James 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

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

Personal Info

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