---
name: "David Burke"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-burke-1220099"
fi1m_id: "david-burke-1220099"
imdb_id: "nm0121651"
tmdb_id: 1220099
wikidata_id: "Q902584"
roles: []
born: "25 May 1934"
died: "1 May 2026"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 68
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-05T12:50:27.614505+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."
---

# David Burke

## Identity

David Burke

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-burke-1220099
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-burke-1220099
- **IMDb ID:** nm0121651
- **TMDB ID:** 1220099
- **Wikidata ID:** Q902584
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Burke_(British_actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902584, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121651/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1220099

Actor. Born 25 May 1934 in Liverpool, England, UK. Died 1 May 2026.

## Details

- **Born:** 25 May 1934, Liverpool, England, UK
- **Died:** 1 May 2026
- **Active:** 1996–2012
- **Also known as:** Дэвид Бёрк, Дэвид Берк
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 70 (1), 2010s 65 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Burke_(British_actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q902584, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121651/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1220099

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Woman in Black*](https://film.one/film/the-woman-in-black.md) (65)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

David Burke was a British actor. Born in Liverpool in 1934, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his professional career on stage in 1960, appearing with companies including the Bristol Old Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

He is known for playing Dr John Watson opposite Jeremy Brett in the first two series of Granada Television's *The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes* (1984–1985). His screen credits also include the role of PC Collins in *The Woman in Black* (2012), appearances in *Agatha Christie's Poirot*, *Midsomer Murders* and *The Young Messiah* (2016), and earlier television work such as *Reilly, Ace of Spies* (1983). Burke retired from acting in 2018 and died in 2026.

He was married to the actress Anna Calder-Marshall; their son Tom Burke is also an actor.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *The Woman in Black* (2012), Fi1m 65, as PC Collins — [page](https://film.one/film/the-woman-in-black.md)
- *Twelfth Night* (1996), Fi1m 70, as Party Guest / Dancer — [page](https://film.one/film/twelfth-night-1996.md)

## Complete filmography (74)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Only the Lonely* (2018), as George
- *The Young Messiah* (2016), as Blind Rabbi
- *Harry Price: Ghost Hunter* (2015), Actor
- *The Woman in Black* (2012), as PC Collins — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-woman-in-black.md)
- *Love and Distrust* (2010), as Freddie (segment "The Summer House")
- *The Summer House* (2010), as Freddie
- *Number 13* (2006), as Gunton, Hotel Landlord
- *Random Quest* (2006), as Professor / JK Harshom
- *A View from a Hill* (2005), as Patten
- *The Closer* (2005), series, as Mr. Murdoch
- *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (2005), series, as Patten
- *The Rivals* (2004), as Sir Anthony Absolute
- *Three Sisters* (2003), as Chebutykin
- *Bertie and Elizabeth* (2002), as Lord Reith
- *Spooks* (2002), series, as Fiona's Father — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *Waking the Dead* (2001), series, as Philip Bryant
- *King Lear* (1998), as Kent
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as John Farrow, Fred Messenger — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *Twelfth Night* (1996), as Party Guest / Dancer — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/twelfth-night-1996.md)
- *Testament: The Bible in Animation* (1996), series, as God (voice)
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as Paul Boddison
- *Sherlock Holmes: The Great Detective* (1995), as Dr. John H. Watson
- *As You Like It* (1994), as Narrator (voice)
- *Space Precinct* (1994), series, as Vachel
- *Mesmer* (1994), as Doctor de Vauzesmes
- *Shakespeare: The Animated Tales* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Performance* (1991), series, as Kent
- *The House of Eliott* (1991), series, as Sir John Crowborough
- *In Suspicious Circumstances* (1991), series, as James Maybrick
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Sir Arthur Stanley
- *Run for the Lifeboat* (1988), as Gareth
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Gareth
- *The Bill* (1984), series, Actor
- *Sherlock Holmes* (1984), series, as Dr. John H. Watson
- *The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes* (1984), series, as Dr John H. Watson
- *Spyship* (1983), series, Actor
- *Reilly: Ace of Spies* (1983), series, as Stalin
- *The Tragedy of Richard III* (1983), as Sir William Catesby
- *Henry VI Part 2* (1983), as Duke of Gloucester / Dick the Butcher
- *Henry VI Part 1* (1983), as Duke of Gloucester
- *Spaghetti House* (1982), as Davis
- *The Winter's Tale* (1981), as Camillo
- *Nanny* (1981), series, Actor
- *The Man Who Saw Tomorrow* (1981), as The Friar
- *Our John Willie* (1980), series, as John Willie Halliday
- *Comedians* (1979), as Mick Connor
- *Return Fare* (1978), as Len
- *Quiet as a Nun* (1978), as Tom Amyas M.P.
- *Armchair Thriller* (1978), series, as Tom Amyas, MP, Tom Amyas M.P.
- *BBC2 Play of the Week* (1977), series, as Len
- *A Choice of Evils* (1977), as Cardinal Volponi
- *Fair Tradin' on the Dancin' Ground* (1976), as Tweed
- *The Love School* (1975), series, as William Morris
- *Centre Play* (1973), series, as Tweed
- *Crown Court* (1972), series, as Dr. Anthony Boyde
- *Holly* (1972), series, as Tom Prentiss
- *Villains* (1972), series, as Eric
- *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, as Patten, Gunton, Hotel Landlord
- *Michael Regan* (1971), as Michael Reagan
- *The Guardians* (1971), series, as Dr. Frank Benedict
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Cardinal Volponi
- *Manhunt* (1970), series, as Beauchamps
- *There Is Also Tomorrow* (1969), as Len
- *The Champions* (1968), series, as Roger Carson
- *Inheritance* (1967), series, as Henry Morcer
- *A Game of Murder* (1966), series, as Det. Insp. Ed Royce
- *Rattle of a Simple Man* (1964), as Jack (uncredited)
- *Redcap* (1964), series, Actor
- *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Len
- *Sherlock Holmes* (1964), series, Actor
- *Saturday Night Out* (1964), as Manager
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as John Wrightson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)
- *Coronation Street* (1960), series, as Jack Benjamin
- *No Hiding Place* (1959), series, Actor

---
© 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/david-burke-1220099