James Burke1886 - 1968

usually

Actor

Popularity

1.6

Famous

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.

Credits

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Documentary • History

as Self (archive footage)

5.7
2.8
Alias Jesse James
Alias Jesse James

1959

Comedy • Western

as Charlie (uncredited)

5.9
0.7
The Unholy Wife
The Unholy Wife

1957

Crime • Drama • Thriller

as Sheriff Tom Watling

4.6
0.3
Public Pigeon No. 1
Public Pigeon No. 1

1957

Comedy

as Harrigan

6
0.3
Lucky Me
Lucky Me

1954

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Mahoney

6.7
0.3
Lone Star
Lone Star

1952

Western

as Luther Kilgore

5.6
0.7
Toughest Man in Arizona
0
0.1
We're Not Married!
We're Not Married!

1952

Comedy • Romance

as Willie's Sergeant (uncredited)

5.9
0.5
Denver and Rio Grande
Denver and Rio Grande

1952

Western

as Sheriff Ed Johnson

5.5
0.2
Warpath
Warpath

1951

Western

as Oldtimer

5.8
0.5
Here Comes the Groom
Here Comes the Groom

1951

Comedy • Music • Romance

as O'Neill, Policeman

5.2
0.3
His Kind of Woman
His Kind of Woman

1951

Comedy • Crime • Thriller

as Barkeeper in Nogales (uncredited)

6.6
0.7
Raton Pass
Raton Pass

1951

Western

as Hank

4.8
0.3
The Last Outpost
The Last Outpost

1951

Western

as Stagecoach driver (uncredited)

5.5
2.2
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

1950

Comedy • Mystery

as The Train Conductor

6
0.3
Let's Dance
Let's Dance

1950

Comedy • Romance

as George (uncredited)

5.5
0.2
Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon

1950

Western

as Jeb Bassett

5.3
0.4
Red, Hot and Blue
Red, Hot and Blue

1949

Comedy • Crime • Music

as Doorman (uncredited)

5.8
0.3
Alias Nick Beal
Alias Nick Beal

1949

Crime • Drama • Fantasy

as Bum

6.9
0.6
Shamrock Hill
Shamrock Hill

1949

Music

as Michael Rogan

1
0.3
June Bride
June Bride

1948

Comedy • Romance

as Luke Potter

7.2
0.3
Night Wind
Night Wind

1948

Adventure • Drama • War

as Sheriff Hamilton

0
0.2
Beyond Glory
Beyond Glory

1948

Drama

as Jim, the Bartender (uncredited)

7.3
0.2
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

1948

Comedy

as Cop (uncredited)

5.3
0.6
The Timber Trail
The Timber Trail

1948

Western

as Jed Baker

0
0.1
The Big Clock
The Big Clock

1948

Crime • Thriller

as O'Brien

7.3
0.7
Body and Soul
Body and Soul

1947

Drama

as Arnold (uncredited)

6.7
2.2
Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley

1947

Crime • Drama • Thriller

as Rural Marshal (uncredited)

7.1
0.9
Song of the Thin Man
Song of the Thin Man

1947

Comedy • Crime • Mystery

as Policeman Callahan (uncredited)

6.8
0.4
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood

1947

Comedy • Crime

as Police Lt. Burke

6
0.2
Down to Earth
Down to Earth

1947

Comedy • Fantasy • Music • Romance

as Detective Kelly

6
0.5
Philo Vance's Gamble
Philo Vance's Gamble

1947

Mystery

as Lt. Burke

5.7
0.4
Easy Come, Easy Go
Easy Come, Easy Go

1947

Comedy • Drama

as Harry Weston

0
0.2
California
California

1947

Western

as Pokey

6.5
0.7
Two Years Before the Mast
Two Years Before the Mast

1946

Adventure • Drama

as Carrick

6.2
0.4
Bowery Bombshell
Bowery Bombshell

1946

Comedy

as Detective O'Malley

6
0.2
The Virginian
The Virginian

1946

Western

as Andy Jones (uncredited)

6.1
0.7
Young Widow
Young Widow

1946

Drama

as Motorcycle Cop (Uncredited)

4.8
0.4
How DOooo You Do
How DOooo You Do

1945

Comedy

as Detective

0
0.3
I Love a Bandleader
I Love a Bandleader

1945

Comedy • Music

as Charles Gibley

0
0.1
Shady Lady
Shady Lady

1945

Comedy • Crime • Romance

as Crane

5.8
0.1
Anchors Aweigh
Anchors Aweigh

1945

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Studio Cop

6.8
1.1
The Horn Blows at Midnight
The Horn Blows at Midnight

1945

Comedy • Fantasy • Music

as Policeman (uncredited)

5.8
0.3
Casanova Brown
Casanova Brown

1944

Comedy

as O'Leary (uncredited)

6.3
0.4
3 Men in White
3 Men in White

1944

Comedy • Drama

as First Policeman (uncredited)

6
0.2
Riding High
Riding High

1943

Comedy • Music • Western

as Pete

4.5
0.2
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Thank Your Lucky Stars

1943

Comedy • Music

as Bill, Intern Guard (uncredited)

6.1
0.4
Dixie
Dixie

1943

Comedy • Music

as Riverboat Captain (uncredited)

3
0.4
No Place for a Lady
No Place for a Lady

1943

Crime • Drama • Mystery

as Police Substation Chief Moriarty

6
0.2
A Night to Remember
A Night to Remember

1942

Comedy • Mystery

as Pat Murphy (uncredited)

6.5
0.3
Army Surgeon
Army Surgeon

1942

Drama • Romance • War

as Brooklyn

5.8
0.1
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen

1942

Mystery

as Police Sergeant Velie

5.5
0.2
It Happened in Flatbush
It Happened in Flatbush

1942

Comedy

as Umpire Shaunnessy

4.8
0.1
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen
A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen

1942

Mystery

as Sgt. Velie

5.7
0.1
My Favorite Blonde
My Favorite Blonde

1942

Comedy

as Union Secretary

6.4
0.2
A Close Call for Ellery Queen
A Close Call for Ellery Queen

1942

Adventure • Crime • Mystery

as Sgt. Velie

5.2
0.2
All Through the Night
All Through the Night

1942

Action • Comedy • Thriller

as Police Lt. Forbes

7
0.6
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

1941

Mystery

as Sgt. Velie

5.7
0
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon

1941

Crime • Mystery • Thriller

as Luke

7.7
2.5
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

1941

Mystery

as Sgt. Velie

5.8
0.3
Million Dollar Baby
Million Dollar Baby

1941

Comedy • Romance

as Callahan

6
0.2
Reaching for the Sun
Reaching for the Sun

1941

Comedy • Drama

as Norm

6
0.2
Pot o' Gold
Pot o' Gold

1941

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Lt. Grady

5.5
1.5
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery

1941

Mystery

as Sgt. Velie

5.3
0.1
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
Ellery Queen, Master Detective

1940

Adventure • Crime • Mystery

as Sgt. Velle

5.7
0.2
Little Nellie Kelly
Little Nellie Kelly

1940

Comedy • Family

as Sergeant McGowan

6
0.2
No Time for Comedy
No Time for Comedy

1940

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

5.4
0.3
The Golden Fleecing
The Golden Fleecing

1940

Comedy • Crime

as Sibley

5.3
0.3
The Way of All Flesh
The Way of All Flesh

1940

Crime • Drama • Romance

as Frisco

4
0.2
The Saint Takes Over
The Saint Takes Over

1940

Crime • Mystery

as Patrolman Mike

6.3
0.3
Buck Benny Rides Again
Buck Benny Rides Again

1940

Comedy • Western

as Taxi Driver

0
0.3
Opened by Mistake
Opened by Mistake

1940

Comedy • Mystery

as Police Sergeant Wilkins

0
0.2
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise

1940

Comedy • Crime • Mystery • Thriller

as Wilkie, house detective

6.7
0.3
Double Alibi
Double Alibi

1940

Adventure • Crime • Mystery

as Police Captain Orr

4.5
1.1
The Cisco Kid and the Lady
The Cisco Kid and the Lady

1939

Western

as Pop Saunders

4.9
0.1
At the Circus
At the Circus

1939

Comedy • Music

as John Carter

6.3
0.4
Fast and Furious
Fast and Furious

1939

Comedy • Crime • Mystery

as Clancy

5.1
0.5
Beau Geste
Beau Geste

1939

Adventure • Drama • War

as Lieutenant Dufour

7
0.5
On Borrowed Time
On Borrowed Time

1939

Comedy • Drama • Fantasy

as Sheriff Burlingame

7.5
0.6
Dodge City
Dodge City

1939

Western

as Cattle Auctioneer (uncredited)

6.9
0.8
Sudden Money
Sudden Money

1939

Comedy • Drama

as McPherson

5
0.3
The Family Next Door
The Family Next Door

1939

Comedy

as Policeman

5.2
0.2
Within the Law
Within the Law

1939

Crime • Drama • Romance

as 'Red'

6
0.2
The Saint Strikes Back
The Saint Strikes Back

1939

Crime • Mystery

as Headquarters Police Officer

5.6
0.4
The Dawn Patrol
The Dawn Patrol

1938

Action • Drama • War

as Flaherty - Motorcycle Driver

6.8
0.5
Little Orphan Annie
Little Orphan Annie

1938

Drama

as Mike Moriarty

0
0.1
The Mad Miss Manton
The Mad Miss Manton

1938

Comedy • Crime • Mystery • Romance

as Sullivan

6.4
0.5
The Affairs of Annabel
The Affairs of Annabel

1938

Comedy

as Muldoon

4
0.1
You Can't Take It with You
You Can't Take It with You

1938

Comedy • Romance

as Chief Detective (uncredited)

7.5
1.2
Men with Wings
Men with Wings

1938

Drama

as J.A. Nolan

6
0.2
Joy of Living
Joy of Living

1938

Comedy • Music • Romance

as Mac

5.7
0.5
Flight Into Nowhere
Flight Into Nowhere

1938

Action • Drama

as Ike Matthews

4
0.1
The Perfect Specimen
The Perfect Specimen

1937

Comedy • Romance

as Constable Snodgrass

5.7
0.2
Life Begins with Love
Life Begins with Love

1937

Comedy • Drama

as Darby McGraw

5
0.1
Dead End
Dead End

1937

Crime • Drama

as Police Officer Mulligan

7
0.7
High, Wide and Handsome
High, Wide and Handsome

1937

Music • Western

as Stackpole

6.3
0.2
Champagne Waltz
Champagne Waltz

1937

Comedy

as Mr. Scribner

0
0.2
Laughing at Trouble
Laughing at Trouble

1936

Comedy • Crime • Drama

as Bill Norton

6
0.1
Great Guy
Great Guy

1936

Crime • Drama • Mystery

as Patrick James Aloysius 'Pat' Haley

6.2
0.9
Can This Be Dixie?
Can This Be Dixie?

1936

Comedy • Music

as Sheriff N.B.F. Rider

0
0.1
36 Hours to Kill
36 Hours to Kill

1936

Drama • Romance

as Doyle - Process Server

5.3
0.2
Rhythm on the Range
Rhythm on the Range

1936

Western

as Wabash

4
0.2
Forgotten Faces
Forgotten Faces

1936

Crime • Drama

as Sgt. Johnny Donovan / Harry's friend

0
0.2
Song and Dance Man
Song and Dance Man

1936

Drama • Music

as Lt. Mike Boyle

0
0.1
Klondike Annie
Klondike Annie

1936

Comedy • Drama • Western

6.4
0.2
The Leathernecks Have Landed
The Leathernecks Have Landed

1936

Adventure

as Corrigan

5
0.1
Dancing Feet
Dancing Feet

1936

Comedy • Music

as Phil Moore

5.2
0.3
So Red the Rose
So Red the Rose

1935

Drama

as Major Rushton

6.5
0.3
Frisco Waterfront
Frisco Waterfront

1935

Drama

as Corrigan

0
0.1
Coronado
Coronado

1935

Comedy • Romance

as Slug Moran

3
0.3
Hot Money
Hot Money

1935

Comedy

as Police Sgt. Burke

0
0.4
Music Is Magic
Music Is Magic

1935

Comedy • Drama • Music • Romance

as Mickey (uncredited)

4
0.2
Case of the Missing Man
Case of the Missing Man

1935

Crime • Mystery • Romance

as Police Sergeant Rorty

0
0.2
The Affair of Susan
The Affair of Susan

1935

Comedy • Romance

as Hogan

0
0.1
Here Comes Cookie
Here Comes Cookie

1935

Comedy

as Broken-Nose Reilly

7.3
0.4
Welcome Home
Welcome Home

1935

Comedy • Crime • Romance

as Michael Shaughnessy

0
0.1
Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild

1935

Adventure • Drama • Romance • Western

as Ole

6.3
0.4
Man on the Flying Trapeze
Man on the Flying Trapeze

1935

Comedy

as Patrolman

5.9
0.2
Broadway Gondolier
Broadway Gondolier

1935

Comedy • Romance

as Uncle Andy

5.4
0.4
Make a Million
Make a Million

1935

Comedy

as Pete

5.7
0.1
The Farmer Takes a Wife
The Farmer Takes a Wife

1935

Comedy • Romance

as Man Hauling Rifles and Bullets

6.1
0.4
After the Dance
After the Dance

1935

Drama • Romance

as Police Lieutenant

6
0.3
Dinky
Dinky

1935

Drama

as Truck Driver

6.7
0.3
Mississippi
Mississippi

1935

Comedy • Music

as Skeptical Passenger in Pilot House (uncredited)

6.7
0.7
Ruggles of Red Gap
Ruggles of Red Gap

1935

Comedy

as Jeff Tuttle

7.1
0.3
The Mystery Man
The Mystery Man

1935

Comedy • Crime • Mystery • Romance

as Managing Editor Marvin

5.4
0.5
Ticket to a Crime
Ticket to a Crime

1934

Crime

as Detective Lt. John Aloysius McGinnis

4
0.2
Love Time
Love Time

1934

Drama • Romance

as Emperor Francis I

0
0.2
Lady by Choice
Lady by Choice

1934

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Brannigan

6.4
0.5
Treasure Island
Treasure Island

1934

Adventure • Family

as Pirate of the Spanish Main

6.5
0.5
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
Friends of Mr. Sweeney

1934

Comedy

as Policeman Arresting Wynn

6
0.2
Such Women Are Dangerous
Such Women Are Dangerous

1934

Drama

as Detective

0
0.1
Little Miss Marker
Little Miss Marker

1934

Comedy • Family

as Detective Reardon (uncredited)

6.4
0.4
The Merry Frinks
The Merry Frinks

1934

Comedy • Drama

as 3rd Expressman (uncredited)

3.7
0.3
Twentieth Century
Twentieth Century

1934

Comedy • Romance

as Sheriff (uncredited)

6.8
0.7
The Scarlet Empress
The Scarlet Empress

1934

Drama • History • Romance

6.9
0.3
Sadie McKee
Sadie McKee

1934

Drama • Romance

as Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)

7
0.7
A Very Honorable Guy
A Very Honorable Guy

1934

Comedy • Crime • Romance

as Sergeant

2
0.1
City Limits
City Limits

1934

Comedy • Drama

as King, a Hobo

4
0.1
Wharf Angel
Wharf Angel

1934

Drama • Romance

as Brooklyn Jack

3.7
0.2
Gambling Lady
Gambling Lady

1934

Drama • Mystery

as Detective Making Raid (uncredited)

6.3
0.2
It Happened One Night
It Happened One Night

1934

Comedy • Romance

as Detective (uncredited)

7.8
2.4
Six of a Kind
Six of a Kind

1934

Comedy

as Detective (uncredited)

5.8
0.2
All of Me
All of Me

1934

Drama

as Welfare Island Guard (uncredited)

6
0.2
Queen Christina
Queen Christina

1933

Drama • History • Romance

as Blacksmith - 4th Rabble Rouser (uncredited)

6.8
0.5
Lady Killer
Lady Killer

1933

Comedy • Crime

6.8
0.8
The Kennel Murder Case
The Kennel Murder Case

1933

Crime • Mystery

as Policeman Who Lets Dog Out (uncredited)

6.1
1.5
Bombshell
Bombshell

1933

Comedy • Romance

as First Immigration Officer (uncredited)

6.5
0.5
To the Last Man
To the Last Man

1933

Romance • Western

as Kentucky Sheriff (uncredited)

5.7
0.8
Torch Singer
Torch Singer

1933

Drama • Music • Romance

as Taxi Driver

5.2
0.3
College Humor
College Humor

1933

Action • Comedy • Music

as Cromwell Dexter

5.6
0.3
The Girl in 419
The Girl in 419

1933

Crime • Drama

as Detective Jackson

4.3
0.1
A Lady's Profession
A Lady's Profession

1933

Comedy

as Mulroy

0
0.1
Face in the Sky
Face in the Sky

1933

Comedy • Drama • Romance

as Cop (uncredited)

4.5
0.2

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