William Albert Burke (born November 25, 1966) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Charlie Swan in ''

Twilight Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this i ...

'' and its

sequels A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...

. In 2011, he played Cesaire in ''

Red Riding Hood "Little Red Riding Hood" is a European fairy tale about a young girl and a sly wolf. Its origins can be traced back to several pre-17th century European folk tales. The two best known versions were written by Charles Perrault and the Brothe ...

''. In 2012, he was cast as one of the lead characters, Miles Matheson, in the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

science-fiction series ''

Revolution In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...

''. From 2015 to 2017, he starred in the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

series ''Zoo.'' He has also appeared in the

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

'' Lights Out'' (2016) and the thriller '' Breaking In'' (2018).

Personal life

Burke was born in Bellingham, Washington, USA. He was married to actress Pollyanna Rose; they divorced in 2017. They have a daughter.

Career

His television credits include roles in '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (in the episode " Second Skin"), ''

Party of Five ''Party of Five'' is an American television teen and family drama created by Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman that originally aired on Fox for six seasons from September 12, 1994, to May 3, 2000. The series featured an ensemble cast led by ...

'', ''

Gilmore Girls ''Gilmore Girls'' is an American Comedy drama, comedy-drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore). The show debuted on October 5, 2000, on The WB and beca ...

'', ''

Karen Sisco ''Karen Sisco'' is an American crime drama television series starring Carla Gugino in the title role. The series was created by novelist Elmore Leonard, based on a character who had appeared in several of his written works, as well as one film ad ...

'', ''

Fringe Fringe may refer to: Arts * Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, known as "the Fringe" * Adelaide Fringe, the world's second-largest annual arts festival * Fringe theatre, a name for alternative theatre * The Fringe, the ...

'', ''

Monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...

'', and ''

The Closer ''The Closer'' is an American television police procedural starring Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief. A CIA-trained interrogator originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda has a reputation as a c ...

'' (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! ''Mafia!'', also known as ''Jane Austen's Mafia!'', is a 1998 American crime comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams and starring Jay Mohr, Lloyd Bridges (in one of his final films), Olympia Dukakis and Christina Applegate. The film spoofs Francis ...

'', '' Along Came a Spider'', '' Final Jeopardy'', '' Flashpoint'', ''

Ladder 49 ''Ladder 49'' is a 2004 American disaster thriller film directed by Jay Russell and written by Lewis Colick. The film follows Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison, who is trapped inside a warehouse fire, and his recollection of the events that got ...

'', '' Fracture'', and ''

Three Days to Vegas ''Three Days to Vegas'' is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Charlie Picerni and starring Peter Falk, Rip Torn, George Segal, and Bill Cobbs. The story follows four elderly male retirees who take a road trip to Las Vegas to stop the impen ...

''. He appeared in ''

Feast of Love ''Feast of Love'' is a 2007 American drama film directed by Robert Benton, and starring an ensemble cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke, Selma Blair, Alexa Davalos, Toby Hemingway, and Jane Alexander. Th ...

'' (2007), co-starring

Selma Blair Selma Blair Beitner (born June 23, 1972) is an American actress. She played a number of roles in films and on television before obtaining recognition for her leading role in the film '' Brown's Requiem'' (1998). Her breakthrough came when she s ...

and Morgan Freeman, and he played Detective Eric Box in the film ''

Untraceable ''Untraceable'' is a 2008 American psychological thriller film directed by Gregory Hoblit and starring Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Billy Burke, and Joseph Cross. It was distributed by Screen Gems. Set in Portland, Oregon, the film involves a seria ...

'' (2008) with

Diane Lane Diane Colleen Lane (born January 22, 1965) is an American actress. Born and raised in New York City, Lane made her screen debut at age 14 in George Roy Hill's 1979 film ''A Little Romance''. The two films that could have catapulted her to star ...

In 2008, Burke appeared in ''

'', based on the best-selling novel by

Stephenie Meyer Stephenie Meyer (; née Morgan; born December 24, 1973) is an American novelist and film producer. She is best known for writing the vampire romance series ''Twilight'', which has sold over 100 million copies, with translations into 37 differ ...

, playing the role of Charlie Swan. He also portrayed Bobby's brother, Jack, on the show ''

My Boys ''My Boys'' is an American television sitcom that debuted on November 28, 2006, on TBS. The show deals with a sports columnist in Chicago, Illinois, played by Jordana Spiro, and the men in her life, including her brother and her best friend. Th ...

''. Burke reprised his role as Charlie Swan in the ''

'' sequels, '' New Moon'', '' Eclipse'' and ''

Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Breaking or breakin' may refer to: Arts * Breakdancing (also breaking), an athletic style of street dance * ''Breakin, a 1984 American breakdancing-themed musical film * "Breakin, a twelfth-season episode of the American animated television se ...

and Part 2''. In February 2010, Burke was cast as Jonah King, the primary antagonist featured in the thriller ''

Drive Angry ''Drive Angry'' (alternatively titled ''Drive Angry 3D'') is a 2011 American action horror film in the grindhouse cinema tradition, directed by Patrick Lussier, who co-wrote it with Todd Farmer. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, Willia ...

'', which was directed by

Patrick Lussier Patrick Lussier (born 1964) is a Canadian-American filmmaker and editor, known for his numerous collaborations with director Wes Craven and fellow screenwriters Laeta Kalogridis and Todd Farmer, as well as his work in the horror genre. Career ...

and co-starred

Amber Heard Amber Laura Heard (born April 22, 1986) is an American actress. She had her first leading role in the horror film ''All the Boys Love Mandy Lane'' (2006), and went on to star in films such as '' The Ward'' (2010) and '' Drive Angry'' (2011). S ...

Nicolas Cage Nicolas Kim Coppola (born January 7, 1964), known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and film producer. Born into the Coppola family, he is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Gui ...

, and

William Fichtner William Edward Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an American actor. He is known for his television roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on ''Invasion'', Alexander Mahone on ''Prison Break'', Carl Hickman on '' Crossing Lines'', and Adam Janikowski o ...

. It was released on February 25, 2011. In July 2011, Burke appeared in the

TNT Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...

drama series '' Rizzoli & Isles''. In 2012, he was cast as the lead in the

science-fiction series ''

'', created by

Eric Kripke Eric Kripke (born 1974) is an American writer and television producer. He came to prominence as the creator of the fantasy drama series ''Supernatural'' (2005–2020) which aired on The CW. He served as the showrunner during the first five seasons ...

and produced by

J. J. Abrams Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker and composer. He is best known for his works in the genres of action, drama, and science fiction. Abrams wrote and produced such films as '' Regarding Henry'' (1991), '' F ...

. Burke reprised his role in ''

'' (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

's ''Zoo'', based on the

James Patterson James Brendan Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an American author. Among his works are the '' Alex Cross'', '' Michael Bennett'', '' Women's Murder Club'', '' Maximum Ride'', '' Daniel X'', '' NYPD Red'', '' Witch & Wizard'', and ''Private'' ...

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

. 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 ''Most Dangerous Game'' is an American action series created by Nick Santora, Josh Harmon, and Scott Elder that debuted on Quibi on April 6, 2020. It is inspired by the 1924 short story "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. On May 20, 2 ...

'', '' 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 May 2022, CBS TV Studios' new drama ''Fire Country'' was picked up by

, the show is set to premiere in the fall; Burke plays Vince Leone, a third-generation Cal Fire and the fire chief of the community of Middletown, California. In 2010, Burke released an album titled ''Removed''. His second album, ''The Underkill'', was released in 2018.

Filmography

Film

Television

Writer

Producer

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Billy 1966 births Male actors from Washington (state) American male film actors American male television actors Living people People from Bellingham, Washington 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors