Walter Burke 4309229 213255246 2008-05-18T15:03:38Z Saratoga Sam 1637013 /* Broadway stage credits */ stage credit {{Infobox Actor | name = Walter Burke | image = Walter Burke 1959.jpg | 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]]<br>{{USA}} | deathdate = {{death date and age|1984|8|4|1908|8|25}} | deathplace = [[Woodland Hills, California]]<br>{{USA}} | spouse = | yearsactive = 1925 - [[1980 in television|1980]] | imdb_id = 0121900 }} '''Walter Burke''' ([[August 25]], [[1908]]&ndash;[[August 4]], [[1984]]) was a prolific [[Irish American|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]]''.<ref>“A New Version of 'Faust'” in the ''New York Times'', January 11, 1928, pg 26. </ref> He continued with that company through January 1930, taking part in adaptions of ''[[Madame Butterfly]]'' and ''Yolanda of Cyprus'' at the [[Casino Theatre]].<ref>“'Yolanda' Sung by Americans” in the ''New York Times'', January 9, 1930, pg 28. </ref> 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 in film|1948]], with ''[[The Naked City]]'', and the following year had a memorable role in the [[Academy Awards|Oscar-winning]] film ''[[All the King's Men (1949 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, Private Eye|Martin Kane]]''. From then until [[1980 in television|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 (Broadway)|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 (play)|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 film)|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 film)|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 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (1962) ...as Grimaldi * ''[[How the West Was Won (film)|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 (film)|My Fair Lady]]'' (1964) ...as bystander * ''[[The Plainsman (1966 film)|The Plainsman]]'' (1966) ...as Abe Ireland * ''[[Double Trouble (1967 film)|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 film)|Chandler]]'' (1971) ...as Zeno * ''[[The Stone Killer]]'' (1973) ...as JD, marijuana dealer == Television credits (partial) == * ''[[Martin Kane, Private Eye|Martin Kane]]:'' "A Jockey Is Murdered" (1951) ....as Eddie Stevens * ''[[Peter Gunn]]:'' "The Torch" (1959) ....as Ditto * ''[[Perry Mason (TV series)|Perry Mason]]:'' "The Jaded Joker" (1959) ....as Eddie Green * ''[[Hawaiian Eye]]:'' "Talk and You're Dead" (1961) ....as Kilgore == References == {{commons|Walter Burke}} {{reflist}} ==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] {{DEFAULTSORT: Burke, Walter}} [[Category:1908 births]] [[Category:1984 deaths]] [[Category:Deaths from emphysema]]