Jay Burton (1916 - 1993)

Writer, Actor. Born in New York City, he began his career as a playwriter on Broadway before relocating to California in the late 1950s. He was most noted for being a program writer for many television series such as “The Perry Como Show”, “The Hollywood Palace”, “When Things Were Rotten”, “The Steve Allen Comedy Hour” […]

Frederick Burton (1871 - 1957)

Actor. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He got his start on the stage after making a hit in a Knights of Pythias benefit in Gosport.  In 1913 Frederick along with Sydney Shields starred in “Reckless Age”, a play produced by Cecil B. De Mille shortly before he switched to film. He was an actor, known for […]

Paul “Pesach’ke” Burstein (1896 - 1986)

Actor. A matinee idol of Yiddish Theatre, he was brought to the United States in 1924 by Boris Thomashefsky. Renowned for his unique whistling, he was a popular Columbia recording artist in the 1920s and 1930s.  Family links:  Spouse:  Lillian Lux Burstein (1918 – 2005)* *Calculated relationship

William James “Bill” Burrud (1925 - 1990)

Actor. He was a child actor in motion pictures in the 1930s. Later producer/host of television nature/travel documentaries:  “Treasure” (1958); “Flight to Adventure” (1960); “Thrill Hunters” (1966); “Animal World” (1968-1980); “Safari to Adventure” (1969-1975); “The Challenging Sea” (1969); “World of Women” (1969); “World of the Sea” (1970); “The Great Apes” (1970); “The World of Reptiles” […]

Stephan William Burns (1954 - 1990)

Actor. A native of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Burns is probably best known for playing the role of Jack Cleary in the 1983 television miniseries, “The Thorn Birds”, which also starred Richard Chamberlain. He also played Deputy Brett Cueva in the television series, “240-Robert” in 1981. His other credits include the films, “Herbie Goes Bananas” (1980), […]

Paul E. Burns (1881 - 1967)

Actor in 27 television series/shows and acted 168 movies including: “Rose of Washington Square,” “Lillian Russell,” “The Mummy’s Tomb,” “The Paleface,” “Tulsa,” “Storm Warning,” “Superman and the Mole Men,” “Spartacus,” “The Absent Minded Professor,” and “Barefoot in the Park.”  (bio by: TLS)

George Joseph “Bart” Burns (1918 - 2007)

Actor. Primarily a supporting actor during his five-decade career, he is probably best remembered for his role as ‘Pat Chambers’ on “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer” television show that ran from 1957 until 1959. His father was an inspector for the New York City Police Department. After graduating from high school, he attended Cornell University in […]

Edmund Burns (1892 - 1980)

Actor. He began his career as an extra in D.W. Griffith’s silent film “Birth of a Nation” (1915) and went on to be regular in features until the mid 1930s. Among his many credits are “The Slave” (1917), “The Love Burglar” (1919), East Is West” (1922), “Poor Girls” (1927), “Ransom” (1928), “Sea Devils” (1931), “It […]

Bob Burns (1890 - 1956)

Actor. Appeared in motion pictures of the 1930s and 1940s. Know for his trademark hillbilly humor, backwoods philosophy, and tall tales.  (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  William Robert Burn (1851 – 1927)  Emma Needham Burn (1865 – 1922)  Spouses:  Harriet M. Foster Burns (1909 – 1978)  Elizabeth Fisher Burns (1899 – 1936)*  Children: […]

Frank Fulton Burley (1922 - 2007)

Singer,  Actor.  Burley was the wisecracking Irish tenor who entertained millions of Disneyland guests over the course of 25 years (1962 to 1987) as the star and master of ceremonies for the Golden Horseshoe Revue. He also provided the voice of the Irish parrot, Michael, for the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Disneyland. He was […]

Stephen K. Burks (1956 - 1992)

Character actor of the 1980s and 90s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Rick Burks (1960 - 1989)

Actor. Born Richard Allen Burks, he performed in local bands and was an excellent lead guitarist. Although acting was not an occupation he pursued as a career, he got into movies because it was a fun way for him to earn income. He is most notable for his role as Michael Tutman in the comedy-horror […]

Walter Burke (1908 - 1984)

Actor. Born Walter Lawrence Burke in Brooklyn, New York, he was a prolific performer of stage, film and television. He began his career in the 1920s, performing on Broadway in musicals and dramas. In 1948, he made his film debut in “The Naked City”, followed by “All the Kings Men” (1949). He went on to […]

Frankie Burke (1915 - 1983)

Actor. He is best known for his uncanny resemblence to James Cagney. He portrayed the younger version of Mr. Cagney’s character in the 1938 Warner Brothers production of “Angels With Dirty Faces.” He went on to appear in 16 other films, finishing a three year contract with Warner brother’s Studio’s before retiring from Hollywood after […]

Hugh Burden (1913 - 1985)

British actor and playwright. He appeared in Doctor Who (1970) and The Avengers (1963). (bio by: Natalia Danesi)

Richard Burbage (1567 - 1619)

English Actor. He is remembered for building the renown Globe Theatre, along with his older brother Cuthbert Burbage. Born on January 6, 1567, reportedly at Stratford-on-Avon, England, his father was also an accomplished actor and built the first permanent theater in England since Roman times, known simply as The Theatre. By his early 20s he […]

Sonny Bupp (1928 - 2007)

Actor. Bupp is widely remembered for his role in the classic film “Citizen Kane.” Born in New York City, Moyer MacClaren Bupp (his full name) first did mostly bit parts on cinema, often with his brother Tommy. Bupp appeared in two Our Gang comedies and in the 1937 Three Stooges short “Cash and Carry,” becoming […]

John Francis Bunny (1894 - 1971)

Motion picture actor and comedian. Son of silent-era actor John Bunny. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Spouse:  Faye Bunny (1896 – 1978)

George Edwin Bunny (1868 - 1952)

Actor. The younger brother of early silent screen star John Bunny, he had a substantial Hollywood career on his own,  appearing as a character player in over 60 films between 1915 and 1951. They include “Dawn”, “The Dark Angel”, “Shine on Harvest Moon”,  and “Summer Stock”. Bunny had previously run a drug store and founded […]

Edward H. Bunker (1933 - 2005)

Actor, Writer and Producer. He was at one time on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. During his younger days he was imprisoned in San Quentin and was the youngest inmate at that time. He was also friends with author James Ellroy (The Black Dahlia) and film Director Michael Mann and served as a ‘prison advisor’ […]

Poul Arne Bundgaard (1922 - 1998)

Actor. He was a versatile actor and tenor singer who appeared in operettas and musicals from his debut in 1947. From 1958 to 1973 he was engaged as an opera-singer by The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen and also as an actor 1969 to 1973 at the same theatre. Besides appearing on different private theatres he […]

Alan Bunce (1902 - 1965)

Actor. He is best known for his role as ‘Albert’ in the television series, “Ethel And Albert” (1952-1953). He appeared in the films, “Homicidal” (1961), “Sunrise At Campobello” (1960), “The Last Mile” (1959), and “She’s My Weakness” (1930). Also made appearances on television in, “The Defenders” “The Nurses” “Stoney Burke” “Kraft Television Theatre” “The Clock” […]

Joseph Buloff (1899 - 1985)

Actor, Theatrical Director. Born Józef Bulow in the former Wilno, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania), at an early age he became a leading actor with Poland’s famed Vilnia Troupe. During this time he met and married the Troupe founder’s daughter, Luba, also a leading actress. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1926, when Maurice Schwartz’s Yiddish […]

Charles Edward Bull (1881 - 1971)

Actor. A real-life Judge working for the Justice of the Peace in Reno, Nevada, he appeared in “Abe Lincoln” 1927, “Heart of Maryland” and “The Iron Horse”.  Family links:  Parents:  Samuel Middleton Bull (1853 – 1938)  Spouse:  Ada Grace Bull (1889 – 1964)  Siblings:  Infant Daughter Bull (1878 – 1878)*  Charles Edward Bull (1881 – […]

Donald Buka (1920 - 2009)

Actor. He began his career in the Broadway stage performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” (1940). Going on to feature films, he made his debut playing the role as Bette Davis’ son in “Watch on the Rhine” (1943). His other notable film credits included “The Bourgeois Gentleman” (1945), “The Street with No Name” (1948), […]

Sam Buffington (1931 - 1960)

American Actor. Buffington was a supporting actor who crammed over 40 radio, television and movie appearances into his short career. His balding appearance was that of a much older man, which got him parts as doctors, professors, sheriffs and bartenders.  From 1955 through 1961, he appeared on several TV shows, among them ‘Highway Patrol’, ‘Tales […]

John Buckler (1906 - 1936)

Actor. Buckler appeared in the films, “Tarzan Escapes!” (1936), “The Unguarded Hour” (1936), “The Black Room” (1936), “Eight Bells” (1935), “The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation Of David Copperfield, The Younger” (1935), and “That’s Gratitude” (1934). He was killed in a road accident in Lake Malibu, California, on October 30, 1936, at the age […]

Hugh Buckler (1881 - 1936)

Actor. Buckler appeared in the films, “Lost Horizon” (1937), “The Jungle Princess (1936), “Crash Donovan” (1936), “Carry On sergeant” (1928), “Guy Fawkes” (1923), “Belongings” (1922), “Black Peter” (1922), “The Nonentity” (1922), “The Devil’s Foot” (1921), “A Gentleman Of France” (1921), “Duke’s Son” (1920), “The Lure Of Crooning Water” (1920), and “The Garden Of Construction” (1919). […]

Yul Brynner (1920 - 1985)

Yul Brynner Motion Picture and Stage Actor. Famed as much for his baldness, he was the first bald movie idol, as for his performances. He was the son of Boris Bryner, a Swiss-Mongolian engineer and inventor, and Marousia Blagavidova, the daughter of a Russian doctor. He was born in their hometown of Vladivostok and named […]

Edward S. “Ed” Bryce (1921 - 1999)

Stage, Radio, and Television Actor. He was best known for two roles: the character Captain Steve Strong on television’s “Tom Corbett-Space Cadet” from 1954 to 1955; and an on/off again role as Bill Bauer on the long running CBS Television Soap Opera, “The Guiding Light” from 1959 to 1983. (bio by: Chuck Kearns)