Robert John Burke

Robert John Burke, born on September 12, 1960, is an renowned American actor who gained fame through his performances in the early films of Hal Hartley as well as his roles in RoboCop 3 (1993), Tombstone (1993), and Thinner (1996). He was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, to immigrants from Galway, Ireland and developed a strong affinity for Ireland and his Irish heritage. His breakout moment came by portraying Mickey Gavin on Rescue Me (2004–11), Bart Bass in Gossip Girl (2007–12), Ed Tucker in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2002–20), and a series of other film and television works such as Intrusion (2021).

Burke's career started off as a regular performer in fellow Purchase alumnus Hal Hartley's indie films, such as 1989's The Unbelievable Truth. He has performed in movie industry's top-nominated films like Munich directed by Steven Spielberg and Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by George Clooney. He was seen in the Netflix thriller Intrusion and more recently, in 2022, appeared alongside Keira Knightly in a remake of the crime drama The Boston Strangler. Apart from his illustrious acting career, Burke also holds a second degree black belt in Matsubayashi, Shorin-ryu Okinawan karate and is an active New York State firefighter and currently serving as a captain of an engine. His decision to become a firefighter was a tribute to his lost friends, especially his best friend, on 9/11.