Brooke Burns

Early life

Burns was born in Dallas, Texas. Burns grew up in a Christian family, with a father in the oil business who also did missionary work.

At age 16, Burns moved with her family to Europe, living later in Paris, Milan, and Munich.

Career

Television

From 1998 to 2001, Burns starred in Baywatch and * Baywatch: Hawaii* as the character Jessie Owens. In 2001, she appeared as Vicki Vale in one of several "Batman" commercials for OnStar opposite Bruce Thomas's Batman. Burns hosted NBC's Dog Eat Dog from June 2002 to August 2003 and was nominated for a Teen Choice Award. Burns starred in North Shore, a prime-time soap opera that ran for 21 episodes in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, she starred in the WB series Pepper Dennis, playing Kathy Dinkle. In 2009, Burns appeared in the first 12 episodes of the updated Melrose Place, playing Vanessa, the most recent wife of Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro) and mother of his older son's five-year-old son, Noah. Burns was given the chance to participate in the first season of the ABC celebrity diving reality competition Splash but turned it down because of an injury she had received when diving a few years before.

Burns has also appeared on Ally McBeal, Drop Dead Diva, CSI: Miami, To Tell the Truth, and Average Joe: Hawaii. She was nominated for an Emmy in 2016 for best game show host on the GSN game show The Chase with Mark Labbett and is currently host of Master Minds.

Film

For her role in the 2001 film Shallow Hal, the Farrelly brothers wrote a specific part for Burns after deciding during her audition that she was the "prettiest dorky girl" they'd met. She appeared in a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, co-starring Henry Winkler, on December 13, 2008. Other films include Smokejumpers, Dancing Trees, Trophy Wife, Art of Travel, and Time and Again. Burns appears in the Nickelback video "Trying Not to Love You" opposite Jason Alexander. Burns and Alexander both appeared in Shallow Hal. In 2017, she appeared in a Hallmark movie, Christmas Connection, starring a leading role as Sydney.

Personal life

Burns was married to actor Julian McMahon from 1999 to 2001. McMahon was the son of the former Prime Minister of Australia Sir William McMahon. They have a daughter who was born in June 2000.

Burns began dating actor Bruce Willis in August 2003. Rumoured to have become engaged in April 2004, they broke up in June 2004.

On June 22, 2013, she married film director Gavin O'Connor. She resides in Los Angeles.

In October 2016, it was announced that Burns was expecting her second child, a girl who was born in 2017.

Health and injuries

On November 10, 2005, Burns broke her neck in a diving accident. Although she made a full recovery, she has a fusion in her neck consisting of a titanium plate, rod, and 10 screws. In May 2014, Burns was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles.

Charitable activities

When Burns was filming Baywatch, she was involved with Camp Baywatch, teaching inner-city children to swim and lifeguard. She also supports the Life Rolls On Foundation, an organization that aims to help people with spinal cord injuries return to an active lifestyle. In 2006, as a result of her diving injury, she became involved with the Think First National Injury Prevention Foundation and the North American Spine Society, which aim to raise awareness of spinal injuries. In 2021, Burns appeared on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, playing for the Just Keep Livin' Foundation. The organization helps teenagers across the country.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

References

1. Gostin, Nicki. (March 25, 2015). "Brooke Burns: In Hollywood, 'if you go to church you're crazy'". Fox News.
2. Aguilar, Candice. (Summer 2008). "Brooke Burns Interview". U. Magazine.
3. (April 10, 2013). "Brooke Burns Turned Down Splash Offer Due to Past Diving Accident". Microsoft.
4. (May 27, 2013). "Brooke Burns to Host GSN's 'The Chase'". PMC.
5. "Brooke Burns".
6. "Yahoo! Movies". Bruce Willis Biography.
7. Finn, Natalie. (December 13, 2011). "Newly Blond Brooke Burns Engaged to Warrior Director". [[E!]].
8. (October 7, 2016). "Brooke Burns is Solving Mysteries and Having Babies!".
9. (January 27, 2017). "So this happened last weekend. Sunday's child Declan Welles at 4:22am On January 22nd 2017".
10. (December 19, 2005). "Brooke Burns Talks About Near Fatal Swimming Accident". Walker Marketing, Inc..
11. "Brooke Burns' Scary Spinal Cord Injury Gave Her a New Purpose".
12. (May 9, 2014). "Brooke Burns involved in car crash".
13. "More information". Volunteer Match.
14. (May 2006). "Diving Accident Survivor Brooke Burns Helps Raise Awareness About Diving Injury Prevention This Summer". Business Wire.
15. (December 13, 2021). "'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune': James Pickens Jr and Brooke Burns Open Up About Their Charities".
16. (May 16, 2015). "GOURMET DETECTIVE: Actress Brooke Burns on Hallmark movie - Exclusive Interview". Assignment X.
17. Dwilson, Stephanie Dube. (December 17, 2017). "Hallmark's 'Christmas Connection': Cast, Photos & Where Filmed".
18. "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune: Season 2, Episode 9 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes".