Leukemia claims TV actor Paul Burke
The name might not sound familiar, but Paul Burke had the role of Admiral Hawkes in a few episodes and Admiral Kitchner in Memories are Forever. Looks like he passed away last Sunday from leukemia.
RIP Paul Burke
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Styles Bitchley
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RIP Paul Burke
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."
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IKnowWhatYoureThinking
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rubber chicken
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Very sorry to hear it. It looks like he didn't do too many movies, but I've added Fixed Bayonets! (in which he had an uncredited roll) to my netflix queue.
I've already seen The Thomas Crown Affair - here's two shots from the trailer (with Faye Dunaway).
I've already seen The Thomas Crown Affair - here's two shots from the trailer (with Faye Dunaway).
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rubber chicken
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Even more bad news. I've really enjoyed Henry Gibson's parts over the years, especially the head Nazi in The Blues Brothers, and "My brother, the Doctor" in The 'burbs.
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Styles Bitchley
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R.I.P Henry Gibson! Henry was one of those actors that most people would instantly recognize, but fail to remember the name. What a great career he had! I'm glad his presence graced the screen on MPI.
I was too young for Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, so I fondly remember him as Wilbur in Charlotte's Web and Dr. Klopek in The 'Burbs! I'm glad to see that he had a "second life" career on Boston Legal in recent years.
I was too young for Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, so I fondly remember him as Wilbur in Charlotte's Web and Dr. Klopek in The 'Burbs! I'm glad to see that he had a "second life" career on Boston Legal in recent years.
Higgins: It's not a scratch! It's a bloody gouge!
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Paul Burke Obit from the Los Angeles Times
By Dennis McLellan
September 15, 2009
Paul Burke, who received two Emmy nominations in the early 1960s for his role as Det. Adam Flint in the acclaimed dramatic TV police series "Naked City" and later starred as a World War II Army Air Forces colonel in the action-adventure series "Twelve O'Clock High," has died. He was 83.
Burke, who had leukemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, died Sunday at his home in Palm Springs with his wife Lyn at his side, said family spokeswoman Daniela Ryan.
During a four-decade career that included roles in the movies "Valley of the Dolls" (1967) and "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968), Burke starred as U.S. 8th Air Force Col. Joe Gallagher on "Twelve O'Clock High," which ran from 1964 to '67.
He also was a frequent TV guest star and played the recurring role of congressman Neal McVane on "Dynasty" in the '80s.
One of the roles Burke was most proud of was Flint on "Naked City," the 1958-63 ABC series shot on location in New York City and known for its gritty realism. He joined the show in 1960, the year it expanded from half an hour to an hour.
When the series ended, Los Angeles Times TV columnist Cecil Smith wrote that it "may be remembered as television's finest weekly hour."
"It took the police show and gave it a dignity and compassion that at times approached high tragedy," Smith wrote. "And it shot them on the harrowing schedule of television, trying for impossible deadlines. But the end result was films and productions of such quality that they rivaled the finest theater films."
Burke did numerous stunts on the show, including climbing to the top of the 59th Street Bridge.
"Another time," he told Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper in 1963, "I had to jump from one roof to another when the stunt man refused because it was too windy to take the chance."
To get a feel for the role, Burke went on raids and arrests with New York police detectives.
"I know areas of the city that are truly jungles," he said. "I wouldn't be a detective there for $1,000 a day."
For an episode in which his detective character is sent to Sing Sing prison to witness the execution of a man he arrested, Burke actually spent a night at the facility.
"The area of the condemned has barred windows that look down over the Hudson," he told Smith in 1963. "You can see trains going by -- as if to emphasize the life outside that is to be taken away. I was not against capital punishment before we made that show -- but now, I don't know.
"It's experiences like that on 'Naked City' that make it tough to see it end," Burke said of the series. "It went beyond the monetary -- it was something you were proud to be associated with."
Born on July 21, 1926, in New Orleans, Burke was the son of prize fighter Martin Burke, who became a promoter and nightclub owner. While growing up, Burke's family owned the popular French Quarter nightclub and restaurant Marty Burke's.
After moving to Hollywood as a young man in the late '40s, Burke studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse for two years. Movie director Lloyd Bacon, a friend of Burke's father, got him his first role: an uncredited bit part in the 1951 Betty Grable musical "Call Me Mister."
Small parts in films such as "Francis in the Navy" and guest roles on series such as "Highway Patrol," "Navy Log" and "Dragnet" followed.
Burke also starred in the short-lived 1956-57 series "Noah's Ark" and the 1957-58 series "Harbourmaster."
His last credit was the 1990 movie "The Fool."
In addition to his wife of 30 years, Burke is survived by his three children from his first marriage, Paula Burke-Lopez, Paul Brian Burke and Dina Burke-Shawkat; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is pending.
dennis.mclellan@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
Related stories
From other L.A. sources
* Actor Paul Burke dead at 83|presstelegram.com
September 15, 2009
Paul Burke, who received two Emmy nominations in the early 1960s for his role as Det. Adam Flint in the acclaimed dramatic TV police series "Naked City" and later starred as a World War II Army Air Forces colonel in the action-adventure series "Twelve O'Clock High," has died. He was 83.
Burke, who had leukemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, died Sunday at his home in Palm Springs with his wife Lyn at his side, said family spokeswoman Daniela Ryan.
During a four-decade career that included roles in the movies "Valley of the Dolls" (1967) and "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968), Burke starred as U.S. 8th Air Force Col. Joe Gallagher on "Twelve O'Clock High," which ran from 1964 to '67.
He also was a frequent TV guest star and played the recurring role of congressman Neal McVane on "Dynasty" in the '80s.
One of the roles Burke was most proud of was Flint on "Naked City," the 1958-63 ABC series shot on location in New York City and known for its gritty realism. He joined the show in 1960, the year it expanded from half an hour to an hour.
When the series ended, Los Angeles Times TV columnist Cecil Smith wrote that it "may be remembered as television's finest weekly hour."
"It took the police show and gave it a dignity and compassion that at times approached high tragedy," Smith wrote. "And it shot them on the harrowing schedule of television, trying for impossible deadlines. But the end result was films and productions of such quality that they rivaled the finest theater films."
Burke did numerous stunts on the show, including climbing to the top of the 59th Street Bridge.
"Another time," he told Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper in 1963, "I had to jump from one roof to another when the stunt man refused because it was too windy to take the chance."
To get a feel for the role, Burke went on raids and arrests with New York police detectives.
"I know areas of the city that are truly jungles," he said. "I wouldn't be a detective there for $1,000 a day."
For an episode in which his detective character is sent to Sing Sing prison to witness the execution of a man he arrested, Burke actually spent a night at the facility.
"The area of the condemned has barred windows that look down over the Hudson," he told Smith in 1963. "You can see trains going by -- as if to emphasize the life outside that is to be taken away. I was not against capital punishment before we made that show -- but now, I don't know.
"It's experiences like that on 'Naked City' that make it tough to see it end," Burke said of the series. "It went beyond the monetary -- it was something you were proud to be associated with."
Born on July 21, 1926, in New Orleans, Burke was the son of prize fighter Martin Burke, who became a promoter and nightclub owner. While growing up, Burke's family owned the popular French Quarter nightclub and restaurant Marty Burke's.
After moving to Hollywood as a young man in the late '40s, Burke studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse for two years. Movie director Lloyd Bacon, a friend of Burke's father, got him his first role: an uncredited bit part in the 1951 Betty Grable musical "Call Me Mister."
Small parts in films such as "Francis in the Navy" and guest roles on series such as "Highway Patrol," "Navy Log" and "Dragnet" followed.
Burke also starred in the short-lived 1956-57 series "Noah's Ark" and the 1957-58 series "Harbourmaster."
His last credit was the 1990 movie "The Fool."
In addition to his wife of 30 years, Burke is survived by his three children from his first marriage, Paula Burke-Lopez, Paul Brian Burke and Dina Burke-Shawkat; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is pending.
dennis.mclellan@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
Related stories
From other L.A. sources
* Actor Paul Burke dead at 83|presstelegram.com
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rubber chicken
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I wonder if Lloyd Bacon was related in any way to Magnum P.I.'s Arch Bacon, perhaps resulting in Paul Burke being on Magnum P.I.
IMDB lists some of Lloyd's family, but doesn't mention Arch, and Arch doesn't have a bio page at IMDB.
IMDB lists some of Lloyd's family, but doesn't mention Arch, and Arch doesn't have a bio page at IMDB.
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AmandaByNight
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I loved Paul Burke. He was such a fixture on TV in the 70s and 80s in lots of character bits. So completely handsome and talented. I had not heard about his passing until months after it happened. It always bums me out when a great actor's death gets no fan fare.
I was so happy to see a little love here!
I was so happy to see a little love here!