James Burke
Acting
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
Acting170
movieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
tvDinah!
1974
Self
tvStagecoach West
1960
James Burke / Zeke Bonner
movieAlias Jesse James
1959
Charlie (uncredited)
tvWanted: Dead or Alive
1958
Sheriff John Tatum / Sheriff M. Comstock / Sheriff Blore
tvThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
Horse Handler (uncredited)
movieThe Unholy Wife
1957
Sheriff Tom Watling
moviePublic Pigeon No. 1
1957
Harrigan
tvCheyenne
1955
Buckshot
movieLucky Me
1954
Mahoney
movieLone Star
1952
Luther Kilgore
movieWe're Not Married!
1952
Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
movieDenver and Rio Grande
1952
Sheriff Ed Johnson
movieWarpath
1951
Oldtimer
tvI Love Lucy
1951
Mr. Watson
movieHere Comes the Groom
1951
O'Neill, Policeman
movieHis Kind of Woman
1951
Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)
movieThe Last Outpost
1951
Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
movieMrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
1950
The Train Conductor
movieLet's Dance
1950
George (uncredited)
movieCopper Canyon
1950
Jeb Bassett
movieRed, Hot and Blue
1949
Doorman (uncredited)
movieShamrock Hill
1949
Michael Rogan
movieJune Bride
1948
Luke Potter
movieNight Wind
1948
Sheriff Hamilton
movieBeyond Glory
1948
Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
movieTexas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
Cop (uncredited)
movieThe Timber Trail
1948
Jed Baker
movieThe Big Clock
1948
O'Brien
movieBody and Soul
1947
Arnold (uncredited)
movieNightmare Alley
1947
Rural Marshal (uncredited)
movieSong of the Thin Man
1947
Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
movieThe Gas House Kids in Hollywood
1947
Police Lt. Burke
movieDown to Earth
1947
Detective Kelly
moviePhilo Vance's Gamble
1947
Lt. Burke
movieEasy Come, Easy Go
1947
Harry Weston
movieCalifornia
1947
Pokey
movieBowery Bombshell
1946
Detective O'Malley
movieThe Virginian
1946
Andy Jones (uncredited)
movieYoung Widow
1946
Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
movieHow DOooo You Do
1945
Detective
movieI Love a Bandleader
1945
Charles Gibley
movieShady Lady
1945
Crane
movieAnchors Aweigh
1945
Studio Cop
movieThe Horn Blows at Midnight
1945
Policeman (uncredited)
movieCasanova Brown
1944
O'Leary (uncredited)
movie3 Men in White
1944
First Policeman (uncredited)
movieThank Your Lucky Stars
1943
Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)
movieDixie
1943
Riverboat Captain (uncredited)
movieNo Place for a Lady
1943
Police Substation Chief Moriarty
movieA Night to Remember
1942
Pat Murphy (uncredited)
movieArmy Surgeon
1942
Brooklyn
movieEnemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
1942
Police Sergeant Velie
movieIt Happened in Flatbush
1942
Umpire Shaunnessy
movieMy Favorite Blonde
1942
Union Secretary
movieA Close Call for Ellery Queen
1942
Sgt. Velie
movieAll Through the Night
1942
Police Lt. Forbes
movieMillion Dollar Baby
1941
Callahan
moviePot o' Gold
1941
Lt. Grady
movieEllery Queen, Master Detective
1940
Sgt. Velle
movieLittle Nellie Kelly
1940
Sergeant McGowan
movieNo Time for Comedy
1940
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
movieThe Saint Takes Over
1940
Patrolman Mike
movieBuck Benny Rides Again
1940
Taxi Driver
movieOpened by Mistake
1940
Police Sergeant Wilkins
movieCharlie Chan's Murder Cruise
1940
Wilkie, house detective
movieDouble Alibi
1940
Police Captain Orr
movieThe Cisco Kid and the Lady
1939
Pop Saunders
movieAt the Circus
1939
John Carter
movieBeau Geste
1939
Lieutenant Dufour
movieOn Borrowed Time
1939
Sheriff Burlingame
movieDodge City
1939
Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
movieI'm from Missouri
1939
Walt Bliss
movieSudden Money
1939
McPherson
movieThe Family Next Door
1939
Policeman
movieThe Saint Strikes Back
1939
Headquarters Police Officer
movieThe Dawn Patrol
1938
Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
Little Orphan Annie
1938
Mike Moriarty
movieThe Mad Miss Manton
1938
Sullivan
movieYou Can't Take It with You
1938
Chief Detective (uncredited)
movieMen with Wings
1938
J.A. Nolan
movieFlight Into Nowhere
1938
Ike Matthews
movieThe Perfect Specimen
1937
Constable Snodgrass
movieLife Begins with Love
1937
Darby McGraw
movieDead End
1937
Mulligan
movieHigh, Wide and Handsome
1937
Stackpole
movieChampagne Waltz
1937
Mr. Scribner
movieLaughing at Trouble
1936
Bill Norton
movieGreat Guy
1936
Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
movieCan This Be Dixie?
1936
Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
movie36 Hours to Kill
1936
Doyle - Process Server
movieForgotten Faces
1936
Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend
movieSong and Dance Man
1936
Lt. Mike Boyle
movieDancing Feet
1936
Phil Moore
movieSo Red the Rose
1935
Major Rushton
movieFrisco Waterfront
1935
Corrigan
movieCoronado
1935
Slug Moran
movieHot Money
1935
Police Sgt. Burke
movieMusic Is Magic
1935
Mickey (uncredited)
movieThe Case of the Missing Man
1935
Police Sergeant Rorty
movieHere Comes Cookie
1935
Broken-Nose Reilly
movieWelcome Home
1935
Michael Shaughnessy
movieMan on the Flying Trapeze
1935
Patrolman
movieBroadway Gondolier
1935
Uncle Andy
movieThe Farmer Takes a Wife
1935
Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets
movieAfter the Dance
1935
Police Lieutenant
movieDinky
1935
Truck Driver
movieMississippi
1935
Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)
movieRuggles of Red Gap
1935
Jeff Tuttle
movieThe Mystery Man
1935
Managing Editor Marvin
movieTicket to a Crime
1934
Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
movieLove Time
1934
Emperor Francis I
movieLady by Choice
1934
Brannigan
movieTreasure Island
1934
Pirate of the Spanish Main
movieFriends of Mr. Sweeney
1934
Policeman Arresting Wynn
movieSuch Women Are Dangerous
1934
Detective
movieLittle Miss Marker
1934
Detective Reardon (uncredited)
movieThe Merry Frinks
1934
3rd Expressman (uncredited)
movieTwentieth Century
1934
Sheriff (uncredited)
movieSadie McKee
1934
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
movieA Very Honorable Guy
1934
Sergeant
movieCity Limits
1934
King, a Hobo
movieWharf Angel
1934
Brooklyn Jack
movieGambling Lady
1934
Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
movieIt Happened One Night
1934
Detective (uncredited)
movieSix of a Kind
1934
Detective (uncredited)
movieQueen Christina
1934
Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
movieAll of Me
1934
Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
movieLady Killer
1933
Panhandler (uncredited)
movieThe Kennel Murder Case
1933
Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
movieBombshell
1933
First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
movieThe Bowery
1933
Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
movieTo the Last Man
1933
Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
movieTorch Singer
1933
Taxi Driver
movieCollege Humor
1933
Cromwell Dexter
movieThe Girl in 419
1933
Detective Jackson
movieFace in the Sky
1933
Cop (uncredited)