The comedian was born in Saville Street, South Shields and starred in many reviews, plays and films. He often played with Jack Kavanagh ('Arnold') and was in the long-running review ' On the Dole'. The great impresario C.B. Cochran called him the funniest man in the British Isles. Burdon made his film debut in 1932, and later made 'It's a Boy' and 'Heat Wave'. He famously appeared with Jessie Matthews in the film 'Evergreen' (1934) whose theme song 'Over my Shoulder' Jessie used as the title of her autobiography.
He retired in 1966 and returned to South Shields from Surrey, where he had been living. His son Bryan became a professional actor.