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.
Luke
The Maltese Falcon
O'Brien
The Big Clock
Harrigan
Public Pigeon No. 1
Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
We're Not Married!
John Carter
At the Circus
First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Bombshell
Mahoney
Lucky Me
Michael Shaughnessy
Welcome Home
Lady Killer
Police Officer Mulligan
Dead End
Lieutenant Dufour
Beau Geste
Police Lt. Forbes
All Through the Night
Doyle - Process Server
36 Hours to Kill
Toughest Man in Arizona
Wilkie, house detective
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
Policeman (uncredited)
The Horn Blows at Midnight
Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
Great Guy
Detective O'Malley
Bowery Bombshell
Arnold (uncredited)
Body and Soul
Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
The Dawn Patrol
Detective
Such Women Are Dangerous
Headquarters Police Officer
The Saint Strikes Back
Sgt. Velie
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
Sgt. Velie
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
Sgt. Velie
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Sgt. Velie
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Police Sergeant Velie
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
Sgt. Velle
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Sgt. Velie
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
Lt. Burke
Philo Vance's Gamble
Emperor Francis I
Love Time
Patrolman Mike
The Saint Takes Over
Detective Reardon (uncredited)
Little Miss Marker
Patrolman
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Pat Murphy (uncredited)
A Night to Remember
Callahan
Million Dollar Baby
Union Secretary
My Favorite Blonde
Detective (uncredited)
Six of a Kind
Oldtimer
Warpath
Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
The Last Outpost
Sibley
The Golden Fleecing
Cromwell Dexter
College Humor
Pop Saunders
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
Hank
Raton Pass
The Scarlet Empress
Broken-Nose Reilly
Here Comes Cookie
Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
Ticket to a Crime
Truck Driver
Dinky
Harry Weston
Easy Come, Easy Go
J.A. Nolan
Men with Wings
Chief Detective (uncredited)
You Can't Take It with You
Major Rushton
So Red the Rose
Cop (uncredited)
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
George (uncredited)
Let's Dance
O'Leary (uncredited)
Casanova Brown
Sheriff Burlingame
On Borrowed Time
Constable Snodgrass
The Perfect Specimen
Studio Cop
Anchors Aweigh
Carrick
Two Years Before the Mast
Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
To the Last Man
Mac
Joy of Living
Luke Potter
June Bride
Sullivan
The Mad Miss Manton
Ole
Call of the Wild
Michael Rogan
Shamrock Hill
Police Sgt. Burke
Hot Money
Hogan
The Affair of Susan
Pirate of the Spanish Main
Treasure Island
Stackpole
High, Wide and Handsome
Managing Editor Marvin
The Mystery Man
Luther Kilgore
Lone Star
Brannigan
Lady by Choice
Detective Kelly
Down to Earth
Brooklyn
Army Surgeon
Muldoon
The Affairs of Annabel
Sergeant
A Very Honorable Guy
Riverboat Captain (uncredited)
Dixie
Police Lieutenant
After the Dance
Uncle Andy
Broadway Gondolier
Policeman
The Family Next Door
King, a Hobo
City Limits
Mickey (uncredited)
Music Is Magic
Phil Moore
Dancing Feet
Charles Gibley
I Love a Bandleader
Bill Norton
Laughing at Trouble
Cop (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
Sheriff Tom Watling
The Unholy Wife
Policeman Arresting Wynn
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
'Red'
Within the Law
Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
Dodge City
Clancy
Fast and Furious
Detective (uncredited)
It Happened One Night
Lt. Mike Boyle
Song and Dance Man
Pete
Make a Million
Klondike Annie
Jed Baker
The Timber Trail
Andy Jones (uncredited)
The Virginian
First Policeman (uncredited)
3 Men in White
Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
Beyond Glory
Sheriff Ed Johnson
Denver and Rio Grande
Umpire Shaunnessy
It Happened in Flatbush
Corrigan
The Leathernecks Have Landed
Taxi Driver
Buck Benny Rides Again
Crane
Shady Lady
Police Lt. Burke
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
Queen Christina
Mulroy
A Lady's Profession
Slug Moran
Coronado
Ike Matthews
Flight Into Nowhere
Sergeant McGowan
Little Nellie Kelly
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
No Time for Comedy
Doorman (uncredited)
Red, Hot and Blue
Frisco
The Way of All Flesh
Mr. Scribner
Champagne Waltz
Pokey
California
Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
Gambling Lady
Wabash
Rhythm on the Range
Detective Jackson
The Girl in 419
Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
All of Me
Jeb Bassett
Copper Canyon
Detective
How DOooo You Do
Jeff Tuttle
Ruggles of Red Gap
Mike Moriarty
Little Orphan Annie
Police Captain Orr
Double Alibi
Corrigan
Frisco Waterfront
McPherson
Sudden Money
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Darby McGraw
Life Begins with Love
Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
Song of the Thin Man
Sheriff Hamilton
Night Wind
Bum
Alias Nick Beal
Sheriff (uncredited)
Twentieth Century
Police Substation Chief Moriarty
No Place for a Lady
Norm
Reaching for the Sun
Taxi Driver
Torch Singer
Brooklyn Jack
Wharf Angel
Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
The Kennel Murder Case
Charlie (uncredited)
Alias Jesse James
3rd Expressman (uncredited)
The Merry Frinks
Pete
Riding High
Lt. Grady
Pot o' Gold
Police Sergeant Wilkins
Opened by Mistake
Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
Young Widow
The Train Conductor
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
Police Sergeant Rorty
Case of the Missing Man
Rural Marshal (uncredited)
Nightmare Alley
Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
Can This Be Dixie?
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
Sadie McKee
Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend
Forgotten Faces
Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)
Mississippi
Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)
His Kind of Woman
O'Neill, Policeman
Here Comes the Groom
The Hollywood Handicap
Walt Bliss
I'm from Missouri
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
156
Gender
Male
Birthday
1886-09-23
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Also Known As
Jim Burke