Billy Burke (actor)

William Albert Burke (born November 25, 1966) is an American actor and songwriter. Burke is known for his role as Charlie Swan in Twilight and its sequels. In 2011, he played Cesaire in Red Riding Hood. In 2012, he was cast as one of the lead characters, Miles Matheson, in the NBC science-fiction series Revolution. From 2015 to 2017, he starred in the CBS series Zoo. He has also appeared in the supernatural horror film Lights Out (2016) and the thriller Breaking In (2018).

Billy Burke
Burke at WonderCon, Anaheim, California, March 30, 2013
Born
William Albert Burke

(1966-11-25) November 25, 1966 (age 57)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active1990–present
SpousePollyanna Rose (now divorced)
Children1

Personal life edit

Burke was born in Bellingham, Washington.[1] He was married to actress Pollyanna Rose. They have one daughter.[2][3]

Career edit

His television credits include roles in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (in the episode "Second Skin"), Party of Five, Gilmore Girls, Karen Sisco, Fringe, Monk, and The Closer (Season 4, episode 13, "Power of Attorney") playing Phillip Stroh, a serial rapist and murderer, a character revisited in Major Crimes (see below). His motion picture credits include Jane Austen's Mafia!, Along Came a Spider, Final Jeopardy, Flashpoint, Ladder 49, Fracture, and Three Days to Vegas.

He appeared in Feast of Love (2007), co-starring Selma Blair and Morgan Freeman, and he played Detective Eric Box in the film Untraceable (2008) with Diane Lane.

Burke at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.

In 2008, Burke appeared in Twilight, based on the best-selling novel by Stephenie Meyer, playing the role of Charlie Swan.[4] He also portrayed Bobby's brother, Jack, on the show My Boys. Burke reprised his role as Charlie Swan in the Twilight sequels, New Moon,[5] Eclipse and Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and Part 2.

In February 2010, Burke was cast as Jonah King, the primary antagonist featured in the thriller Drive Angry,[6] which was directed by Patrick Lussier[7] and co-starred Amber Heard, Nicolas Cage, and William Fichtner.[8] It was released on February 25, 2011. In July 2011, Burke appeared in the TNT drama series Rizzoli & Isles.[9][10]

In 2012, he was cast as the lead in the NBC science-fiction series Revolution, created by Eric Kripke and produced by J. J. Abrams.[11] Burke reprised his role in The Closer (Season 7, episode 16, "Hostile Witness," playing the rapist and murderer, attorney Phillip Stroh). He appeared again in the series finale, "The Last Word", in a face-off against the LAPD. He returned as Phillip Stroh in a recurring role in the "Closer" spin-off Major Crimes with an ongoing impact on the show through its finale in 2018. From 2015-17, Burke starred as veterinary pathologist Mitch Morgan in CBS's Zoo, based on the James Patterson novel.[12] He has also appeared in the films Good After Bad (2017) and Breaking In (2018).

His most recent appearances on TV include shows like Chicago P.D., Most Dangerous Game, 9-1-1: Lone Star. He has recently starred in Maid, a new Netflix series created by Molly Smith Metzler and inspired by Stephanie Land's memoir "Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive", that premiered globally on October 1, 2021 and became one of the most watched shows in many different countries, earning several nominations at the 2022 AFI Awards, Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes.

He has also voiced Commissioner James Gordon in the animated DC movies Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One and Part Two released in 2021. In 2022, he joined the cast of CBS TV Studios' new drama Fire Country that was picked up by CBS in May; Burke plays Vince Leone, a third-generation Cal Fire and the fire chief of the community of Edgewater, California.[13]

In 2010, Burke released an album titled Removed. His second album, The Underkill, was released in 2018. A new single, Burn, was released on January 20, 2023 and featured in Fire Country episode 1x11 Mama Bear on the same day.[14] Another single, History, was released on May 10, 2024, as part of Fire Country Season 2 OST; it was featured in episode 2x09 No Future, No Consequences.[15]

Filmography edit

Film edit

YearFilmRoleNotes
1990DaredreamerDante of the Three D's
1991To Cross the RubiconJames Bird
1998Don't Look DownMark Engel
1998Without LimitsKenny Moore
1998Mafia!Joey Cortino
1999KomodoOates
1999Dill ScallionDill Scallion
2000The IndependentDwayne
2001Along Came a SpiderBen Devine
2001After ImageSammy
2003Lost JunctionJimmy McGee
2003Something MorePeter
2004Ladder 49Dennis Gauquin
2005World Poker TourHimself
2007Feast of LoveDavid Watson
2007FractureLt. Robert 'Rob' Nunally
2007ForfeitFrank
2007Three Days to VegasBilly Simpson
2007HBO First LookHimself
2008TwilightCharlie Swan
2008The GriftWade Buchanan
2008UntraceableDetective Eric Box
2009The Twilight Saga: New MoonCharlie Swan
2009LusterTito
2009Ticket OutDennis
2010The Twilight Saga: EclipseCharlie Swan
2010RemovalEric Kirsche
2011Drive AngryJonah King
2011Red Riding HoodCesaire
2011The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1Charlie Swan
2012Freaky DeakyChris Mankowski
2012The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2Charlie Swan
2013Angels in StardustThe Cowboy
2013Highland ParkLloyd Howard
2015Divine AccessJack Harriman
2016Lights OutPaul
2017Good After BadWes
2018Breaking InEddie
2021Batman: The Long Halloween, Part OneJames GordonDirect-to-video; voice role[16]
2021Batman: The Long Halloween, Part TwoDirect-to-video; voice role[17]

Television edit

YearSeriesRoleNotes
1994Party of FiveGuy in ClubEpisode: "Fathers and Sons"
1994Star Trek: Deep Space NineAriEpisode: "Second Skin"
1995Strange LuckEpisode: "Over Exposure"
1995Vanishing SonSpider McKeunEpisode: "Sweet Sixteen"
1995All-American GirlCodyEpisode: "Notes from the Underground"
1996Party of FiveGilEpisode: "Poor Substitutes"
1996Marshal LawMonkTelevision film
1996The Ultimate LieDaleTelevision film
1996Gone in the NightRob KinneyTelevision film
1997VR.5MarcoEpisode: "Parallel Lives"
2000WonderlandDr. Abe Matthews5 episodes
2001Final JeopardyMike ChapmanTelevision film
2002FlashpointShawTelevision film
2002–200324Gary Matheson7 episodes
2003Karen SiscoMerle SalchekEpisode: "Dumb Bunnies"
2003Gilmore GirlsAlex Lesman3 episodes
2004The JuryJohn Ranguso2 episodes
2004MonkBrad TerryEpisode: "Mr. Monk and the T.V. Star"
2007Law & OrderAttorney FarmerEpisode: "Charity Case"
2007Backyards & BulletsTelevision film
2008–2009My BoysJack Newman5 episodes
2008FringeLucas VogelEpisode: "In Which We Meet Mr. Jones"
2009–2012The CloserPhillip Stroh3 episodes
2010–2012Rizzoli & IslesGabriel Dean4 episodes
2012–2014RevolutionMiles Matheson42 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television
2015–2018Major CrimesPhillip StrohRecurring role
2015–2017ZooDr. Mitch Morgan39 episodes
2016Chicago P.D.Jake McCoyEpisode: "Some Friend"
2018FBIRowan QuinnEpisode: "The Armorer's Faith"
2020–present9-1-1: Lone StarCaptain Billy TysonRecurring
2020Most Dangerous GameReagan5 episodes
2021MaidHank RussellMain role[18]
2022–presentFire CountryVince LeoneMain role

Writer edit

YearFilmNotes
2003Something More
2004Dead & Breakfaststory

Producer edit

YearFilmNotes
2003Something Moreco-producer
2015Divine Accessco-producer

References edit

External links edit