- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDennis Henry Burkley
- Nickname
- Big D
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Dennis Burkley was born on September 10, 1945 in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Hollywood Homicide (2003), Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (1992) and Tin Cup (1996). He was married to Laura Burkley. He died on July 14, 2013 in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- SpouseLaura Burkley(November 18, 1967 - July 14, 2013) (his death, 2 children)
- ChildrenDennis Shawn Burkley
- Playing either criminals or working-class characters such as bartenders, farmhands, bikers, etc.
- Imposing and intimidating when he chose to be, Burkley was a powerfully-built 6'3" 300 lb. television character actor who usually had a beard and often spoke with a Texan accent (he was born in California but raised in Dallas), who did both comedy and brutal violence.
- Played a character named "James 'Sonny' Crockett" during a 1983 four episode arc of Hill Street Blues (1981), co-written by Anthony Yerkovich, who re-cycled the name the following year when he co-created Miami Vice (1984).
- Died at age 67 after a period of ill health. Survived by his wife of 46 years (Laura), their son (Shawn) and daughter (Shannan).
- Grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas, outside of Dallas. Performed at Six Flags Over Texas in the late 1960s in the gunfight shows, Graduated from Texas Christian University (TCU) with a degree in Theatre.
- Burkley wore the same motorcycle club vest in an episode of Designing Women (1986) (episode: "High Noon in a Laundry Room") as he did in Mask (1985).
- [When asked how much he weighed] "Let me put it this way, a few more pounds, I'd have my own area code."
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
