Steve Burns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Burns
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Burns in 2024
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Steven Michael Burns
October 9, 1973 Boyertown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Education | DeSales University |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Musical career | |
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| Labels | PIAS Recordings |
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Steven Michael Burns (born October 9, 1973) is an American actor, musician, and television host. He is best known for playing a version of himself as the host of the popular children's TV show Blue's Clues. He hosted the show from 1996 until 2002. For his work, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2001. Steve Burns has also lent his voice to many advertisements.
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Early Life and Acting Start
Steven Michael Burns was born in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. He grew up with two sisters. His father worked for a business systems company. Steve went to Boyertown Area Senior High School and graduated in 1992.
During his school years, Steve played in several bands. He studied theater at DeSales University with a scholarship. An agent discovered him there. He then moved to New York City to become a professional actor. He started by doing voice-overs for commercials. He also appeared in TV shows like Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order.
Becoming the Host of Blue's Clues
In 1994, Steve Burns auditioned for Blue's Clues. He thought it was a voice-over role for a game show. At first, some TV executives were not sure about him. However, young test audiences loved him. The show's creators said he was "the realest" among all the people who auditioned.
Blue's Clues first aired on September 8, 1996. It quickly became a huge hit. Steve Burns became very popular with kids and their parents. He was known as a "micro-celebrity" because he was famous to a specific audience. He was seen as a unique children's TV host, with a fun and sometimes quirky sense of humor.
Filming Blue's Clues was challenging. Steve had to act in front of a "blue screen". The animation was added later. He described it as "acting at the bottom of a swimming pool."
Why Steve Left the Show
After almost six years, Steve Burns announced he was leaving Blue's Clues. His last episodes aired on April 29, 2002. In these episodes, his character, "Steve," introduced his younger brother, Joe, played by Donovan Patton, as the new host.
Steve explained that he did not want to be a children's host forever. He felt it was time for him to move on. Many of the show's original creators were also starting new careers. He also mentioned that he was losing his hair, and the show's producers did not want him to shave his head while on the show. The day after filming his last episode, he shaved his head.
After he left, some false rumors about him spread. Steve appeared on TV shows like The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Today Show to tell everyone that the rumors were not true.
Steve Burns has stayed connected to Blue's Clues. He helped with casting for the new show, Blue's Clues & You!. He and Donovan Patton have appeared in the new series to welcome their "cousin" Josh, the new host. They also appeared in the 2022 movie Blue's Big City Adventure. Steve has also written and directed some episodes of the new show.
In 2021, Steve Burns appeared in videos for the 25th anniversary of Blue's Clues. In one popular video, he spoke to viewers as his character, "Steve." He explained that he had never forgotten them after leaving for college. He also expressed how proud he was of how much they had grown.
Music and Other Acting Roles
After leaving Blue's Clues, Steve Burns focused on music. He worked on his first album, Songs for Dustmites, for two and a half years. It was released in 2003. He got help from Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips for some songs. One song from the album, "Mighty Little Man," is the theme song for the TV series Young Sheldon. Steve Burns has also appeared in Young Sheldon since 2022.
Steve Burns formed a band called Steve Burns and the Struggle. They released their second album, Deep Sea Recovery Efforts, in 2009.
He has also acted in movies. These include the 2007 horror-comedy Netherbeast Incorporated and the 2008 science fiction film Christmas on Mars. In 2012, he appeared in the YouTube comedy series The Professionals. He also performed in stage plays like Amadeus.
In 2016, Steve Burns released a children's album with Steven Drozd. It was called Foreverywhere and they used the name "STEVENSTEVEN."
Podcast
In June 2025, it was announced that Steve Burns would start a podcast for adults called Alive.
Personal Life
Steve Burns lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for many years. In 2020, he shared that he had been living mostly near the Catskill Mountains for the past four years.
Filmography
TV Series
- Blue's Clues – himself (also producer)
- Blue's Clues & You! – himself, Mapbook (voice) (also directed and wrote episodes)
- Figure It Out – himself, panelist (1999)
- Homicide: Life on the Street – David Tarnofski
- Jack's Big Music Show – himself/performer
- Law & Order – Kevin Jeffries
- Little Bear – Mr. Skunk (voice)
- The Bedtime Business Song – himself
- The Early Show – himself
- The Professionals – Investor X
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show – himself
- Today – himself
- Young Sheldon – theme song performer, Nathan
TV Specials
- The 42nd Annual New York Emmy Awards – himself/Presenter
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – himself
Video Games
- Blue's 123 Time Activities – himself
- Blue's ABC Time Activities – himself
- Blue's Alphabet Book - himself
- Blue's Art Time Activities – himself
- Blue's Big Musical – himself
- Blue's Birthday Adventure – himself
- Blue's Reading Time Activities – himself
- Blue's Treasure Hunt – himself
Shorts
- Blue's Birthday – himself
- La lecon – Arthur Knudson
- The Bill (2001) – Bill
- Hot Pants – Ben
Stage
- Amadeus – Mozart
- The Comedy of Errors – Dromio
Movies
- Blue's Big Musical Movie – himself
- Christmas on Mars – Major Lowell
- Marie and Bruce – Fred
- Netherbeast Incorporated – Otto Granberry
- Who Framed Jesus – The Narrator
- Blue's Big City Adventure – himself
Documentaries
- The Fearless Freaks – himself
- I Love You, You Hate Me – himself
Discography
- Songs for Dustmites (2003)
- Deep Sea Recovery Efforts (2009) (as Steve Burns and the Struggle)
- Foreverywhere (2017) (with Steven Drozd, as STEVENSTEVEN)
See also
In Spanish: Steven Burns para niños
