Walter Lawrence Burke (August 25, 1908 – August 4, 1984) was an American
character actor of stage, film, and television whose career in entertainment spanned over a half century. Although he was a native of New York, Burke's
Irish ancestry often led to his being cast in roles as an Irishman or Englishman. His small stature and distinctive voice and face also made him easily recognizable to audiences even when he was performing in minor supporting roles.
Early life and stage career
Walter Burke was born in the
Brooklynborough of
New York City to Irish immigrant parents Bedelia (
née McNamara) and Thomas Burke.[1] His father bred trotting horses, with one farm each in Ireland and Scotland.[1]
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.
Television
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-television movies. Though never a series regular, he often played different roles in multiple episodes of the same shows. In 1959–60, he appeared five times as Tim Potter in the
ABCwesternseriesBlack Saddle starring
Peter Breck. That same season, he appeared on
Andrew Duggan's Bourbon Street Beat and
John Cassavetes's Johnny Staccato detective series. He portrayed defendant Freddie Green in
CBS's Perry Mason in the 1959 episode, "The Case of the Jaded Joker," the first of five appearances in diverse roles. In 1959, he played the title character in the Tales of Wells Fargo episode "The Little Man." Between 1959 and 1969, Burke made guest appearances on five episodes of the western drama series Gunsmoke.
In 1960 he played prosecutor James Blackburn on Perry Mason in "The Case of the Ominous Outcast." Among his other roles he played a panhandler and a private detective. He guest-starred as Hatfield in the 1961 episode "The Drought" of the
syndicated western series Two Faces West. In the 1962–1963 season, he appeared on the CBS
anthology seriesThe Lloyd Bridges Show. In the 1965–1966 season, Burke appeared on another ABC western, The Legend of Jesse James. Burke played a magician called "Zeno the Great" in a 1965 (first season) episode of Bewitched entitled "It's Magic". He portrayed Alfred Swanson in the 1965 episode "Movie Star Munster" (S1, Ep28) of the television series, The Munsters.
Burke also appeared on an episode of Lost in Space, playing Mr. O.M. in "The Toymaker" (1967). He also appeared in an episode of "Wild Wild West" as the mayor of a town under siege, in Hogan's Heroes as the master safe cracker Alfie the Artiste, and in two episodes of "Bonanza", as Jesse in "Destiny's Child", and as an unsuspecting witness in a trial. Burke performed as well in the Western series The Virginian, portraying the character Billy Neal in the 1970 episode "The Gift".
Personal life
Burke married Kathryn Patricia Rooney in 1937 and they had four children, Catherine, Margaret, Deborah and Leslie. Kathryn Rooney died on May 21, 1956.[citation needed]
Burke split most of his later life between
Hollywood, where he worked, and his farm in
Monroe County, Pennsylvania. While back east, he would sometimes teach dramatics at a local college.[citation needed]
Rescue 8: "Left Hook to Hades" (1959) ... as Mike Thompson
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Jaded Joker" (1959) ... as Freddie Green
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Ominous Outcast" (1960) ... as James Blackburn
Sugarfoot: "The Mysterious Stranger" (1959) ... as Bartender
The Man from Blackhawk: 2 episodes, "Death Is the Best Policy" (1959) as Tyce; "The Harpoon Story" (1960) ... as Tom Abbott
Gunsmoke: 2 episodes: "Hinka Do" (S5E21 - 1960) ... as Herman & "Circus Trick" (S10E20 - 1965) ... as "Mr. Elko"
The Alaskans: 3 episodes, "The Blizzard" (1959) and "The Devil Made Fire" (1960) ... as Jenks in both segments; "Kangaroo Court" (1960) ... as Sid Queed
The Islanders: 2 episodes, "Operation Dollar Sign" and "The Phanton Captain" (1960) ... as Mesrob in both segments
77 Sunset Strip: 3 episodes, "The Double Death of Benny Markham (1960) ....as Benny Markham, "The Baker Street Caper" (1962) ... as Riordan, and "Terror in Silence (1963) .... as Joe Dolan
Rawhide: "The Incident of the Deserter" (1960) ... as Mr. Dimity
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Missing Melody" (1961) ... as Jack Grabba
The Lawless Years: "The Miles Miller Story" (1961) ... as Miles Miller
G.E. True: "A Friendly Tribe" (1961) ... as L.B. Prentiss
Bonanza: 3 episodes, "Bank Run" (1961) .... as Tim O'Brien, "Destiny's Child" (1966) .... as Jesse Pierson, "The Twenty-Sixth Grave" (1972) .... as Campbell
The Wide Country: "Good Old Uncle Walt" (1962) ... as Tim Mayhew
Follow the Sun: "Annie Beeler's Place" (1962) ... as Gympy
Empire: "Where the Hawk Is Wheeling" (1963) ... as Micah
Hawaiian Eye: "Talk and You're Dead" (1961) ... as Kilgore
Have Gun–Will Travel: Season 2 Episode 36 (1963) ... Mr. Abbott: A school teacher who disclosed information to Paladin about the murder of a man by the ex-sheriff.
Arrest & Trial: "The Black Flower" (1964) ... as Hoby Osborne
Mickey with
Mickey Rooney: "For the Love of Grandpa Toddie" (1964) .... as Grandfather Toddie
Bewitched: "It's Magic" (Season 1 Episode 16) (1964) ... Zeno the Great, a hapless magician
The Munsters: "Movie Star Munster" (1965) ... as Alfred Swanson
Hogan's Heroes: "The Safecracker Suite" (Season 1 Episode 27) (1966) ... Alfred Burke a.k.a. Alfie the Artiste, an English safecracking master
The Fugitive: "Joshua's Kingdom" (1966) ... as Doc
Lost in Space: "The Toymaker" (Season 2 Episode 18) (1967).... as the Toymaker, Mr. O.M. (Old Man)
The F.B.I.: "The Two Million Dollar Hit" (1974) .... as Arnie Hellings
I Dream of Jeannie: "One Jeannie Beats Four of a Kind" (1970) ... as The Boss
The Big Valley (TV series) 4 episodes, "The Iron Box" (1966) ... as Young Billy, "The Disappearance" (1967) ... as George Gates, "Fall of a Hero" (1968) ... as T.J. Dyce, "Point and Counterpoint" (1969) ...as Ned Stokely