Walter Burke

Infobox Actor
name = Walter Burke


imagesize = 200px
caption = Burke on a 1959 episode of "Peter Gunn"
birthname = Walter Lawrence Burke
birthdate = birth date|1908|8|25|mf=y
birthplace = Brooklyn, New York
USA
deathdate = death date and age|1984|8|4|1908|8|25
deathplace = Woodland Hills, California
USA
spouse =
yearsactive = 1925 - 1980
imdb_id = 0121900

Walter Burke (August 25, 1908–August 4, 1984) was a prolific Irish-American character actor, of stage, film, and television. His small stature, and distinctive voice and face, made him easily recognizable in even the most minor of roles.

Early life

Walter Lawrence Burke was born in Brooklyn, New York to Irish immigrant parents Patrick Burke and Bessie McNamara. His father worked as a tanner in a shoe factory. Burke had three step-brothers and one step-sister from his father's first marriage, as well as three sisters and three brothers of his own. At least two other siblings died in infancy.

Career

Walter Burke began acting on stage as a teenager, making his Broadway debut in "Dearest Enemy" at the Knickerbocker Theatre during 1925-1926. The following year he performed in a musical revue, "Padlocks of 1927" at the Shubert Theatre. He joind the American Opera Company's troupe in January 1928, performing a non-singing role in an English-language adaption of "Faust". [“A New Version of 'Faust'” in the "New York Times", January 11, 1928, pg 26. ] He continued with that company through January 1930, taking part in adaptions of "Madame Butterfly" and "Yolanda of Cyprus" at the Casino Theatre. [“'Yolanda' Sung by Americans” in the "New York Times", January 9, 1930, pg 28. ] He next appeared on Broadway with "Help Yourself" in 1936, and over the next ten years appeared in as many plays.

Burke debuted in Hollywood films in 1948, with "The Naked City", and the following year had a memorable role in the Oscar-winning film "All the King's Men". Burke would appear in twenty-two more films, and three more Broadway productions, but both film and the stage would soon take a backseat to his television work.

In 1951, Burke played a jockey in the early television series "Martin Kane". From then until 1980, he would appear in episodes of 103 different television series, as well as three made for TV movies. Though never a series regular, he often played different roles in multiple episodes of the same shows.

Personal life

Burke split most of his later life between Hollywood, where he worked, and his horse ranch in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. While back east, he would sometimes teach dramatics at a local college. A lifelong heavy smoker, he would succumb to emphysema in 1984, while living at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.

Broadway stage credits

* "Dearest Enemy", Knickerbocker Theatre, (1925-1926) ...as ensemble
* "Padlocks of 1927", Shubert Theatre, (1927) ...as performer
* "Faust", Gallo Theatre, (1928) ...as A Soldier
* "Madame Butterfly", Casino Theatre, (1930) ...as Registrar
* "Yolanda of Cyprus", Casino Theatre, (1930) ...as Tremitus
* "Help Yourself", Manhattan Theatre, (1936) ...as Frederick Bittlesby
* "Red Harvest", National Theatre, (1937) ...as Courier Rockman
* "A Hero Is Born", Adelphi Theater, (1937) ...as William/A Gentleman of Uncertain Age
* "The Old Foolishness", Windsor Theatre, (1940) ...as Dan Dorian
* "Not in Our Stars", Biltmore Theatre, (1941) ...as Kevlin Hoolihan
* "Under This Roof", Windsor Theatre, (1942) ...as Shawn O'Shaughnessy
* "The Eve of St. Mark", Cort Theatre, (1942-1943) ...as Private Thomas Mulveroy
* "The World's Full of Girls", Royale Theatre, (1943) ...as Nick
* "Sadie Thompson", Alvin Theater, (1944-1945) ...as Quartermaster Bates
* "Up in Central Park", New Century Theatre (1945-1946) ...as Danny O'Cahane
* "Billy Budd", Biltmore Theatre, (1951) ...as O'Daniel
* "Three Wishes for Jamie", Mark Hellinger Theatre, (1952) ...as Power O'Malley
* "Major Barbara", Martin Beck Theatre, (1956-1957) ...as Snobby Price

Filmography

* "The Naked City" (1948) ...as Pete Backalis
* "All the King's Men" (1949) ...as Sugar Boy
* "Mystery Street" (1950) ...as Ornithologist
* "Dark City" (1950) ...as George the Bartender
* "The Killer That Stalked New York" (1950) ...as Danny the bellhop
* "Double Deal" (1950) ...as Wally, Karne's thug
* "M" (1951) ...as MacMahan
* "The Guy Who Came Back" (1951) ...as O'Mara
* "Never Love a Stranger" (1958) ...as Jimmy Keough
* "The Crimson Kimono" (1959) ...as Ziggy
* "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" (1960) ...as Wart
* "Jack the Giant Killer" (1962) ...as Garna
* "Beauty and the Beast" (1962) ...as Grimaldi
* "How the West Was Won" (1962) ...as poker player in wagon
* "The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze" (1963) ...as Lory Fich
* "The Wheeler Dealers" (1963) ...as Billy Joe
* "My Fair Lady" (1964) ...as bystander
* "The Plainsman" (1966) ...as Abe Ireland
* "Double Trouble" (1967) ...as Mate
* "The President's Analyst" (1967) ...as Henry Lux, FBR Chief
* "Support Your Local Sheriff!" (1969) ...as Fred Johnson
* "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1970) ...as Morris
* "Chandler" (1971) ...as Zeno
* "The Stone Killer" (1973) ...as JD, marijuana dealer

Television credits (partial)

* "Martin Kane:" "A Jockey Is Murdered" (1951) ....as Eddie Stevens
* "Peter Gunn:" "The Torch" (1959) ....as Ditto
* "Perry Mason:" "The Jaded Joker" (1959) ....as Eddie Green
* "Hawaiian Eye:" "Talk and You're Dead" (1961) ....as Kilgore

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0121900|name=Walter Burke
*ibdb name|ID=33700|name=Walter Burke
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6719023 Find-A-Grave profile for Walter Burke]