Skip to content
MovieCove
Carlease Burke

Carlease Burke

Actor · Born December 30, 1955 (70) · Hollis, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

When Carlease Burke rented John Travolta "The Cadillac of Mini Vans" in the film Get Shorty (1995), she wondered if her unusual name would land her the high octane jobs in Hollywood. Director Barry Sonnenfeld said it did and there have been other high beams in her film acting career: In Her Shoes (2005) opposite Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette, directed by Curtis Hanson; and The Terminal (2004) with Tom Hanks, directed by Steven Spielberg. Manufactured in New York City, Ms. Burke was encouraged to go into show business by her childhood dentist in her hometown of Hollis, Queens. After graduating with a BA in Pre-Law from City College of New York and a couple of Off-Broadway shows under her timing belt, she steered west to work with Timothy Busfieldin his children's company, The Fantasy Theatre. Most recently, Carlease has maintained stability in national commercials such as GEICO (A Bird In The Hand), Pfizer(mytimetoquit) Macy's, Verizon, and Honda. Her first TV credit was a recurring role on the hit soap opera The Young and The Restless. Her ever expanding list of guest star credits now include Castle (2009), Pilot (2012), Going the Distance? (2011), Hot in Cleveland (2010), Raising Hope, Hawthorne, Flash Forward, Heroes, Southland, NCIS, Grey's Anatomy, Bones, The Riches, Desperate Housewives, Malcolm in the Middle, Without a Trace, Monk, and How I Met Your Mother. Carlease's knowledge of American Sign Language paved the way to the role of Principal Jennifer Kramer in the Hallmark movie of the week, Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008), starring Marlee Matlin and 'Jeff Daniels (I)'. Carlease also spins her wheels in live theatre. She played The Nurse in Boston Court's Romeo & Juliet. Her exhilarating and confident performance earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress by the NAACP. Ms. Burke most recently portrayed Aunt Ester in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean at The Fountain Theatre; Hattie in Helen at The Getty Villa and Mary in L. Trey Wilson's All About Esther (an "urban" version of the classic film All About Eve). Under the hood of her production company, Bits N Pieces Productions is Laugh-A-Latte, a monthly stand-up comedy show that Ms. Burke produced in Long Beach, CA for 5 consecutive years. She has filmed a documentary short about the creation of this unique comedy show, its diversity and value to the deaf and hearing communities. Her reality solo show, Fifty! It Doesn't Look This Good on Everybody was the winner of the Actors Repertory's 2nd Annual Solo Show Festival. Bits n Pieces has also produced Ask A Stage Goddess, a series of advice videos on YouTube for people pursing or navigating a career in show business. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bicycle near the ocean, swimming, water yoga, trying out new recipes, traveling, hula hooping, playing bid whist and learning how the play the djembe (African drum).

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 30, 1955 (70)
From
Hollis, Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
82 on MovieCove · 99 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 24% in 30 days

What are Carlease Burke's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
48%
Morality
17%
Self
16%
Society
10%
Survival
5%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeParenthood2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 3 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 3 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
3
Hopeful
3
Melancholic
2
Absurd
2
Romantic
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Carlease Burke's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 69 of their 82 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Carlease Burke's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

99 credits, 82 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Everything & the Universe(2025)

    as Bernice

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Fractal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Gramma

  • Cosmetic Criminals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Nana

  • King Tweety(2022)

    as Queen Honk / Candice the Crane (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • I Love America(2022)

    as Aurora

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Abbott Elementary(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Sister Sipp

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • iCarly(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Greene

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Hero Mode(2021)

    as Dr. Hickman

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • United States of Al(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Tanya

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. Mayor(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbra

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Godmothered(2020)

    as Greta

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Dave(2020)

    Show 5 episodes · as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • I Was a Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Linda

  • Mixed-ish(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Shireen

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Child's Play(2019)

    as Doreen

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sydney to the Max(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Grand Maya · as Grandma Maya

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Dirty John(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle(2017)

    as Miss Mathers

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Young Sheldon(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Ebner

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Brothers Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Pearl

  • Incarnate(2016)

    as Woman at Carnival

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Shooter(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as FBI Agent

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernice

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Crowded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 13 episodes · as Alice Moore

  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Beattie

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Ballers(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mama Littlefield

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant(2015)

    as LAX Ticket Agent

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as A.D.A. Price

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Thomas

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Behaving Badly(2014)

    as Orderly

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Mom(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Patricia

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Muriel

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Hunt for the Labyrinth Killer(2013)

    as Motel Manager

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Of Two Minds(2012)

    as Counselor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Mindy Project(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Officer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Key and Peele(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Gina

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Touch(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Clea's Mother

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Switched at Birth(2011)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ms. Rose · as Principal Rose

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Prom(2011)

    as Rhoda Wainwright

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Breaking In(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Brenda

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · as Roberta

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Beneath the Dark(2010)

    as Beatrice

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Raising Hope(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Customer #2

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Hot in Cleveland(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Back-up Plan(2010)

    as Tabitha

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The League(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Middle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Teegarden

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Flashforward(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Francine

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Car Rental Shop Owner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Castle(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Storage Manager

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Dollhouse(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Pam

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Expired (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Supervisor at Roll Call

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Assistant

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Nurse Hammer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • What About Brian(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Patti

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • In Her Shoes(2005)

    as Elegant Paw Proprietor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Mute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Translator

  • How I Met Your Mother(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as WPD Worker

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Closer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Court Reporter

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Gates

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Toolbox Murders(2004)

    as Officer Melody Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse · as Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The Terminal(2004)

    as Brookstone Manager

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · as D'Arcy McKinna

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • American Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Alicia Kline

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Teacher - Juror No. 8

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Admissions Person

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Delane

  • Malcolm in the Middle(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Janice

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Out-of-Towners(1999)

    as Airline Representative

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Brooklyn South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Civilian Aide

  • Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!(1997)

    as Marcia

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Sleepwalker Killing(1997)

    as Uniformed Clerk

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • A Match Made in Heaven(1997)

    as Selma Paulson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Winslow

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Get Shorty(1995)

    as Rental Car Attendant

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Sherman Oaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Bowman

  • Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter(1992)

    as Deputy #2

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Policewoman

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse · as Nurse #2 · as O.R. Nurse

  • Party of Five(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Faricelli

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 Women(1994)

    as E.R. Nurse

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Ghost in the Machine(1993)

    as Woman Cop

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Saved by the Bell: The New Class(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Murphy

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco(1993)

    as Lizabeth

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Majority Rule (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Taylor Supporter

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Frankenstein: The College Years(1991)

    as Reporter

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare(1991)

    as Officer #2

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Death Warrant(1990)

    as Sergeant Waters

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • After the Shock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Screaming Woman

  • Doogie Howser, M.D.(1989)

    Show 5 episodes · as Paramedic

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Jones

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Young and the Restless(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Prison Official

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Last Chance Lloyd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Rhoda Wainwright

  • Last Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Shauney Billits

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 99 titles, 97 of them dated from 1973 to 2025; peak year 2021.

Biggest box office

Child's Play (2019)

$45M worldwide

Highest rated

Child's Play (2019)

Midcredits 33rd

Film career

19732025

Peak 2021 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting99 of 99: 99 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s26 · acting2010s34 · acting2020s12 · acting

Billing

usually 19th · top billed in 0% of 21 roles
900015

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Carlease Burke's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 27th percentile, the median of all 30; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

26thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 82 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up32
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th17

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 82 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved16
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed28

Most divisive · actor

Everything & the Universe (2025)

93rd percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Shameless (2011)

Midcredits 97th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Carlease Burke's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Carlease Burke work with?

People who share at least 2 of Carlease Burke's MovieCove titles; Charles Bornstein shares the most, 2.