officer

1939
The Dawn Patrol

The Dawn Patrol

Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver

1938

Little Orphan Annie

Mike Moriarty

1938
The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton

Sullivan

1938
The Affairs of Annabel

The Affairs of Annabel

Muldoon

1938
You Can't Take It with You

You Can't Take It with You

Chief Detective (uncredited)

1938
Men with Wings

Men with Wings

J.A. Nolan

1938
Joy of Living

Joy of Living

Mac

1938
Flight Into Nowhere

Flight Into Nowhere

Ike Matthews

1938
The Perfect Specimen

The Perfect Specimen

Constable Snodgrass

1937
Life Begins with Love

Life Begins with Love

Darby McGraw

1937
Dead End

Dead End

Mulligan

1937
High, Wide and Handsome

High, Wide and Handsome

Stackpole

1937
Champagne Waltz

Champagne Waltz

Mr. Scribner

1937
Laughing at Trouble

Laughing at Trouble

Bill Norton

1936
Great Guy

Great Guy

Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley

1936
Can This Be Dixie?

Can This Be Dixie?

Sheriff N.B.F. Rider

1936
36 Hours to Kill

36 Hours to Kill

Doyle - Process Server

1936
Rhythm on the Range

Rhythm on the Range

Wabash

1936
Forgotten Faces

Forgotten Faces

Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend

1936
Song and Dance Man

Song and Dance Man

Lt. Mike Boyle

1936
Klondike Annie

Klondike Annie

1936
The Leathernecks Have Landed

The Leathernecks Have Landed

Corrigan

1936
Dancing Feet

Dancing Feet

Phil Moore

1936
So Red the Rose

So Red the Rose

Major Rushton

1935
Frisco Waterfront

Frisco Waterfront

Corrigan

1935
Coronado

Coronado

Slug Moran

1935
Hot Money

Hot Money

Police Sgt. Burke

1935
Music Is Magic

Music Is Magic

Mickey (uncredited)

1935
Case of the Missing Man

Case of the Missing Man

Police Sergeant Rorty

1935
The Affair of Susan

The Affair of Susan

Hogan

1935
Here Comes Cookie

Here Comes Cookie

Broken-Nose Reilly

1935
Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild

Ole

1935
Welcome Home

Welcome Home

Michael Shaughnessy

1935
Man on the Flying Trapeze

Man on the Flying Trapeze

Patrolman

1935
Broadway Gondolier

Broadway Gondolier

Uncle Andy

1935
Make a Million

Make a Million

Pete

1935
The Farmer Takes a Wife

The Farmer Takes a Wife

Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets

1935
After the Dance

After the Dance

Police Lieutenant

1935
Dinky

Dinky

Truck Driver

1935
Mississippi

Mississippi

Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)

1935
Ruggles of Red Gap

Ruggles of Red Gap

Jeff Tuttle

1935
The Mystery Man

The Mystery Man

Managing Editor Marvin

1935
Ticket to a Crime

Ticket to a Crime

Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis

1934
Love Time

Love Time

Emperor Francis I

1934
Lady by Choice

Lady by Choice

Brannigan

1934
Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Pirate of the Spanish Main

1934
Friends of Mr. Sweeney

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

Policeman Arresting Wynn

1934
Such Women Are Dangerous

Such Women Are Dangerous

Detective

1934
Little Miss Marker

Little Miss Marker

Detective Reardon (uncredited)

1934
The Merry Frinks

The Merry Frinks

3rd Expressman (uncredited)

1934
Twentieth Century

Twentieth Century

Sheriff (uncredited)

1934
Sadie McKee

Sadie McKee

Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)

1934
The Scarlet Empress

The Scarlet Empress

1934
A Very Honorable Guy

A Very Honorable Guy

Sergeant

1934
Sisters Under the Skin

Sisters Under the Skin

Conroy

1934
City Limits

City Limits

King, a Hobo

1934
Wharf Angel

Wharf Angel

Brooklyn Jack

1934
Gambling Lady

Gambling Lady

Detective Making Raid (uncredited)

1934
It Happened One Night

It Happened One Night

Detective (uncredited)

1934
Queen Christina

Queen Christina

Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)

1934
Six of a Kind

Six of a Kind

Detective (uncredited)

1934
All of Me

All of Me

Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)

1934
Lady Killer

Lady Killer

Panhandler (uncredited)

1933
The Kennel Murder Case

The Kennel Murder Case

Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)

1933
Bombshell

Bombshell

First Immigration Officer (uncredited)

1933
The Bowery

The Bowery

Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)

1933
To the Last Man

To the Last Man

Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)

1933
Torch Singer

Torch Singer

Taxi Driver

1933
College Humor

College Humor

Cromwell Dexter

1933
The Girl in 419

The Girl in 419

Detective Jackson

1933
A Lady's Profession

A Lady's Profession

Mulroy

1933
Face in the Sky

Face in the Sky

Cop (uncredited)

1933

The Hollywood Handicap

1932