
James Burke
Known for Acting · 170 credits
- Born
- 1886-09-23
- Died
- 1968-05-23
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Jim Burke · James Michael Burke
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.
Known For
TV Shows (12)

Lassie
1954

Cheyenne
1955
as Buckshot

I Love Lucy
1951
as Mr. Watson

Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Sheriff John Tatum / Sheriff M. Comstock / Sheriff Blore

Dinah!
1974
as Self

Trackdown
1957

The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958

The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Policeman

Stagecoach West
1960
as James Burke / Zeke Bonner

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
as Horse Handler (uncredited)

My Little Margie
1952
Movies (158)

The Maltese Falcon
1941
as Luke

It Happened One Night
1934
as Detective (uncredited)

Nightmare Alley
1947
as Rural Marshal (uncredited)

You Can't Take It with You
1938
as Chief Detective (uncredited)

Lone Star
1952
as Luther Kilgore

Anchors Aweigh
1945
as Studio Cop

Dodge City
1939
as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)

The Virginian
1946
as Andy Jones (uncredited)

Broadway Gondolier
1935
as Uncle Andy

Dead End
1937
as Mulligan

Copper Canyon
1950
as Jeb Bassett

Treasure Island
1934
as Pirate of the Spanish Main

June Bride
1948
as Luke Potter

California
1947
as Pokey

Warpath
1951
as Oldtimer

Night Wind
1948
as Sheriff Hamilton

Alias Jesse James
1959
as Charlie (uncredited)

All Through the Night
1942
as Police Lt. Forbes

Sudden Money
1939
as McPherson

Call of the Wild
1935
as Ole

Mississippi
1935
as Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)

The Mad Miss Manton
1938
as Sullivan

Twentieth Century
1934
as Sheriff (uncredited)

Body and Soul
1947
as Arnold (uncredited)

We're Not Married!
1952
as Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)

Beau Geste
1939
as Lieutenant Dufour

Dancing Feet
1936
as Phil Moore

The Last Outpost
1951
as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)

The Unholy Wife
1957
as Sheriff Tom Watling

Lady Killer
1933
as Panhandler (uncredited)

Forgotten Faces
1936
as Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend

Song of the Thin Man
1947
as Policeman Callahan (uncredited)

Laughing at Trouble
1936
as Bill Norton

To the Last Man
1933
as Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)

Fast and Furious
1939
as Clancy

His Kind of Woman
1951
as Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)

Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
1941
as Sgt. Velie

High, Wide and Handsome
1937
as Stackpole

Man on the Flying Trapeze
1935
as Patrolman

The Kennel Murder Case
1933
as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)

Gambling Lady
1934
as Detective Making Raid (uncredited)

Torch Singer
1933
as Taxi Driver

The Saint Takes Over
1940
as Patrolman Mike

Music Is Magic
1935
as Mickey (uncredited)

Lucky Me
1954
as Mahoney

Queen Christina
1934
as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)

Alias Nick Beal
1949
as Bum

Pot o' Gold
1941
as Lt. Grady

Raton Pass
1951
as Hank

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
as Cop (uncredited)

Toughest Man in Arizona
1952

At the Circus
1939
as John Carter

Bombshell
1933
as First Immigration Officer (uncredited)

Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Sgt. Velle

Two Years Before the Mast
1946
as Carrick

Life Begins with Love
1937
as Darby McGraw

The Scarlet Empress
1934

Denver and Rio Grande
1952
as Sheriff Ed Johnson

Beyond Glory
1948
as Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)

The Way of All Flesh
1940
as Frisco

Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)

A Very Honorable Guy
1934
as Sergeant

Sadie McKee
1934
as Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)

3 Men in White
1944
as First Policeman (uncredited)

Casanova Brown
1944
as O'Leary (uncredited)

Down to Earth
1947
as Detective Kelly

Dinky
1935
as Truck Driver

The Big Clock
1948
as O'Brien

The Perfect Specimen
1937
as Constable Snodgrass

The Horn Blows at Midnight
1945
as Policeman (uncredited)

The Bowery
1933
as Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)

Ruggles of Red Gap
1935
as Jeff Tuttle

Six of a Kind
1934
as Detective (uncredited)

My Favorite Blonde
1942
as Union Secretary

No Place for a Lady
1943
as Police Substation Chief Moriarty

The Affairs of Annabel
1938
as Muldoon

Red, Hot and Blue
1949
as Doorman (uncredited)

Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
1940
as Wilkie, house detective

Great Guy
1936
as Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley

So Red the Rose
1935
as Major Rushton

Million Dollar Baby
1941
as Callahan

Welcome Home
1935
as Michael Shaughnessy

Here Comes the Groom
1951
as O'Neill, Policeman

Dixie
1943
as Riverboat Captain (uncredited)

Friends of Mr. Sweeney
1934
as Policeman Arresting Wynn

College Humor
1933
as Cromwell Dexter

The Dawn Patrol
1938
as Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver

Men with Wings
1938
as J.A. Nolan

Joy of Living
1938
as Mac

Buck Benny Rides Again
1940
as Taxi Driver

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
1950
as The Train Conductor

Within the Law
1939
as 'Red'

Riding High
1943
as Pete

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941
as Sgt. Velie

Love Time
1934
as Emperor Francis I

Klondike Annie
1936

Champagne Waltz
1937
as Mr. Scribner

Here Comes Cookie
1935
as Broken-Nose Reilly

Public Pigeon No. 1
1957
as Harrigan

Little Nellie Kelly
1940
as Sergeant McGowan

The Cisco Kid and the Lady
1939
as Pop Saunders

Face in the Sky
1933
as Cop (uncredited)

Army Surgeon
1942
as Brooklyn

All of Me
1934
as Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)

No Time for Comedy
1940
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

On Borrowed Time
1939
as Sheriff Burlingame

A Night to Remember
1942
as Pat Murphy (uncredited)

Let's Dance
1950
as George (uncredited)

Little Miss Marker
1934
as Detective Reardon (uncredited)

Rhythm on the Range
1936
as Wabash

Opened by Mistake
1940
as Police Sergeant Wilkins

The Saint Strikes Back
1939
as Headquarters Police Officer

The Farmer Takes a Wife
1935
as Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets

Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
1942
as Police Sergeant Velie

Reaching for the Sun
1941
as Norm

The Golden Fleecing
1940
as Sibley

Young Widow
1946
as Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)

How DOooo You Do
1945
as Detective

It Happened in Flatbush
1942
as Umpire Shaunnessy
About 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.… With 170 credits spanning from 1932 to 1975, James Burke has appeared in 158 films and 12 TV shows.
Fans searching for James Burke movies, James Burke filmography, or the latest projects starring James Burke can stream many of these titles on HinFlix, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular James Burke Movies
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) — as Luke
- It Happened One Night (1934) — as Detective (uncredited)
- Nightmare Alley (1947) — as Rural Marshal (uncredited)
- You Can't Take It with You (1938) — as Chief Detective (uncredited)
- Lone Star (1952) — as Luther Kilgore
Where to Watch James Burke Films
Most James Burke movies and series are available to stream on HinFlix in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring James Burke, check our movies catalogue and browse page.