Films:
* The Last Picture Show (1971) - Sonny Crawford
* The Choirboys (1977) - Father John Patrick Murphy
* The Buddy Holly Story (1978) - Jerry Allison
* The Last American Hero (1973) - The "Cowboy"
* Nashville (1975) - Bart
* The Electric Horseman (1979) - Billy "The Kid"
* Nine to Five (1980) - Joe, the office worker who spills his coffee
* The Right Stuff (1983) - John Glenn
* The Natural (1984) - "The Whammer"
* The Jewel of the Nile (1985) - Danny
* The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) - Benny "The Fixer"
* Tombstone (1993) - Johnny Ringo
* The Quick and the Dead (1995) - "The Undertaker"
* The Last Supper (1995) - Jack
* The Replacement Killers (1998) - Paul Koster
* The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) - Boss Hogg
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) - Dick Liddil
* The Last Stand (2013) - Sheriff Stanley "Stan" McQueen
Television:
* The Waltons (1972-1981) - John-Boy Walton (recurring role)
* The Rockford Files (1974-1980) - Various roles
* The Dukes of Hazzard (1980-1985) - Boss Hogg (recurring role)
* The A-Team (1983-1987) - Various roles
* Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001) - Various roles
* Nash Bridges (1996-2001) - Various roles
* JAG (1995-2005) - Various roles
* ER (1994-2009) - Various roles
* CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015) - Various roles
* The Closer (2005-2012) - Various roles
* Criminal Minds (2005-2020) - Various roles
This is just a small selection of his many appearances. Burkley has also worked extensively in theatre and has done voice-over work. He is a very versatile actor and has played a wide range of characters throughout his career.