Like many kids, Brooke Burns dreamed of being a dancer. Born in Texas, she studied ballet for greater than a decade earlier than a snowboarding harm in her early teenagers left her with a torn ligament in her knee—and adjusted her destiny. That accident put her on the trail to a profession in appearing that may quickly see her choose up the surfboard as one of many horny lifeguards on the hit sequence, Baywatch. Since she left that sequence in its remaining season, Burns has not often been out of view of the cameras—although right this moment she’s identified for rather more than her appearing. Preserve studying to search out out the place she is right this moment at age 44.
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After her snowboarding accident, Burns started modeling at age 15, and shortly after turned to appearing, showing within the syndicated 1996 sitcom Out of the Blue and on 4 episodes of Ally McBeal. In 1998, she joined the solid of Baywatch, then in its ninth season, enjoying aspiring lifeguard Jessie Owens.
When Baywatch was retooled into Baywatch: Hawaii, Burns was one among solely a handful of solid members who caught with the sequence, however she wound up leaving throughout the eleventh (and remaining) season on account of her being pregnant.
Her later appearing roles on tv embrace the 2004 prime time cleaning soap North Shore, the 2006 comedy/drama Pepper Dennis starring Rebecca Romjin, and the 2008 sitcom Miss Guided. She additionally guest-starred in episodes of Simply Shoot Me!, CSI: Miami, and the 2009 reboot of Melrose Place.
Burns has additionally appeared in movies, together with the 2001 comedy Shallow Hal with Gwyneth Paltrow and direct-to DVD fare together with Single White Feminine 2 and Demise to Supermodels. She’s taken on roles in 15 made-for-TV movies together with the vacation films The Most Great Time of the 12 months, A Star for Christmas, and Christmas Connection.
Most lately, she’s appeared in 5 movies within the Connoisseur Detective thriller movie sequence airing on the Hallmark Channel, enjoying a murder detective who groups with an ex-chef (performed by Dylan Neal) to unravel culinary crimes. The newest entry aired in 2020.
“For those who have been ever a fan of Homicide, She Wrote, which I used to be rising up, then you definitely’ll like this present,” she informed the popular culture website AssignmentX.
Burns’ first main job after leaving Baywatch was serving for 2 seasons because the host of the 2002 NBC sequence Canine Eat Canine, by which contestants confronted off in bodily challenges, trivia, and different video games and stunts.
In 2008, she co-hosted the Fox recreation present Gap within the Wall, based mostly on a Japanese sequence by which contestants try to contort their our bodies to suit via oddly formed openings in shifting styrofoam partitions. In 2011, she co-hosted the trivia competitors You Deserve It, which ran for simply six episodes.
From 2013 to 2015, she hosted the quiz present The Chase on GSN (incomes an Emmy nomination) and in addition the car-focused aggressive actuality sequence Motor Metropolis Masters. Since 2020, she has served because the host of GSN’s Grasp Minds.
“I bought into [hosting] as a result of once I turned a mother I noticed that quite a lot of appearing could be very lengthy days and out-of-state journey,” she stated in a 2020 interview with West Michigan Christian Information. “With Grasp Minds, we shoot six reveals in in the future after which I get to be a full time mother for some time. It has been an ideal match for me. I genuinely love individuals and I’ve a lot enjoyable internet hosting…extra enjoyable than I’ve appearing.”
Burns has two kids. In 1999, she married actor Julian McMahon, they usually had a daughter named Madison in 2000. The couple divorced in 2001.
In 2003, the Baywatch star dated Bruce Willis, and the 2 have been even rumored to be engaged, although they ended their relationship in 2004.
In 2013, Burns married director Gavid O’Connor, they usually welcomed daughter Declan in 2017. The 17-year hole between kids left the star feeling particularly grateful for a second probability at elevating a daughter. “Youngsters are such a blessing. I’m so grateful to God for giving me the chance to do it once more,” she stated in a 2020 interview with Extra Than a Assessment. “I might wish to assume I am a lot wiser, it is undoubtedly been a extra peaceable journey the second time round.”
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In 2005, Burns was very practically paralyzed in a freak diving accident at her Los Angeles dwelling. Although she ultimately totally recovered after a surgical procedure that concerned inserting a titanium rod in her neck, she suffered from “survivor’s guilt,” she informed the publication Mind & Life, and devoted herself to serving as an advocate for others who skilled spinal wire accidents.
She has labored with the Life Rolls On Basis, which helps spinal wire harm sufferers get better via participation in sports activities, in addition to the Suppose First Nationwide Damage Prevention Basis and the North American Backbone Society. “Whether or not it is doing interviews or serving to with fundraisers, I hope to extend public consciousness of spinal wire accidents,” she stated.
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