Alfred Burke

Alfred Burke
Born(1918-02-28)28 February 1918
Peckham, London, England
Died16 February 2011(2011-02-16) (aged 92)
Barnes, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1946–2008

Alfred Burke (28 February 1918 – 16 February 2011) was an English actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Frank Marker in the drama series Public Eye, which ran on television for ten years.

Early life

Born in London's southeast district of Peckham, the son of Sarah Ann O'Leary and William Burke, he was educated at Leo Street Boys' School and Walworth Central School. Burke started work aged 14, working in a railway repair firm in the City of London after leaving school. He became a club steward and also worked in a silk warehouse, joining a local amateur dramatics group before moving to Morley College and winning a scholarship to RADA in 1937.

His acting career started two years later at the Barn Theatre in Shere, Surrey. His budding career was interrupted by the Second World War, when he registered as a conscientious objector, and was directed to work on the land.

Career

In the late 1940s, he worked with the Young and Old Vic and other companies. His London debut was in 1950 at the Watergate Theatre, appearing in Pablo Picasso's play Desire Caught by the Tail. He then spent three years with Birmingham Repertory Theatre (1950–53) and appeared in the 1954 West End hit Sailor Beware!.

Burke built a solid reputation across a wide range of character roles in films and on television. His acting career included: The Angry Silence, Touch and Go, Interpol, Yangtse Incident and Buccaneers, as well as such televised plays as The Tip and Treasure Island.

His most famous role was the enquiry agent Frank Marker in the ABC/Thames television series Public Eye, which ran from 1965 to 1975. His low-key, understated but always compelling portrayal of the down-at-heel private eye made the series one of the most popular and highly rated detective dramas on British television.

After Public Eye ended Burke appeared in a host of guises, from Long John Silver to Pope John Paul II's father. In the television series Minder he appeared in the episode Come in T-64, Your Time Is Ticking Away as Kevin, partner to Arthur Daley in his latest scheme, a minicab service. He was also the formidable headmaster "Thrasher" Harris in Home To Roost. He played Major (later Oberst) Richter in both series of Enemy at the Door and Dr Anderson in the Bergerac episode titled Poison. Later he was seen as Armando Dippet in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

On stage Burke appeared in several productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, Roberto Zucco, The Tempest, Peer Gynt, Measure for Measure, Troilus and Cressida, Two Shakespearean Actors, All's Well That Ends Well and Antony and Cleopatra. In 2008 he appeared at the National Theatre as the Shepherd in a new version of Sophocles' Oedipus by Frank McGuinness.

In 2022 a documentary tribute to Burke was released entitled Alfred Burke is Frank Marker

Death

Burke died from a chest infection on 16 February 2011, twelve days before his 93rd birthday, and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. He was survived by his wife, Barbara (née Bonelle) and their four children: Jacob and Harriet (twins), and Kelly and Louisa (twins).

Filmography

Television roles

Comedy

Year Title Role Notes
1963 On the Knocker Frank
1985 Home to Roost Thrasher Harris "Bad Apples" (S1,E2)
1994 Under the Hammer Peter Pomfret "The Fatal Attribution"

Documentary/Arts

Year Title Role Notes
1974 2nd House reader "The First Freedom"
1977 The Lively Arts reader "Arnold Schoenberg: Bogey-Man - Prophet - Guardian 1: Crossing the Frontier 1874-1914", "Arnold Schoenberg : Bogey-Man - Prophet - Guardian 2: In Defence of Culture 1914-1951"
1978 The South Bank Show reader "Paganini Superstar"
1978 Vive a Venezia reader
1980 The Face Behind the Face (portrait of Dmitri Shostakovich) reader

Drama

    Year     Title Role Notes
1951–1956 Sunday Night Theatre (a.k.a. BBC Sunday Night Theatre) Six appearances "Counsellor at Law" (1951) – Arthur Sandler, "Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure" (1954) – Johnny Jason, "The Devil Came from Dublin" (1955) – Ignatious Farrell, "Henry Irving" (1956) – Tom Mead, "Epitaph" (1956) – Bowden, "The Seat of the Scornful" (1956) – PC Weems
1954 Murder Over Draughts
1955–1956 Kathleen Seamus MacGomigal
1955–1959 ITV Television Playhouse (aka Television Playhouse) Four appearances "The Last Reunion" (1955) – Ginger, "The Burning Glass" (1956) – Tony Lack, "Bamboo Bars" (1956) – Doctor, "Oggie" (1959)
1955 The Adventures of Annabel Neb "Say It with Music" (S1,E2)
1955 The Seventh Dungeon Ranulf
1956 Colonel March of Scotland Yard minister "The Devil Sells His Soul"
1956 No Man's Land Private Schultz
1956 Theatre Royal (aka Lilli Palmer Theatre, or Lilli Palmer presents The Quality Theatre) John "Forecast Unsettled"
1956 London Playhouse Constable Lo Peng "The Black Judge"
1956 Without Love Hart
1956 The Bowl of Ramayama The Vizier
1956–1957 Assignment Foreign Legion Major Lebeque / Corporal Lescaux
1956–1958 The Adventures of Robin Hood Two appearances "The Lottery" (1956) – Will Sharpe, "The Trap" (1958) – Sir Simon
1956–1964 ITV Play of the Week Thirteen appearances "The Crucible" (1959) – Reverend John Hale, "Yellow Jack" (1956) – Dr. James Carroll, "Boy Meets Girl" (1957) – Robert Law, "Home of the Brave" (1957) – Captain Bitterger, "The Big Knife" (1958) – Smiley Coy, "The Strong Are Lonely" (1958) – Lorenzo Querini, "The Square Ring" (1959) – Frank Ford, "Parnell" (1959) – Timothy Healy, "The Watching Eye" (1960) – Dr. Smithson, "Shadow of Guilt" (1960) – Lieutenant Trant, "The Birthday Party" (1960) – Shamus McCann, "I Can't Bear Violence" (1963) – Inspector Rideout, "The Witnesses" (1964) – Superindentent Ridout
1957 Romantic Chapter Philip
1957 The Adventures of Aggie (U.S. title Aggie Paddy O'Rourke "Cock and Bull"`
1957 The Buccaneers Two appearances "Ghost Ship" – Pirate Mate, "Instrument of War" – Marsh
1957 Hour of Mystery Detective Sargeant Wilson "Confess, Killer"
1957 Overseas Press Club – Exclusive! Inspector Maron "The Billion Franc Mystery "
1957 The New Adventures of Martin Kane Greene "The Taxi Story"
1958–1960 Boyd Q.C. Prosecuting counsel "Mustapha, King of Reefers" (1958), "In a Manner Dangerous" (1959), "Hell Hath No Fury" (1960)
1958 You're a Long Time Dead Harry
1958 The Royalty Sam S2,E5 and S2,E6
1958 Pringle Mr Byward
1958 The Adventures of William Tell Bolf "The Assassins"
1958 Murder Bag Two appearances "Lockhart Plays with Fire", "Case 27"
1958 Crime Sheet "Lockhart Rings the Bell"
1958 Charlesworth Stringer "All That Glitters"
1958 International Detective Mr Molinskys "The Carrington Case"
1958 You Are There: The Ordeal of Christabel Pankhurst
1959–1969 Armchair Theatre Six appearances "Parole" (1959), "No Gun, No Guilt" (1959) – Ross B. Meinichor, "On the Spot" (1960) – John Kelly, "Power and Glory" (1963) – Baron Sterne, "The Snares of Death" (1967) – Harold Gabbitas, "Edward the Confessor" (1969) – Gland
1959 The Invisible Man Bob "Point of Destruction" (S2,E1)
1959 Probation Officer Grantham S1,E4 and S1,E5
1959 Interpol Calling Martin Becker "The Angola Brights"
1960–1965 The Third Man Two appearances "The Widow Who Wasn't" (1960) – Braun, "Man at the Top" (1965) – Inspector Dugaine
1960 ITV Sunday Night Drama Clay "Theatre 60: The Devil Makes Sunday"
1960 No Hiding Place "Dog Eat Dog" – Alf Jenkins, "Two Blind Mice" – Frank Baines
1960 Danger Man Craven "The Conspirators"
1961–1963 Edgar Wallace Mysteries (aka The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre) Four appearances "Man at the Carlton Tower" (1961) – Harry Stone, "Backfire!" (1961) – Mitchell Logan, "Locker Sixty-Nine" (1962) – Davison, "The £20,000 kiss" (1962) – Inspector Waveney
1961–1966 The Avengers Three appearances "Dragonsfield" (S1,E26, 1961) – Saunders, "The Mauritius Penny" (S2,E7, 1962) – Brown, "The Girl from Auntie" (S4,E17, 1966) – Greggorio Auntie
1961 One Step Beyond (aka Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond) Scholl "The Sorcerer"
1961 Ghost Squad Kane "Bullet with My Name on It"
1961 Top Secret X "X" (S1,E10)
1961 Sir Francis Drake (aka The Adventures of Sir Francis Drake) Sir Amyas Paulet "Queen of Scots"
1962–1964 Z-Cars Two appearances "Day Trip" (1962) – Harold Singleton, "Whistle and Come Home" (1964) – Arnie Winter
1962 BBC Sunday Night Play Zach Toombs "The Day Before Atlanta"
1962 Man of the World High Lama "The Frontier"
1962 Maigret Police Officer Lecoeur "Seven Little Crosses"
1963–1964 The Saint Two appearances "Starring the Saint" (1963, S2,E2) – Jack Groom, "The Wonderful War" (1964, S2,E16) – Harry Shannet
1963 The Plane Makers Len Gower "One of Us"
1963 The Human Jungle Sergeant Major Bennett "A Friend of the Sergeant Major"
1963 The Odd Man Brother Paul "This Stuff's Thicker Than Water"
1963 Drama 61-67 Mr Foley "Drama '63: Night of the Leopard"
1963 Zero One Jenkins "The Switch"
1963 Espionage Gustave Kolstrom "Covenant with Death" (1963)
1964 The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling Naboth "A Bank Fraud"
1965–1975 Public Eye Frank Marker
1965 Thirty-Minute Theatre First Man "That's Not My Name"
1966 The Plane Makers Joe Panton "The Switch"
1968 The Gamblers Harry Jarman "The Day the Banana Threw a Gorilla at Rachel"
1968 The Magical World of Disney Kersner "The Secret of Boyne Castle" (parts 1-3)
1969 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Henry Foster "All Work and No Pay" (S1,E3)
1969 As You Like It: An Introduction Jacques
1970–1972 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Four appearances "The Exiles: Zo", "The Exiles: Emma", "The Exiles: Jennie" (1970) – Edgar, "Just in Time for Christmas" (1972) – Leo Nottage
1970 Big Brother Max Hughes "A Little Bit Like a God"
1972 Love Story Kapek "Night of the Tanks"
1972 Crime of Passion Paul Fayjac "Paul"
1973 The Brontes of Haworth The Reverend Patrick Brontë
1973 The Power of Dawn Leo Tolstoy
1976 Jackanory Storyteller "Mr Moon's Last Case" (parts 1-5)
1976 The Lady of the Camellias Monsieur Duval S1,E1 and S1,E2.
1977 Centre Play Snow "The Tip"
1977 Treasure Island Long John Silver
1978–1980 Enemy at the Door Major Dieter Richter
1979 Minder Kevin "Come in T-64, Your Time Is Ticking Away" (S1,E8)
1979 Orestia Adolf Eichmann
1979 The House on Garibaldi Street Leader of the Old Men "Agamemnon"
1980 ITV Playhouse Harry "A Rod of Iron"
1980 Tales of the Unexpected Herbert "The Flypaper" (S3,E1)
1980 A Question of Guilt Mr Blandy 6 Episodes
1981 The Borgias Giuliano della Rovere 6 Episodes
1983 Number 10 First Earl of Chatham "Bloodline"
1983 No Excuses Max "They're Onto Us", "Rock 'N' Roll Mad", "One Easy Lesson"
1983 Shades of Darkness Reverend Hibben "Bewitched"
1983 Storyboard Colonel Bressingham "Inspector Ghote Moves In"
1984 Pope John Paul II Karol Wojtyla Sr.
1984 Kim Lurgan
1984 The Glory Boys Jones
1984 Unnatural Causes Colonel Waley "Ladies' Night"
1986 Bergerac Dr Anderson "Poison" (S5,E8)
1988 Sophia and Constance Mr Critchlow Five episodes
1997 The Bill Walter Lilly "After All These Years" (S13,E138)
2000 Longitude Rear Admiral
2002 Holby City Derek Groombridge "We Band of Brothers" (S4,E28)

Selected radio appearances

Sources for this section include the BBC Archive.

Year Title Role Notes
1951 Portrait of an Airman Neri BBC Third Programme
1962 Mr. Larkspur rings the Bell Fred Baker Afternoon Theatre, BBC Home Service
1975 Proms '75 Narrator BBC Radio 3
1976 Murder International Dr Lancret "The Fall", BBC Radio 4
1976 Cardinal Richelieu Cardinal Richelieu Afternoon Theatre, BBC Radio 4
1977 Proms '77 Reader BBC Radio 3
1977 In Rehearsal: Uncle Vanya Astrov BBC Radio 4
1977 Schoenberg Reader BBC Radio 3
1978 Call for the Dead Mendel Five episodes, BBC World Service
1979 Cirrhosis Park Peter Hardinge The Monday Play, BBC Radio 4
1980 The Sitting Tenant Granger Afternoon Theatre, BBC Radio 4
1980 Haydn Quartet / Schoenberg Trio Introduction BBC Radio 3
1980 Geometry George Afternoon Theatre, BBC Radio 4
1980 Certain Souvenirs Narrator Afternoon Theatre, BBC Radio 4
1982 Mainly for Pleasure Introduction BBC Radio 3
1982 Nothing To Declare Peter Piper BBC Radio 3
1983 A Small Apocalypse The Writer BBC Radio 3
1986 The Holy Experiment Senor Querini The Monday Play, BBC Radio 4
1986 La Peste Fr Panaloux BBC Radio 3
1986 All's Well That Ends Well Lafew BBC Radio 3
1986 Master Olof Gert BBC Radio 3
1987 Mr Beluncle Three episodes, BBC Radio 4
1987 The Spy Who Came In from the Cold Karden BBC Radio 4
2003 The Six Mothers-In-Law Of Henry VIII Chronicler Six episodes, BBC Radio 4
2003 Nathan the Wise The Patriarch Drama on 3, BBC Radio 4

Selected theatre roles

For a detailed list of Burke's many stage appearances 1947-2008 see his entry at Theatricalia.


This page was last updated at 2023-12-22 04:36 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari