STEVE BURNS
Name: Steve Burns
Born: 9 October 1973 Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Steve Burns (born Steven Michael Burns on October 9, 1973, in Boyertown,
Pennsylvania) is an American entertainer. He is best-known as the original
host of the long-running children's television program Blue's Clues.
Steve Burns grew up in rural Pennsylvania, in a small town named Boyertown. He
played in bands called Sudden Impact, Nine Pound Truck, and the Ivys (which he
has called a "Morrissey rip-off band") while in high school and college. He
studied theatre at Allentown College in Pennsylvania under an acting
scholarship, but quit school and moved to New York City to become a professional
actor. 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 and
Law & Order. Burns, about his 1995 role in Law and Order, stated, "I was
autistic and died."
Also in 1995, Burns auditioned for Blue's Clues, thinking it was another voice-over
role. He showed up with long hair and an earring; "I was a bit of a skate rat."
he said. 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 you tomorrow morning?")
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." As Dr. 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."
From its premiere, Blue's Clues was an instant hit, due to Steve Burns'
performances as much as the show's format. He became "a superstar" among his
audience and their parents, but unknown to everyone else, and enjoyed what he
called "micro-celebrity, about as small a celebrity as you can be." 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." In
2000, People Magazine included Burns in their annual list of America's most
eligible bachelors.
Burns became "very involved" with the production of Blue's Clues from the
beginning, first becoming a creative consultant and by 2000, a producer. One
of the most challenging aspects of being the host of the show was performing in
front of the "blue screen" before the animation was added. Burns called it "maddening"
and likened it to "acting at the bottom of a swimming pool."
Name: Steve Burns
Born: 9 October 1973 Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Steve Burns (born Steven Michael Burns on October 9, 1973, in Boyertown,
Pennsylvania) is an American entertainer. He is best-known as the original
host of the long-running children's television program Blue's Clues.
Steve Burns grew up in rural Pennsylvania, in a small town named Boyertown. He
played in bands called Sudden Impact, Nine Pound Truck, and the Ivys (which he
has called a "Morrissey rip-off band") while in high school and college. He
studied theatre at Allentown College in Pennsylvania under an acting
scholarship, but quit school and moved to New York City to become a professional
actor. 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 and
Law & Order. Burns, about his 1995 role in Law and Order, stated, "I was
autistic and died."
Also in 1995, Burns auditioned for Blue's Clues, thinking it was another voice-over
role. He showed up with long hair and an earring; "I was a bit of a skate rat."
he said. 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 you tomorrow morning?")
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." As Dr. 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."
From its premiere, Blue's Clues was an instant hit, due to Steve Burns'
performances as much as the show's format. He became "a superstar" among his
audience and their parents, but unknown to everyone else, and enjoyed what he
called "micro-celebrity, about as small a celebrity as you can be." 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." In
2000, People Magazine included Burns in their annual list of America's most
eligible bachelors.
Burns became "very involved" with the production of Blue's Clues from the
beginning, first becoming a creative consultant and by 2000, a producer. One
of the most challenging aspects of being the host of the show was performing in
front of the "blue screen" before the animation was added. Burns called it "maddening"
and likened it to "acting at the bottom of a swimming pool."