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
| Birth Location | New York City, New York, USA |
|---|---|
| Born | 1886-09-23 |
| Died | 1968-05-23 |
Movies
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
1975
Alias Jesse James
as Charlie (uncredited)
1959
The Unholy Wife
as Sheriff Tom Watling
1957
Public Pigeon No. 1
as Harrigan
1957
Lucky Me
as Mahoney
1954
Lone Star
as Luther Kilgore
1952
We're Not Married!
as Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)
1952
Denver and Rio Grande
as Sheriff Ed Johnson
1952
Warpath
as Oldtimer
1951
Raton Pass
as Hank
1951
The Last Outpost
as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)
1951
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
as The Train Conductor
1950
Let's Dance
as George (uncredited)
1950
Copper Canyon
as Jeb Bassett
1950
Alias Nick Beal
as Bum
1949
Shamrock Hill
as Michael Rogan
1949
June Bride
as Luke Potter
1948
Night Wind
as Sheriff Hamilton
1948
Beyond Glory
as Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)
1948
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
as Cop (uncredited)
1948
The Timber Trail
as Jed Baker
1948
The Big Clock
as O'Brien
1948
Body and Soul
as Arnold (uncredited)
1947
Nightmare Alley
as Rural Marshal (uncredited)
1947
Song of the Thin Man
as Policeman Callahan (uncredited)
1947
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
as Police Lt. Burke
1947
Down to Earth
as Detective Kelly
1947
Philo Vance's Gamble
as Lt. Burke
1947
Easy Come, Easy Go
as Harry Weston
1947
California
as Pokey
1947
Two Years Before the Mast
as Carrick
1946
Bowery Bombshell
as Detective O'Malley
1946
The Virginian
as Andy Jones (uncredited)
1946
Young Widow
as Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)
1946
How DOooo You Do
as Detective
1945
I Love a Bandleader
as Charles Gibley
1945
Shady Lady
as Crane
1945
Anchors Aweigh
as Studio Cop
1945
The Horn Blows at Midnight
as Policeman (uncredited)
1945
Casanova Brown
as O'Leary (uncredited)
1944
3 Men in White
as First Policeman (uncredited)
1944
Riding High
as Pete
1943
Dixie
as Riverboat Captain (uncredited)
1943
No Place for a Lady
as Police Substation Chief Moriarty
1943
A Night to Remember
as Pat Murphy
1942
Army Surgeon
as Brooklyn
1942
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
as Police Sergeant Velie
1942
It Happened in Flatbush
as Umpire Shaunnessy
1942
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
as Sgt. Velie
1942
My Favorite Blonde
as Union Secretary
1942
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
as Sgt. Velie
1942
All Through the Night
as Police Lt. Forbes
1942
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
as Sgt. Velie
1941
The Maltese Falcon
as Luke
1941
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
as Sgt. Velie
1941
Million Dollar Baby
as Callahan
1941
Reaching for the Sun
as Norm
1941
Pot o' Gold
as Lt. Grady
1941
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
as Sgt. Velie
1941
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
as Sgt. Velle
1940
Little Nellie Kelly
as Sergeant McGowan
1940
No Time for Comedy
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
The Golden Fleecing
as Sibley
1940
The Way of All Flesh
as Frisco
1940
The Saint Takes Over
as Patrolman Mike
1940
Buck Benny Rides Again
as Taxi Driver
1940
Opened by Mistake
as Police Sergeant Wilkins
1940
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
as Wilkie, house detective
1940
Double Alibi
as Police Captain Orr
1940
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
as Pop Saunders
1939
At the Circus
as John Carter
1939
Fast and Furious
as Clancy
1939
Beau Geste
as Lieutenant Dufour
1939
On Borrowed Time
as Sheriff Burlingame
1939
Dodge City
as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)
1939
Sudden Money
as McPherson
1939
The Family Next Door
as Policeman
1939
Within the Law
as 'Red'
1939
The Saint Strikes Back
as Headquarters Police Officer
1939
The Dawn Patrol
as Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver
1938
Little Orphan Annie
as Mike Moriarty
1938
The Mad Miss Manton
as Sullivan
1938
The Affairs of Annabel
as Muldoon
1938
You Can't Take It with You
as Chief Detective (uncredited)
1938
Men with Wings
as J.A. Nolan
1938
Joy of Living
as Mac
1938
Flight Into Nowhere
as Ike Matthews
1938
The Perfect Specimen
as Constable Snodgrass
1937
Life Begins with Love
as Darby McGraw
1937
Dead End
as Police Officer Mulligan
1937
High, Wide and Handsome
as Stackpole
1937
Champagne Waltz
as Mr. Scribner
1937
Laughing at Trouble
as Bill Norton
1936
Great Guy
as Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley
1936
Can This Be Dixie?
as Sheriff N.B.F. Rider
1936
36 Hours to Kill
as Doyle - Process Server
1936
Rhythm on the Range
as Wabash
1936
Song and Dance Man
as Lt. Mike Boyle
1936
1936
The Leathernecks Have Landed
as Corrigan
1936
Dancing Feet
as Phil Moore
1936
So Red the Rose
as Major Rushton
1935
Frisco Waterfront
as Corrigan
1935
Coronado
as Slug Moran
1935
Hot Money
as Police Sgt. Burke
1935
Music Is Magic
as Mickey (uncredited)
1935
Case of the Missing Man
as Police Sergeant Rorty
1935
Here Comes Cookie
as Broken-Nose Reilly
1935
The Affair of Susan
as Hogan
1935
Welcome Home
as Michael Shaughnessy
1935
Call of the Wild
as Ole
1935
Man on the Flying Trapeze
as Patrolman
1935
Broadway Gondolier
as Uncle Andy
1935
Make a Million
as Pete
1935
After the Dance
as Police Lieutenant
1935
Dinky
as Truck Driver
1935
Ruggles of Red Gap
as Jeff Tuttle
1935
The Mystery Man
as Managing Editor Marvin
1935
Ticket to a Crime
as Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis
1934
Love Time
as Emperor Francis I
1934
Lady by Choice
as Brannigan
1934
Treasure Island
as Pirate of the Spanish Main
1934
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
as Policeman Arresting Wynn
1934
Such Women Are Dangerous
as Detective
1934
Little Miss Marker
as Detective Reardon (uncredited)
1934
The Merry Frinks
as 3rd Expressman (uncredited)
1934
Twentieth Century
as Sheriff (uncredited)
1934
1934
A Very Honorable Guy
as Sergeant
1934
City Limits
as King, a Hobo
1934
Wharf Angel
as Brooklyn Jack
1934
Gambling Lady
as Detective Making Raid (uncredited)
1934
It Happened One Night
as Detective (uncredited)
1934
Six of a Kind
as Detective (uncredited)
1934
All of Me
as Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)
1934
Queen Christina
as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)
1933
1933
The Kennel Murder Case
as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)
1933
Bombshell
as First Immigration Officer (uncredited)
1933
To the Last Man
as Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)
1933
Torch Singer
as Taxi Driver
1933
College Humor
as Cromwell Dexter
1933
The Girl in 419
as Detective Jackson
1933
A Lady's Profession
as Mulroy
1933
Face in the Sky
as Cop (uncredited)
1933
James Burke hasn't worked on any movies or TV shows
