Jack Burns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack Burns |
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Jack Burns in 1971
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| Birth name | John Francis Burns |
| Born | November 15, 1933 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | January 27, 2020 (aged 86) Los Angeles, California |
| Medium | Stand-up, radio, television, film, theatre |
| Years active | 1959–2006 |
John Francis Burns (born November 15, 1933 – died January 27, 2020) was a talented American comedian, actor, and writer. He was also a voice actor and producer. In the 1960s, he formed funny comedy teams with George Carlin and later with Avery Schreiber. Many people remember him as "Warren," the deputy who filled in for Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show in 1965. Later, in the 1970s, he worked behind the scenes. He helped write and produce popular shows like The Muppet Show and Hee Haw.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Joining the Marines
John Burns was born in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1952, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in Korea and became a sergeant. He left the Marines around 1954.
Starting in Comedy
Burns began his comedy career in 1959. He teamed up with George Carlin. Both were working at a radio station in Fort Worth, Texas. They performed at a coffeehouse called The Cellar. Their shows were very successful.
In February 1960, Burns and Carlin moved to California. They continued to work together as a comedy duo for two more years.
Comedy Partnerships
Burns and Schreiber
Later, Burns met Avery Schreiber. They were both part of The Second City, a famous comedy group in Chicago. Burns and Schreiber formed a comedy team that lasted a long time.
They were known for skits where Burns played a talkative taxicab passenger. Schreiber played the quiet driver. In the summer of 1973, they even had their own TV show. It was called The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour.
Acting Roles
Deputy Warren Ferguson
In 1965, Jack Burns joined The Andy Griffith Show. He played Deputy Warren Ferguson. This was after Don Knotts, who played Barney Fife, left the show. Warren was a dedicated but not very good deputy. His character appeared in 11 episodes. However, he was not very popular with viewers.
Other Acting Parts
In 1967, Burns acted in the movie The Night They Raided Minsky's. He played a character called "Candy Butcher." In 1971, he was Mr. Kelly in an episode of The Partridge Family.
He also lent his voice to cartoons. He was the voice of Ralph Kane in Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. This cartoon was an early example of adult animation comedies.
Working Behind the Scenes
Writing for TV Shows
Jack Burns was also a talented writer. He was the head writer for the first season of Hee Haw. He also held this important role for The Muppet Show. His comedy partner, Avery Schreiber, even appeared on an episode of The Muppet Show during that first season.
Burns also helped write The Muppet Movie. He wrote it with Jerry Juhl. Jerry Juhl later took over as the head writer for The Muppet Show. In 1977, Burns hosted an episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live.
Fridays and Comedy Skits
In the early 1980s, Burns worked on the TV show Fridays. This was an ABC sketch comedy series. He was a writer, announcer, and sometimes performed on the show.
He was part of a famous comedy skit with Michael Richards and Andy Kaufman. They acted out a fake fight on the air. This skit was later shown in the movie Man on the Moon.
Voice Acting and Later Years
Crash Test Dummies
Jack Burns teamed up with Lorenzo Music for a special project. They provided the voices for two crash test dummies named Vince and Larry. These characters were part of public service announcements. The ads encouraged people to wear seat belts. This campaign ran from 1985 to 1998.
Animated Characters
In 1993, Burns voiced Sid the Squid in the animated series Animaniacs. He gave Sid a raspy voice, similar to Daffy Duck. Avery Schreiber also voiced a character on the show, Beanie the Brain-Dead Bison. In 1999, Burns was a guest voice in an episode of The Simpsons called "Beyond Blunderdome."
His Passing
Jack Burns passed away on January 27, 2020. He was 86 years old. He died in Los Angeles, California.
