--- name: "Billy Burke" canonical: "https://film.one/person/billy-burke" fi1m_id: "billy-burke" imdb_id: "nm0121605" tmdb_id: 21029 wikidata_id: "Q325020" roles: ["Actor"] born: "25 November 1966" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 75 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-23T11:06:27.561445+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Billy Burke ## Identity Billy Burke - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/billy-burke - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** billy-burke - **IMDb ID:** nm0121605 - **TMDB ID:** 21029 - **Wikidata ID:** Q325020 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Burke_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q325020, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121605/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21029 Actor. Born 25 November 1966 in Bellingham, Washington, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 25 November 1966, Bellingham, Washington, USA - **Also known as:** William Albert Burke - **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 2 titles - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Burke_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q325020, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121605/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21029 ## Streaming the US now - **Peacock:** [*Twilight*](https://film.one/film/twilight.md) (70) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Billy Burke > Billy Burke makes fathers and authority figures seem tired, protective and worth listening to. We value his understated humour, though casting him as the dependable adult can make it easy to forget how readily he also plays villains. As Bella’s protective father Charlie Swan in *Twilight* (2008), Billy Burke brings a welcome note of adult exasperation to the teenage longing. His understated humour does not make the romance seem foolish. We warmed to him because the protectiveness feels like concern for a daughter, not merely an excuse to get in her way. Catherine Hardwicke’s film survives clumsy dialogue and uncertain effects because the feelings are convincing, and Burke fits that approach. He does not need to compete with the central romance to be worth watching. His earlier work was largely supporting parts and television guest appearances, with *Ladder 49* (2004) and *Fracture* (2007) among the studio films. The latter casts him as Lieutenant Robert Nunally alongside Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling, another use for that ready authority. Charlie brought international recognition, but the fathers and officers are only part of the work. Jonah King, the flamboyant antagonist he plays opposite Nicolas Cage in *Drive Angry* (2011), is a useful corrective to the idea that Burke is always there to calm things down. Leading television parts followed, including Miles Matheson in Eric Kripke’s *Revolution* (2012–2014). *Zoo* (2015–2017) and *Fire Country* (2022) continued that shift from the supporting cast towards the centre of a programme. His steadiness is well suited to genre television, where the premise may be extravagant but the people must remain credible. It is useful to have an actor who can play authority as an everyday responsibility rather than an invitation to make a speech. There is a limit to what that dependability can do. A familiar father or officer can be a thinly written part, and Burke’s grounded manner is not, by itself, a reason to recommend a film. In *Twilight*, the vampire danger remains much less persuasive than the human relationships; his presence cannot put that right. But Hardwicke finds a proper use for his dry humour and protectiveness. Start there for a supporting performance that takes the teenagers seriously without having to share their sense of emergency. ## Biography William Albert Burke, known professionally as Billy Burke, is an American actor. Born in Bellingham, Washington, he began performing music as a child before studying drama at Western Washington University and appearing in Seattle theatre productions. His screen career began in the early 1990s. Burke is best known for playing Charlie Swan in the *Twilight* film series, starting with the 2008 film and continuing in the sequels *The Twilight Saga: New Moon* (2009), *The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* (2010), *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1* (2011) and *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2* (2012). Other film roles include *Fracture* (2007), *Red Riding Hood* (2011) and *Lights Out* (2016). On television he has starred in *Revolution* (2012–2014) and *Zoo* (2015–2017). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Fringe* (2008), Fi1m 80, as Lucas Vogel — [page](https://film.one/tv/fringe.md) - *Twilight* (2008), Fi1m 70, as Charlie Swan — [page](https://film.one/film/twilight.md) ## Complete filmography (73) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *M.I.A.* (2026), series, as Sheriff Jack Taylor - *Outbreak* (2025), as Neil Morris - *Bloody Axe Wound* (2024), as Roger Bladecut - *Fire Country* (2022), series, as Vince Leone - *Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition* (2022), as Commissioner James Gordon (voice) - *Maid* (2021), series, as Hank Russell — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/maid.md) - *Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two* (2021), as Commissioner Gordon (voice) - *Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One* (2021), as Commissioner Gordon (voice) - *Most Dangerous Game* (2020), series, as Reagan (uncredited) - *9-1-1: Lone Star* (2020), series, as Billy Tyson - *FBI* (2018), series, as Rowan Quinn - *Breaking In* (2018), as Eddie - *Good After Bad* (2017), as Wes Thorne - *Lights Out* (2016), as Paul - *Apek Dan Siti* (2016), Actor - *Zoo* (2015), series, as Mitch Morgan - *Divine Access* (2015), as Jack · Producer - *Angels in Stardust* (2014), as Cowboy - *Highland Park* (2013), as Lloyd Howard - *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2* (2012), as Charlie Swan - *Ticket Out* (2012), as Dennis - *Revolution* (2012), series, as Miles Matheson - *Freaky Deaky* (2012), as Chris Mankowski - *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1* (2011), as Charlie Swan - *Red Riding Hood* (2011), as Cesaire - *Drive Angry* (2011), as Jonah King - *Luster* (2010), as Tito - *Removal* (2010), as Eric Kershe - *David and Goliath* (2010), as David - *Rizzoli & Isles* (2010), series, as Gabriel Dean - *The Twilight Saga: Eclipse* (2010), as Charlie Swan - *The Twilight Saga: New Moon* (2009), as Charlie Swan - *Mario Barth: Under The Skin* (2008), Writer, Director - *Twilight* (2008), as Charlie Swan — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/twilight.md) - *Fringe* (2008), series, as Lucas Vogel — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/fringe.md) - *The Grift* (2008), as Wade Buchanan - *Untraceable* (2008), as Eric Box - *Feast of Love* (2007), as David Watson - *Backyards & Bullets* (2007), Actor - *Fracture* (2007), as Rob Nunally - *Forfeit* (2007), as Frank - *Three Days to Vegas* (2007), as Billy Simpson - *The Closer* (2005), series, as Phillip Stroh, Phillip Stroh (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Ladder 49* (2004), as Dennis Gauquin - *The Jury* (2004), series, as John Ranguso - *Dead & Breakfast* (2004), Story - *Lost Junction* (2003), as Jimmy McGee - *Monk* (2002), series, as Brad Terry - *24* (2001), series, as Gary Matheson — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/24.md) - *Final Jeopardy* (2001), as Mike Chapman - *Along Came a Spider* (2001), as Ben Devine - *After Image* (2001), as Sammy - *The Independent* (2000), as Dwayne - *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Alex Lesman — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md) - *Wonderland* (2000), series, as Abe Matthews - *Dill Scallion* (1999), as Dill Scallion - *Komodo* (1999), as Oates - *Don't Look Down* (1998), as Mark Engel - *Without Limits* (1998), as Kenny Moore - *Jane Austen's Mafia!* (1998), as Joey Cortino - *Marshal Law* (1996), as Monk - *The Ultimate Lie* (1996), Actor - *Gone in the Night* (1996), as Rob Kinney - *Strange Luck* (1995), series, Actor - *VR.5* (1995), series, as Marco - *All-American Girl* (1994), series, as Cody - *Party of Five* (1994), series, as Guy in Club, Gil — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/party-of-five.md) - *Vanishing Son* (1994), series, as Spider McKeun - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Ari — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) - *To Cross the Rubicon* (1991), as James Bird - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Mr. Farmer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Daredreamer* (1990), as Dante of the Three D's / Ortega - *CHIC*, as Drew ## Gallery - ![Billy Burke](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-0431dd292be1.jpg) Billy Burke — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Billy_Burke_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Billy_Burke_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Burke at San Diego International Comic-Con 2012](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-d96527aac912.jpg) Billy Burke at San Diego International Comic-Con 2012 — Genevieve719, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Billy_Burke.jpg/1280px-Billy_Burke.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Burke at San Diego International Comic-Con 2012](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-134e77249286.jpg) Billy Burke at San Diego International Comic-Con 2012 — Genevieve719, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Billy_Burke_%282012%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Burke_%282012%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Burke at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-8863d9c4e245.jpg) Billy Burke at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival. — Frantogian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Billy_Burke_-_Monte-Carlo_Television_Festival_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Burke_-_Monte-Carlo_Television_Festival_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Burke](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-816af27c3030.jpg) Billy Burke — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Burke](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-2e5874400cae.jpg) Billy Burke — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Burke](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-433709857f45.jpg) Billy Burke — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Burke at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival.](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-344ea26e54e2.jpg) Billy Burke at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival. — Frantogian, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Billy_Burke_-_Monte-Carlo_Television_Festival_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Burke_-_Monte-Carlo_Television_Festival_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Burke at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego.](https://film.one/media/person/482315/gallery-b5221b8fc67d.jpg) Billy Burke at the 2012 Comic-Con in San Diego. — Genevieve, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Billy_Burke_Comic-Con_2012.jpg/1280px-Billy_Burke_Comic-Con_2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/billy-burke