Steve Burns

{{Infobox person | name = Steve Burns | image = Steve Burns Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2023.jpg | alt = | caption = Burns at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2023 | birth_name = Steven Michael Burns | birth_date = | birth_place = Boyertown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | education = DeSales University | occupation = | years_active = 1995–present | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | background = solo_singer | instrument = | genre = | label = PIAS Recordings | associated_acts = {{hlist|The Flaming Lips|Steve Burns & The Struggle|STEVENSTEVEN}} }} }} Steven Michael Burns (born October 9, 1973) is an American actor, musician, television host, and voice actor. He is best known as the original host of the children's television program Blue's Clues from 1996 until 2002, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. Burns has also done extensive voiceover work for advertising, and is currently the voice of the Snickers satisfies advertising campaign. Early life and career Burns was born in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Burns Jr. (1938–2015) and Janet Burns (née Petaccio). He has two sisters. His father served in the U.S. Navy and later became the human resources director of Safeguard Business Systems. He attended Boyertown Area Senior High School in Berks County, graduating in 1992. Burns played in bands called Sudden Impact US, Nine Pound Truck, and the Ivys (which he has called a "Morrissey rip-off band") while in high school and college. He studied theatre under an acting scholarship at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, where he was discovered by an agent. He dropped out of school and moved to New York City to become a professional actor.He lived in a basement apartment near Times Square, finding his first success as a voice-over artist for ads and making appearances on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. Blue's Clues In 1994, Burns auditioned for Blue's Clues, thinking it was a voice-over role for a game show. He modeled his audition performance after Christopher Walken.He had long hair and an earring. "I was a bit of a skate rat," he said. Initially, the Nickelodeon executives were not supportive of Burns hosting their new show; in subsequent auditions, the show's creators requested that he dress more conservatively.