David Burke facts for kids

David Burke (born May 25, 1934) is a talented English actor. He is best known for playing Dr. John Watson in the popular 1980s TV series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In this show, he acted alongside Jeremy Brett, who played Sherlock Holmes. David Burke also played Joseph Stalin in the TV series Reilly, Ace of Spies.

Early Life and Training

David Burke was born in Liverpool, England, on May 25, 1934. He studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which is a famous drama school.

Acting Career Highlights

David Burke has had a long and interesting acting career in both theatre and television.

On Stage: A Play About Science

In the theatre, David Burke was the first actor to play the part of Niels Bohr. This was in a play called Copenhagen, written by Michael Frayn. Niels Bohr was a very important scientist.

Playing Dr. Watson

David Burke played Dr. Watson in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes for the first series. Many people thought he was excellent as Dr. Watson. He later left the show because he was invited to join the famous Royal Shakespeare Company. His wife, Anna Calder-Marshall, who is also an actress, was invited too. They thought it would be a great opportunity for their family, especially for their young son, Tom. David Burke even suggested Edward Hardwicke as his replacement for Dr. Watson.

Before playing Watson, David Burke had already been in a Sherlock Holmes story. He played a villain in an episode called "The Beryl Coronet" for a 1965 BBC series.

Other Notable TV Roles

David Burke has appeared in many other TV shows.

• He played Joseph Stalin in the British series Reilly, Ace of Spies.
• He was in a science fiction story called Random Quest.
• In 1975, he played William Morris in the series The Love School.
• He often appears in Dutch commercials for Klene liquorice, playing a character named Johannes Coenradus Klene.
• In 2006, he acted with his son, Tom Burke, in a ghost story called Number 13.
• He also appeared with his wife, Anna Calder-Marshall, in a short film called Only the Lonely in 2018.

Personal Life

David Burke is married to actress Anna Calder-Marshall. Their son, Tom Burke, is also an actor, following in his parents' footsteps. David Burke is a big fan of the football team Everton.

Selected Film and Television Appearances

David Burke has appeared in many films and television shows throughout his career. Here are some of his notable roles:

Film Roles

• 1964: Rattle of a Simple Man as Jack
• 2012: The Woman in Black as PC Collins
• 2016: The Young Messiah as The Blind Rabbi
• 2018: Only the Lonely as George (short film)

Television Roles

• 1963–1966: Coronation Street (5 episodes)
• 1965: Sherlock Holmes as Sir George Burnwell (1 episode)
• 1975: The Love School as William Morris (4 episodes)
• 1983: Reilly, Ace of Spies as Joseph Stalin (2 episodes)
• 1984–1985: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes as Dr John Watson (13 episodes)
• 1995: Agatha Christie’s Poirot - Hickory Dickory Dock as Sir Arthur Stanley (1 episode)
• 2006: Number 13 as Gunton, Hotel Landlord (TV movie)
• 2014: The Musketeers as Father Duval (1 episode)