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James Burke

Personal Information

Known ForActing
GenderMale
Born / DiedSep 23, 1886 (Died at 82)
Zodiac Sign♎Libra
Place of BirthNew York City, New York, USA
Career Span1933 – 1968
Known Credits168 Titles
Official Links
ActingPopularity Score 0.9

James Burke

Also known as:Jim BurkeJames Michael Burke
Total Works

168

156 movies • 12 shows

Avg Rating

6.6 / 10

across rated releases

Box Office

—

worldwide gross

Global Reach

#1

TMDB star index

Biography

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.

Signature Roles & Milestones

The Maltese Falcon
7.7
The Maltese Falcon
1941•movie
as Luke
It Happened One Night
7.8
as Detective (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
7.5
as Chief Detective (uncredited)
I Love Lucy
7.9
I Love Lucy
1951•series
as Mr. Watson

Full Filmography & Credits

Showing 168 titles featuring James Burke

The Maltese Falcon
7.7
The Maltese Falcon
1941•movie

as Luke

It Happened One Night
7.8

as Detective (uncredited)

You Can't Take It with You
7.5

as Chief Detective (uncredited)

I Love Lucy
7.9
1 eps
I Love Lucy
1951•series

as Mr. Watson

Nightmare Alley
7.2
Nightmare Alley
1947•movie

as Rural Marshal (uncredited)

The Big Clock
7.3
The Big Clock
1948•movie

as O'Brien

Anchors Aweigh
6.8
Anchors Aweigh
1945•movie

as Studio Cop

Dead End
7.0
Dead End
1937•movie

as Mulligan

The Scarlet Empress
6.9
Queen Christina
6.9
Queen Christina
1934•movie

as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)

Body and Soul
6.7
Body and Soul
1947•movie

as Arnold (uncredited)

Dodge City
6.9
Dodge City
1939•movie

as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)

Twentieth Century
6.8
Twentieth Century
1934•movie

as Sheriff (uncredited)

Beau Geste
7.0
Beau Geste
1939•movie

as Lieutenant Dufour

Song of the Thin Man
6.7

as Policeman Callahan (uncredited)

At the Circus
6.4
At the Circus
1939•movie

as John Carter

Ruggles of Red Gap
7.1
Ruggles of Red Gap
1935•movie

as Jeff Tuttle

Treasure Island
6.6
Treasure Island
1934•movie

as Pirate of the Spanish Main

His Kind of Woman
6.8
His Kind of Woman
1951•movie

as Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)

All Through the Night
6.7

as Police Lt. Forbes

Lassie
6.3
1 eps
Lassie
1954•series
The Kennel Murder Case
6.1

as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)

Bombshell
6.5
Bombshell
1933•movie

as First Immigration Officer (uncredited)

Call of the Wild
6.3
Call of the Wild
1935•movie

as Ole

The Dawn Patrol
6.8
The Dawn Patrol
1938•movie

as Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver

The Mad Miss Manton
6.4

as Sullivan

Thank Your Lucky Stars
6.2

as Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)

Wanted: Dead or Alive
7.1
1 eps

as Sheriff John Tatum

Lady Killer
6.9
Lady Killer
1933•movie

as Panhandler (uncredited)

Alias Nick Beal
6.8
Alias Nick Beal
1949•movie

as Bum

We're Not Married!
6.0
We're Not Married!
1952•movie

as Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)

On Borrowed Time
7.6
On Borrowed Time
1939•movie

as Sheriff Burlingame

Alias Jesse James
6.1
Alias Jesse James
1959•movie

as Charlie (uncredited)

Down to Earth
6.0
Down to Earth
1947•movie

as Detective Kelly

The Virginian
6.0
The Virginian
1946•movie

as Andy Jones (uncredited)

Pot o' Gold
5.7
Pot o' Gold
1941•movie

as Lt. Grady

Little Miss Marker
6.5
Little Miss Marker
1934•movie

as Detective Reardon (uncredited)

Casanova Brown
6.4
Casanova Brown
1944•movie

as O'Leary (uncredited)

Cheyenne
6.2
1 eps
Cheyenne
1955•series

as Buckshot

Sadie McKee
7.0
Sadie McKee
1934•movie

as Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)

Lone Star
5.7
Lone Star
1952•movie

as Luther Kilgore

Copper Canyon
5.7
Copper Canyon
1950•movie

as Jeb Bassett

My Favorite Blonde
6.5
My Favorite Blonde
1942•movie

as Union Secretary

California
6.8
California
1947•movie

as Pokey

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
6.8

as Wilkie, house detective

The Horn Blows at Midnight
5.9

as Policeman (uncredited)

Great Guy
6.3
Great Guy
1936•movie

as Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley

To the Last Man
5.9
To the Last Man
1933•movie

as Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)

Gambling Lady
6.2
Gambling Lady
1934•movie

as Detective Making Raid (uncredited)

The Saint Strikes Back
5.8

as Headquarters Police Officer

The Unholy Wife
4.7
The Unholy Wife
1957•movie

as Sheriff Tom Watling

Man on the Flying Trapeze
6.3

as Patrolman

A Night to Remember
6.7

as Pat Murphy (uncredited)

Klondike Annie
6.3
Klondike Annie
1936•movie
Here Comes the Groom
5.4

as O'Neill, Policeman

Denver and Rio Grande
5.6

as Sheriff Ed Johnson

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
8.6
1 eps

as Horse Handler (uncredited)

Warpath
6.0
Warpath
1951•movie

as Oldtimer

The Saint Takes Over
6.7

as Patrolman Mike

Six of a Kind
5.9
Six of a Kind
1934•movie

as Detective (uncredited)

Raton Pass
4.9
Raton Pass
1951•movie

as Hank

June Bride
7.1
June Bride
1948•movie

as Luke Potter

3 Men in White
6.4
3 Men in White
1944•movie

as First Policeman (uncredited)

No Time for Comedy
5.3
No Time for Comedy
1940•movie

as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

Lucky Me
6.8
Lucky Me
1954•movie

as Mahoney

Fast and Furious
5.2
Fast and Furious
1939•movie

as Clancy

The Bowery
5.4
The Bowery
1933•movie

as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)

Two Years Before the Mast
6.5

as Carrick

Torch Singer
5.4
Torch Singer
1933•movie

as Taxi Driver

Young Widow
4.8
Young Widow
1946•movie

as Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)

The Farmer Takes a Wife
6.2

as Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets

The 20th Century Fox Hour
6.0
1 eps
College Humor
5.6
College Humor
1933•movie

as Cromwell Dexter

Here Comes Cookie
7.2
Here Comes Cookie
1935•movie

as Broken-Nose Reilly

The Mystery Man
5.6
The Mystery Man
1935•movie

as Managing Editor Marvin

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
6.3

as Self (archive footage)

The Cisco Kid and the Lady
5.4

as Pop Saunders

Let's Dance
6.1
Let's Dance
1950•movie

as George (uncredited)

Joy of Living
5.9
Joy of Living
1938•movie

as Mac

Army Surgeon
6.0
Army Surgeon
1942•movie

as Brooklyn

Little Nellie Kelly
6.8

as Sergeant McGowan

The Way of All Flesh
4.6

as Frisco

Mississippi
6.8
Mississippi
1935•movie

as Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)

Trackdown
6.9
1 eps
Trackdown
1957•series
Philo Vance's Gamble
6.3

as Lt. Burke

The Last Outpost
6.1
The Last Outpost
1951•movie

as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)

The Golden Fleecing
5.9

as Sibley

The Perfect Specimen
6.4

as Constable Snodgrass

Lady by Choice
6.9
Lady by Choice
1934•movie

as Brannigan

36 Hours to Kill
6.1
36 Hours to Kill
1936•movie

as Doyle - Process Server

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
5.8

as Sgt. Velie

Million Dollar Baby
6.3

as Callahan

Broadway Gondolier
6.0
Broadway Gondolier
1935•movie

as Uncle Andy

Within the Law
6.5
Within the Law
1939•movie

as 'Red'

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6.3
1 eps
Stagecoach West
6.7
1 eps
Stagecoach West
1960•series

as James Burke

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
5.6

as Sgt. Velie

Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
6.5

as Police Sergeant Velie

Ellery Queen, Master Detective
5.8

as Sgt. Velle

Men with Wings
5.4
Men with Wings
1938•movie

as J.A. Nolan

High, Wide and Handsome
6.2

as Stackpole

The Affairs of Annabel
5.4

as Muldoon

The Family Next Door
5.8

as Policeman

Dancing Feet
6.0
Dancing Feet
1936•movie

as Phil Moore

It Happened in Flatbush
5.4

as Umpire Shaunnessy

Shady Lady
6.0
Shady Lady
1945•movie

as Crane

Red, Hot and Blue
6.2
Red, Hot and Blue
1949•movie

as Doorman (uncredited)

The Girl in 419
4.2
The Girl in 419
1933•movie

as Detective Jackson

Wharf Angel
4.2
Wharf Angel
1934•movie

as Brooklyn Jack

Riding High
5.6
Riding High
1943•movie

as Pete

Bowery Bombshell
6.5
Bowery Bombshell
1946•movie

as Detective O'Malley

A Close Call for Ellery Queen
6.1

as Sgt. Velie

A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
6.2

as Sgt. Velie

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
6.5

as Sergeant Velie

Dinky
7.2
Dinky
1935•movie

as Truck Driver

So Red the Rose
7.8
So Red the Rose
1935•movie

as Major Rushton

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
5.8

as Cop (uncredited)

Face in the Sky
5.8
Face in the Sky
1933•movie

as Cop (uncredited)

Friends of Mr. Sweeney
6.8

as Policeman Arresting Wynn

Make a Million
6.2
Make a Million
1935•movie

as Pete

Beyond Glory
8.0
Beyond Glory
1948•movie

as Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)

Double Alibi
5.2
Double Alibi
1940•movie

as Police Captain Orr

The Merry Frinks
4.8
The Merry Frinks
1934•movie

as 3rd Expressman (uncredited)

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
7.0

as The Train Conductor

The DuPont Show with June Allyson
6.8
1 eps

as Policeman

Dinah!
7.0
1 eps
Dinah!
1974•series

as Self

Public Pigeon No. 1
6.3

as Harrigan

Music Is Magic
5.3
Music Is Magic
1935•movie

as Mickey (uncredited)

Coronado
5.0
Coronado
1935•movie

as Slug Moran

Flight Into Nowhere
5.3

as Ike Matthews

Sudden Money
7.0
Sudden Money
1939•movie

as McPherson

Life Begins with Love
6.7

as Darby McGraw

No Place for a Lady
6.0

as Police Substation Chief Moriarty

Reaching for the Sun
7.3

as Norm

Ticket to a Crime
6.0
Ticket to a Crime
1934•movie

as Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis

Shamrock Hill
4.5
Shamrock Hill
1949•movie

as Michael Rogan

A Very Honorable Guy
6.0

as Sergeant

Dixie
5.0
Dixie
1943•movie

as Riverboat Captain (uncredited)

After the Dance
6.5
After the Dance
1935•movie

as Police Lieutenant

City Limits
5.5
City Limits
1934•movie

as King, a Hobo

Laughing at Trouble
8.0

as Bill Norton

The Leathernecks Have Landed
7.0

as Corrigan

Buck Benny Rides Again
5.0

as Taxi Driver

The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
8.0

as Police Lt. Burke

Champagne Waltz
10.0
Champagne Waltz
1937•movie

as Mr. Scribner

Rhythm on the Range
5.5

as Wabash

All of Me
7.0
All of Me
1934•movie

as Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)

How DOooo You Do
7.5
How DOooo You Do
1945•movie

as Detective

The Case of the Missing Man
7.0

as Police Sergeant Rorty

Forgotten Faces
5.5
Forgotten Faces
1936•movie

as Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend

My Little Margie
5.0
1 eps
My Little Margie
1952•series
Welcome Home
9.0
Welcome Home
1935•movie

as Michael Shaughnessy

Such Women Are Dangerous
7.0

as Detective

Love Time
10.0
Love Time
1934•movie

as Emperor Francis I

Easy Come, Easy Go
7.0
Easy Come, Easy Go
1947•movie

as Harry Weston

Hot Money
10.0
Hot Money
1935•movie

as Police Sgt. Burke

The Affair of Susan
10.0

as Hogan

I Love a Bandleader
8.0

as Charles Gibley

Song and Dance Man
7.0
Song and Dance Man
1936•movie

as Lt. Mike Boyle

The Timber Trail
10.0
The Timber Trail
1948•movie

as Jed Baker

A Lady's Profession
7.0

as Mulroy

Frisco Waterfront
9.0
Frisco Waterfront
1935•movie

as Corrigan

Night Wind
9.0
Night Wind
1948•movie

as Sheriff Hamilton

Opened by Mistake
7.0
Opened by Mistake
1940•movie

as Police Sergeant Wilkins

Can This Be Dixie?
7.0
Can This Be Dixie?
1936•movie

as Sheriff N.B.F. Rider

I'm from Missouri
7.0
I'm from Missouri
1939•movie

as Walt Bliss

Sisters Under the Skin
10.0

as Conroy