Edward Burns Biography: Wife, Age, Height, Net Worth, Movies, TV Shows, Parents, Girlfriend

Edward Fitzgerald Burns Jr., professionally known as Edward Burns, is an acclaimed American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, celebrated for his contributions to independent cinema.

Best known for his debut film The Brothers McMullen (1995), which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, Burns has built a career blending heartfelt storytelling with authentic portrayals of working-class life.

His roles in films like Saving Private Ryan (1998) and his work as a filmmaker on projects such as She’s the One (1996) have earned him recognition as a versatile talent in Hollywood.

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Edward Fitzgerald Burns Jr.
  • Stage Name: Edward Burns
  • Born: 29 January, 1968
  • Age: 58 years old
  • Birthplace: Woodside, Queens, New York City, U.S.
  • Nationality: American
  • Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
  • Height: 1.85m
  • Parents: Edward J. Burns Sr. and Molly Burns
  • Siblings: Mary Burns, Brian Burns
  • Spouse: Christy Turlington (m. 2003)
  • Girlfriends: Heather Graham (ex), Maxine Bahns (ex)
  • Children: Grace Burns, Finn Burns
  • Relationship: Married
  • Net Worth: $40 million

Early Life and Education

Edward Fitzgerald Burns Jr. was born on January 29, 1968, in Woodside, Queens, New York City, to Edward J. Burns Sr., a police officer and public relations spokesman, and Molly Burns, a federal agency manager.

Raised in Valley Stream, Long Island, alongside his older sister, Mary, and younger brother, Brian, he grew up in a tight-knit Irish-American family.

Burns began his education at Chaminade High School, a Catholic institution, before transferring to Hewlett High School.

He later attended the State University of New York at Oneonta and the University at Albany, ultimately graduating from Hunter College with a degree in English.

In 2002, Hunter College awarded him an honorary doctorate in English.

His ethnicity is Irish-American, and his religious background is Catholic.

Career

Edward Burns kicked off his filmmaking career with The Brothers McMullen (1995), a low-budget indie film he wrote, directed, and starred in, which captured the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Shot on a shoestring budget, the film’s success launched Burns into the spotlight as a fresh voice in independent cinema, focusing on themes of family and relationships.

His early acting roles in his own films, alongside appearances in projects like Saving Private Ryan (1998) as Private Reiben, showcased his ability to balance directing with performing.

Burns solidified his reputation with films like She’s the One (1996) and Sidewalks of New York (2001), both of which he wrote, directed, and starred in, earning praise for their authentic dialogue and relatable characters.

He expanded his reach with television, creating and starring in the series Public Morals (2015), a crime drama set in 1960s New York.

His ability to produce character-driven stories, often inspired by his Irish-American roots, led to consistent work in both film and TV, including roles in 27 Dresses (2008) and Friends with Kids (2011).

Burns continues to shape the indie film landscape with projects like The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012) and Summertime (2020), which reflect his signature focus on family dynamics.

His recent work includes writing, such as his novel A Kid from Marlboro Road (2024), and producing content for streaming platforms.

His influence as a pioneer of low-budget filmmaking and his commitment to authentic storytelling resonate with aspiring filmmakers and audiences alike.

Social Media

  • Instagram Handle: @edward_burns
  • Facebook Handle: Edward Burns
  • Twitter Handle: @edward_burns

Personal Life

Edward Fitzgerald Burns Jr. married supermodel Christy Turlington on June 7, 2003, and they have two children, Grace, born in October 2003, and Finn, born in February 2006.

Before his marriage, he dated actress Heather Graham from 1998 to 1999 and had a long-term relationship with actress Maxine Bahns earlier in his career.

Burns leads a relatively private life, splitting time between New York and Los Angeles, and often incorporates his family-oriented values into his work.

Filmography

  • The Brothers McMullen (1995)
  • She’s the One (1996)
  • Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  • Sidewalks of New York (2001)
  • Ash Wednesday (2002)
  • Confidence (2003)
  • The Holiday (2006)
  • 27 Dresses (2008)
  • Friends with Kids (2011)
  • The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012)
  • Summertime (2020)

Net Worth

Edward Fitzgerald Burns Jr. has an estimated net worth of $40 million, built through his multifaceted career as an actor, director, producer, and screenwriter.

His earnings stem from successful films like The Brothers McMullen and Saving Private Ryan.

His production work and endorsements further enhance his financial standing.

You May Also Like

Rudy Giuliani’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

What is Rudy Giuliani’s Net Worth?Rudy Giuliani is an American politician and inactive lawyer who has a net worth of $40 million. Rudy served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. Before this, he was the United States Associate Attorney General and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Later in his career, as part of the personal legal team for Donald Trump, Giuliani gained notoriety for engaging in corruption and attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.? Compare Rudy Giuliani’s Net WorthFinancial DisclosuresWhile he was running for President in 2007, Rudy Giuliani released disclosures that showed his net worth was at least $18 million and could be as high as $70 million. The disclosure showed that Rudy earned $11.4 million in 2006 alone after performing 124 paid speeches. That’s a major boost from 2001 when he estimated his net worth at $3 million during his divorce from his second wife, most of which came from a book advance.Rudy and Judith’s divorce proceedings with Judith Nathan took over a year to finalize. During the divorce fight, we learned a number of interesting facts about the Giuliani’s wealth and spending. We learned that the couple maintain six homes and typically spent $230,000 per MONTH to fund their lifestyle. They have 11 country club memberships and Rudy sometimes spends $12,000 PER MONTH on cigars. Immediately after their separation in 2018, Rudy agreed to pay Judith $43,000 per month in support. Judith was seeking an increase to $63,000 per month.Divorce filings showed that Rudy earned $7.9 million in 2016, $9.5 million in 2017 and $6.8 million in 2018. The vast majority of his earnings have come from speaking fees.Early Life and EducationRudy Giuliani was born in 1944 in Brooklyn, New York as the only child of working-class parents Harold and Helen. Harold, who had trouble holding down a job, was sentenced to prison in Sing Sing for felony assault and robbery. When he was released, he worked with his brother-in-law, who operated an organized crime-affiliated gambling and loan sharking ring at a Brooklyn restaurant. As a youth, Giuliani attended St. Anne’s Catholic school, and later went to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. He then enrolled at Manhattan College in the Bronx, where he majored in political science. Following his graduation, Giuliani attended the New York University School of Law, from which he graduated with his JD in 1968.Giuliani began his political career as a Democrat, volunteering for Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968. Additionally, he worked as a Democratic Party committeeman on Long Island.Start of Legal CareerAfter graduating from law school, Giuliani clerked for Judge Lloyd Francis MacMahon, United States Judge for the Southern District of New York. Later, after switching from a Democrat to an Independent in 1975, he served in the Ford administration as the Associate Deputy Attorney General. From 1977 to 1981, Giuliani practiced law at the Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler firm. During this time, following the election of Ronald Reagan, Giuliani switched his party affiliation again from Independent to Republican. In 1981, he was named Associate Attorney General in the Reagan administration, and in 1983, became US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Giuliani began gaining prominence in this position due to his many high-profile cases, including his prosecution of drug dealers and organized crime.One of Giuliani’s most famous cases was the Mafia Commission Trial, which ran from 1985 to 1986. As the lead federal prosecutor, he indicted 11 organized crime figures on charges of racketeering, extortion, and murder for hire. Another highly publicized case involved Wall Street arbitrageur Ivan Boesky, who was accused of insider trading; this case led to the prosecution of junk bond trader Michael Milken, who was also implicated in the scheme.Mayoral CareerFollowing a failed campaign for Mayor of New York City in 1989, Giuliani succeeded in 1993, and was reelected in 1997. With his platform of cracking down on crime, he spearheaded the controversial “civic cleanup” of the city between 1994 and 2001. In particular, Giuliani focused on eliminating panhandlers and sex clubs from Times Square, aiming for a return to the area’s earlier focus on business and the arts. To do this, he and newly appointed police commissioner William Bratton went after low-level crimes, using the theory of “broken windows policing” to target visible signs of social disorder. While crime rates fell, Giuliani also drew backlash for his policies, which were considered to disproportionately target racial minorities.As mayor in 2001, Giuliani was widely celebrated for his response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Many people praised his leadership role, causing his approval rating to improve drastically. Giuliani became known at the time as “America’s mayor”; moreover, he was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year, and was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002. Despite these honors, Giuliani was later criticized for downplaying the residual health effects of the attacks, and for his eagerness to reopen Wall Street.Post-Mayoral CareerIn 2002, Giuliani founded the security consulting business Giuliani Partners. Three years later, he joined a law firm that was eventually renamed Bracewell & Giuliani. On the political front, Giuliani ran a losing campaign for the Republican Party’s 2008 presidential nomination.Personal Lawyer of Donald TrumpIn April of 2018, Giuliani joined the personal legal team of Donald Trump. He soon gained enormous notoriety for his actions, in particular for engaging in corruption and profiteering on the president’s behalf. Toward the end of 2019, he was placed under federal investigation for violating lobbying laws, and for serving as a central figure in the Trump-Ukraine scandal. Following Biden’s presidential victory in November of 2020, Giuliani represented Trump in numerous ludicrous lawsuits in an effort to overturn the election results. Famously, he appeared in a bizarre press conference held between a landscaping business and a sex shop, and made a surfeit of false and debunked claims about election fraud, rigged voting machines, and a global communist conspiracy. Along with his many lies, he was involved in spurring on the right-wing rioters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Consequently, Giuliani’s license to practice law was revoked in New York State and the District of Columbia.Personal LifeGiuliani has been married three times and has two children. In 1968 he married second-cousin, Regina Peruggi. Even though they did not divorce until 1983, the pair were separated in the mid 70s.His second wife was Donna Hanover, with whom he has two children, son Andrew and daughter Caroline. Rudy and Donna filed for divorce in 2000 and had a very public battle which included Giuliani’s infidelities with future wife Judith Nathan, who was banned from meeting his children until the divorce was final. He and Nathan were married in 2010 after his battle with prostate cancer. They separated in September 2018. Following this, Giuliani revealed he was in a relationship with nurse practitioner Maria Ryan, who was alleged to be his mistress during his marriage to Nathan.
Read More