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Steve Burns

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For other people named Steve Burns, see Steve Burns (disambiguation).

Steve Burns
Burns in 2024
Born
Steven Michael Burns

(1973-10-09) October 9, 1973 (age 51)
Boyertown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationDeSales University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
  • television host
Years active1994–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
LabelsPIAS Recordings

Steven Michael Burns (born October 9, 1973)[1] is an American actor, musician and television host. He is best known as a fictional version of himself as the host of the children's television series Blue's Clues from 1996 until 2002, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. Burns has also done extensive voice-over work for advertising, including the "Snickers satisfies" advertising campaign.[2][3]

Early life and career

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Burns was born in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Burns Jr. (1938–2015) and Janet Burns (née Petaccio). He has two sisters. His father served in the U.S. Navy and later became the human resources director of Safeguard Business Systems.[4] He attended Boyertown Area Senior High School in Berks County, graduating in 1992.[5]

During his high school and college years, Burns played in several bands: Sudden Impact US, Nine Pound Truck, and the Ivys, the latter of which he called a "Morrissey rip-off band".[6] He studied theatre under an acting scholarship at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, where he was discovered by an agent.[7] He dropped out of school and moved to New York City to become a professional actor.[6] He lived in a basement apartment near Times Square, finding his first success as a voice-over artist for ads and making appearances on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order.

Blue's Clues

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In 1994, Burns auditioned for Blue's Clues, thinking it was a voice-over role for a game show. He modeled his audition performance after Christopher Walken.[8] He had long hair and an earring. "I was a bit of a skate rat," he said.[7] Initially, the Nickelodeon executives were not supportive of Burns hosting their new show; in subsequent auditions, the show's creators requested that he dress more conservatively. (Burns reported that the creators, in a call-back phone conversation, asked him, "Could you not look like yourself tomorrow morning?")[9] It became apparent, however, that he was the favorite with preschool test audiences. Executive producer and co-creator Traci Paige Johnson reported that of the 100 people they auditioned, Burns was "the realest".[6] As Alice Wilder, Nickelodeon's Director of Research and Development, said: "There was just something about this kid, who was fresh out of Pennsylvania, who just knew where to look in the camera to really talk to kids. He was just right."[9]

Blue's Clues premiered on September 8, 1996, on Nick Jr. and was an instant hit due to Burns's performances as much as the show's format. He became "a superstar" among his audience and their parents, but unknown to everyone else,[6] and enjoyed what he called being a "micro-celebrity, about as small a celebrity as you can be".[7] As The New York Times reported, he "developed an avid following among both preteen girls and mothers. The former send torrents of e-mail; the latter scrutinize the show with an intensity that might make even Elmo, the red Muppet, blush."[7] In 2000, People included Burns in their annual list of America's most eligible bachelors.[10] According to writer Diane Tracy, Burns was "destined for the part".[11] Also, according to Tracy, Burns was not the typical children's television host: "There is nothing syrupy about him—his humor is sometimes borderline offbeat, but never inappropriate for preschoolers."[11]

The show was filmed in a studio in Tribeca, Manhattan.[12] Burns became "very involved" with the production of Blue's Clues from the beginning.[10] One of the most challenging aspects of hosting the show was performing on the "blue screen" before the animation was added.[13] Burns called it "maddening"[10] and likened it to "acting at the bottom of a swimming pool".[14]

Departure

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Burns at Galaxy Con Oklahoma City in 2024

After nearly six years and nearly 100 episodes, Burns announced he was leaving Blue's Clues in January 2001[15][16][5][17][18][19][9] and in his final episodes, which aired as a three-part special on April 29, 2002, "Steve" introduced new host Donovan Patton as his younger brother, Joe.[20]

According to Johnson, Burns never wanted to become a "children's host". He loved kids, but stated, "he could not make a life-long career out of it."[6] Burns went on by saying, "I knew I wasn't going to be doing children's television all my life, mostly because I refused to lose my hair on a kid's TV show, and it was happening, fast."[9] The day following the filming of his final episode for the show, he shaved his head – something that he wanted to do for several years, but the show's producers would not allow.[21] He explained in a 2016 interview that "a lot of the original people on the show, like the people who created it, were all moving on to other careers. It just felt like time."[22] In a 2022 Variety interview, Burns revealed that he suffered from clinical depression while on the show.[23]

Burns's departure led to the resurfacing of rumors that had circulated about him since 1998, including death from a heroin overdose, being killed in a car accident, and (similar to rumors about Paul McCartney in 1966) being replaced with a look-alike. Burns made an appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell Show to dispel these rumors,[9] and he and co-creator Angela Santomero appeared on The Today Show to help concerned parents extinguish the fears of kids who may have heard these rumors.[20]

Burns consulted on the casting for the revival of Blue's Clues, titled Blue's Clues & You! and hosted by Josh Dela Cruz.[24] He and Patton reprised their roles in the premiere episode to welcome their "cousin" Josh, as well as on a recurring basis for the rest of the series. Burns and Patton also made prominent appearances in the Paramount+ movie Blue's Big City Adventure in 2022.[25][26] In addition, Burns has written and directed several episodes of the revival.[27]

Burns appeared in videos for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the premiere of Blue's Clues in 2021, including a widely watched Twitter video on Nick Jr.'s Twitter account in which he – in character as the host of the show – explained reassuringly that he had never forgotten the viewers after leaving to go to college, and marveling at how much each of them had experienced since then.[28][29][30][31][32]

Music and film career

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Burns performing in 2009

Burns worked on material for his first album, Songs for Dustmites, for two and a half years at a small studio in his home in Brooklyn before it was produced by PIAS Records in late 2002. He started work on the album after he left Blue's Clues in 2002, and it was released in 2003.[6] He posted eleven songs on his webpage and then realizing he needed help with drums and arrangements went to Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips for advice. Drozd assisted Burns with six tracks, Lips bassist Michael Ivins engineered the album, and longtime Lips producer Dave Fridmann produced it. One of the songs from the album, "Mighty Little Man", is used as the opening theme for the CBS series Young Sheldon.[33] Burns made several appearances on the series beginning in January 2022, playing a Star Trek enthusiast whom the title character meets.[34]

Burns started a band, Steve Burns and the Struggle, and completed his second album, Deep Sea Recovery Efforts, which was released in 2009. Members of the Struggle include Drozd and Ryan Smith of A Million Billion.

Burns acted in the 2007 horror-comedy film Netherbeast Incorporated with Darrell Hammond and Dave Foley, playing the part of a vampire.[35] In 2008, he played an astronaut in Christmas on Mars, a science fiction film from the Flaming Lips.[21] In March 2012, he appeared in the YouTube comedy series The Professionals.[36]

He appeared in DeSales University's production of Amadeus as the title character in 2007 and also appeared in The Comedy of Errors.[37]

In late 2016, Burns released a children's album with Drozd, titled Foreverywhere under the name "STEVENSTEVEN". They released a video of the album's first song, "The Unicorn and Princess Rainbow".[22]

Burns made a guest appearance on Tim Kubart's 2018 children's album Building Blocks.[38]

Personal life

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After residing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for much of his adult life, Burns told the New York Post in 2020 that he had been living mostly near the Catskill Mountains for the past four years.[39]

Filmography

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TV series

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TV specials

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Video games

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Shorts

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  • Blue's Birthday – himself
  • La lecon – Arthur Knudson
  • The Bill (2001) – Bill
  • Hot Pants – Ben

Stage

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  • Amadeus – Mozart
  • The Comedy of Errors – Dromio

Movies

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Documentaries

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Discography

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References

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  1. ^ "Today in History: October 9". NBC News. October 9, 2005. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Jayswal, Palak (September 24, 2022). "At FanX, 'Blue's Clues' Star Steve Burns Gets Nostalgic". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Steve Burns". ICMSpeakers.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "Mr. Joseph E. Burns Jr. Obituary". klotzbachfuneralhomes.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Hatza, George (June 24, 2007). "Burning Up the Stage". www2.ReadingEagle.com. Reading Eagle Company. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Norris, Chris (February 9, 2004). "Me and You and a Dog Named Blue". SPIN. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d Iovine, Julie V. (November 18, 1999). "At Home with—Steven Burns; A Few Clues in Brooklyn". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
  8. ^ Kami (February 26, 2022). Creating Immediacy with Steve Burns from Blue's Clues. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b c d e Jim Forbes (narrator) (July 27, 2006). Behind the Clues: 10 Years of Blue (Short documentary). Nickelodeon.
  10. ^ a b c "Questions and Answers: Steve Burns". Newsweek. July 8, 2000. Archived from the original on August 13, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
  11. ^ a b Tracy, Diane (2002). Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind a Phenomenal Business. New York City: Kaplan Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 079315376X.
  12. ^ Moore, Frazier (June 15, 1998). "Success of 'Blue's Clues' Is No Mystery". SouthCoastToday.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Kiesewetter, John (April 29, 2002). "'Blue's Clues' Puts on New Host, New Shirts". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Mifflin, Lawrie (August 3, 1997). "The Joy of Repetition, Repetition, Repetition". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  15. ^ "Steve Burns to Leave 'Blue's Clues'". NewsOn6.com (Press release). New York City: Griffin Media. Associated Press. January 2, 2001. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Blue's Clues' Steve Turns in Green Striped Shirt". CNN.com. New York City. January 2001. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Gay, Jason (May 13, 2002). "Wild Man Blues Clues". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Norris, Chris (June 22, 2019). "'Blue's Clues' Host Steve Burns on How the Flaming Lips Changed His Life". SPIN. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Burns, Steve. "Frequently Asked Questions". StevesWebpage.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2009.
  20. ^ a b Mikkelson, Barbara (August 5, 2007). "Demise and Shine". Snopes.com. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  21. ^ a b D'Angelo, Joe (April 30, 2002). "Ex-'Blue's Clues' Host Steve Burns an Indie Rocker at Heart". MTV.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  22. ^ a b Bradley, Bill (December 15, 2012). "Steve Burns Finally Confirms Why He Left 'Blue's Clues'". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  23. ^ Hailu, Selome (November 16, 2022). "Steve Comes Home: How the 'Blue's Clues' Host Overcame Death Rumors and Depression to Return to His Beloved TV Pup". Variety. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  24. ^ Carras, Christi (September 13, 2018). "'Blue's Clues' Reboot Finds New Host in Joshua Dela Cruz". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  25. ^ Cai, Delia (December 13, 2022). "Three Generations of Blue's Clues Hosts Are Still Cool with Being Your Best Friend". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  26. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (August 26, 2019). "'Blue's Clues & You!': Nickelodeon Reveals Premiere Date & Returning Hosts (Video)". TV Insider. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  27. ^ Onstad, Katrina (November 6, 2019). "'Blue's Clues' Returns, and Silence Is Still the Star (Published 2019)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.>
  28. ^ Nick Jr. Channel [@nickjr] (September 7, 2021). "So about that time Steve went off to college... #BluesClues25 https://t.co/O8NOM2eRjy" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ May, Tiffany (September 8, 2021). "First Host of 'Blue's Clues' Returns, Striking a Chord with Grown-Ups". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  30. ^ Cohen, Li (September 8, 2021). ""I Never Forgot You": Steve from "Blue's Clues" Is Back Two Decades Later with a Message to Millennials". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  31. ^ Anders, Caroline (September 8, 2021). "25 Years Later, Steve from 'Blue's Clues' Has a Message for Fans: 'I Never Forgot You'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  32. ^ Fallon, Kevin (September 10, 2021). "Why Is Everyone Freaking out About 'Blue's Clues' Host Steve?". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  33. ^ Wiiliams, Liam (November 21, 2017). "Young Sheldon's Theme Song Is by Steve from Blue's Clues, of All People". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  34. ^ Mathews, Liam (January 7, 2020). "Blue's Clues Star Steve Burns Is Young Sheldon's Weird New 'Friend' in This Sneak Peek". MSN. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  35. ^ Harris, Chris (November 2, 2007). "Former 'Blue's Clues' Host Steve Burns: Still Not Dead". MTV.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  36. ^ TheProfessionalsShow. The Professionals. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2014 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ Schoof, Dustin (June 14, 2011). "Former 'Blue's Clues' Host Steve Burns to Appear in 'The Comedy of Errors' at DeSales University". LeighValleyLive.com. Advance Local Media. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  38. ^ Cristi, A.A. (September 7, 2018). "Grammy Winner Tim Kubart Releases 'Building Blocks' on September 28". Broadway World News. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  39. ^ Gould, Jennifer (November 12, 2020). "'Blue's Clues' Star Steve Burns Lists Hipster Mansion for $3.3M". New York Post. News Corp. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
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