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