Lee Burns was born in Germany, to Army draftee Gary Burns and his wife
Toni Wilson. Raised in and around Ft. Worth, Texas, Lee grew up in a
very strict religious environment that forbade movie-going. In fact,
Lee's first movie theater experience wasn't until he was fourteen years
old, when his cousin snuck him out for a viewing of "Dream a Little
Dream," starring Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Although mesmerized by
the experience, Hollywood was still a dream too foreign for Lee to even
imagine.
After graduating high school, and a short stint in community college,
Lee embarked on a career as a professional firefighter/paramedic. In
his first year, Lee was voted "Rookie of the Year" and broke the time
trial record on the tower obstacle-testing course.
Lee's first foray into the Entertainment Industry came when he was
looking for part-time work around his schedule as a professional
firefighter/paramedic. David John Huber, of Fashion Theater Dallas, saw
a spark in Lee and agreed to represent him as a model, under one
condition - that Lee try acting. It didn't take long for Lee to realize
that David was right and fall head over heals in love with acting.
After several National modeling campaigns, including Six Alarm Jockey,
for Jockey underwear, (one of the most successful campaigns in Jockey's
history), which ignited a two-year nationwide appearance and
autographing tour and repeated coverage by "Entertainment Tonight,"
"Extra," CNN, etc., Lee left the modeling career behind and dedicated
himself to acting.
In just two and a half years Lee became one of the most sought after
actors in Texas with roles in six independent films, (four of which
were starring roles), a recurring role on "Walker, Texas Ranger," and
two leads in movies of the week for Paramount and VH1; the first, "The
Way She Moves," opposite Anna Beth Gish and the second, "Warning:
Parental Advisory," opposite Jason Priestly and Mariel Hemingway. This
is where Lee first worked for director Mark Waters, who immediately
recognized Lee's talent, saying, "This role represents a thimble full
of the talent [Lee] possesses. It's beneath [him] but it's the best I
had to offer."
After leaving the firefighting industry for good, and moving to
Hollywood to pursue his new passion, Lee has worked with Waters on two
more films: "Freaky Friday," opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, and "Just Like
Heaven," opposite Oscar Winner Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo.
Waters recognizes Lee as a true chameleon actor, saying, "Within the
first five minutes, I always forget that I'm watching Lee," adding,
"Lee definitely has the whole package, the sky is the limit for him. I
hope to find roles for him in all of my movies."
Lee has since appeared in films and television shows for Paramount,
Walt Disney, Universal, DreamWorks, NBC, CBS, Hallmark, Jerry
Bruckheimer Productions, Warner Brothers, FOX and TNT, (many of them
repeatedly), as well as starring in several independent films and a
television pilot. One indie film of mention is the gritty hit "Clean,"
which garnered eleven awards on the festival circuit, including six
best picture awards. Award winning Producer/Director Nyle Cavazos
Garcia had this to say about Lee's performance in the film as the
talented, tormented, mega-movie star Peter Best, "Lee lifts his
character from the page and adds layer after layer of the kind of magic
that is far beyond what you could have imagined for the role." And then
there's veteran television director Bethany Rooney, who directed Lee in
the starring role of her television pilot The Canyon Club, who says,
"Lee brought a sexy, intense, dangerous quality to his part, which
really ignites the piece...I, as the audience, am drawn to him."
Lee has also enjoyed his work opposite many of today's top stars,
besides the aforementioned Anna Beth Gish, Jason Priestly, Mariel
Hemingway, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Ruffalo and Oscar Winner Reese
Witherspoon, Lee has also worked with Oscar Winner Gary Sinise, Brook
Shields, David Carradine, Scott Glenn, Lou Diamond Phillips, and the
legendary Chuck Norris, to name a few.
Lee has also had extensive experience behind the camera as well; in the
art department, as both a carpenter and set dresser, as a grip, a
gaffer, and even in transportation on numerous film, television and
commercial projects.
In 2009 Lee took his passion for the Entertainment Business and
storytelling to the next level and formed a production company called
Awareness Entertainment, for the purpose of producing and distributing
financially successful films and television projects which raise the
pro-survival awareness of the audience members through stories that
entertain, educate and enlighten them.
Lee has just finished the company's first project, a short film
entitled Noble One, to overwhelming applause and interest at the world
premiere, co-hosted by The Acting Center, Los Angeles, where Lee
studies and is a member of the faculty. Lee was the driving force
behind Noble One, as the writer, producer, star of all five on camera
roles, the production designer, the costume designer and even the
editor.
As 2011 begins, Lee is working on a feature film project, through his
Awareness Entertainment company, entitled "Freedom for Joe," which Lee
wrote, is producing and is playing the title role in. Producing with
Lee is A-list producer John D. Schofield, and Michael Pollack.
The film is being directed by the
incredibly talented industry veteran Stephen W. Bridgewater.
