Edward Burns

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This article concerns the actor born in 1968; for the co-star of 77 Sunset Strip, see Edward Byrnes. For other people named Burns, see Burns (disambiguation).

Edward Burns Jr. (born January 29, 1968) is an Irish-American actor, producer, writer, and director.

Burns was born in Woodside, Queens, New York, as the second of three children. He has a sister Mary and a brother Brian. He was raised in Valley Stream, New York, on Long Island, where he briefly attended Chaminade High School before transferring to Hewlett High School. His brother Brian followed suit. His father was a police officer and his mother was a federal employee; both are now retired.

Burns got his start in the film industry while working as a gofer at Entertainment Tonight. While there he financed, produced, and directed his first film The Brothers McMullen in his spare time. Once he completed the film he got a copy to Robert Redford during an appearance he made at ET.

In 2001, Burns wrote, directed and starred in the ensemble drama Sidewalks of New York.

Burns is known for his acting work on movies such as Saving Private Ryan, Confidence (aka CONfidence) and Life or Something Like It.

Looking For Kitty (2004), which Burns wrote, directed and starred in, was shot with a handheld $3,000 digital Panasonic DVX100. The film's entire budget was $200,000 and was filmed in New York City with a tiny crew and without standard permits. Burns discusses this unusual film-making process in the director's commentary on the DVD and writes in the Director's Letter "If you are an aspiring filmmaker, in this day of inflating budgets and runaway production, the truth is you can make a movie for no money in New York...and have a blast."

His younger brother Brian Burns is a TV producer and he and Edward own their own production company called 'Irish Twins'.

Burns has a degree in English from Hunter College and has been married to supermodel Christy Turlington since June 7, 2003; their daughter Grace was born in October 2003 and their son Finn in February 2006.