Actor Ed Burns debuted as a published author in the fictional novel A Kid from Marlboro Road, released on August 27th, 2024. Burns was born on January 29th, 1968, in New York City and already has an impressive resume as an award-winning actor, director, screenplay writer, and producer. Already receiving acclaim for his first novel, Burns has proven he is a man of many talents.
Humble Beginnings
Ed Burns was raised in a Catholic family on Long Island, New York, with two other siblings. His mother worked as an agent for the Federal Aviation Administration at the nearby JFK airport, while his father was a sergeant with the New York City police. Burns attended the State University of New York at Albany, majoring in English literature. After his junior year, he transferred to Hunter College in Manhattan, where he studied filmmaking and wrote screenplays.
A Kid from Marlboro Road, A Sypnosis
The novel is written from the perspective of a twelve-year-old boy who longs to be a professional writer. It starts with a scene where he attends his late grandfather’s wake. The story predominantly occurs in Hell’s Kitchen, the Bronx and Montauk. The boy, the protagonist and narrator, tells of his Irish-Catholic family with his grandfather, whom the narrator looks to as a heroic figure, an older brother and his emotionally unavailable father. The overall theme is a glimpse of the Irish catholic culture in greater New York City.
Ed Burns, Childhood Inspiration
Though his novel was a work of fiction, Burns drew much inspiration from his childhood, intermingled with hearing stories from his parent’s stories of their upbringings. The novel began during the Covid-19 lockdown, when Burns would call his mother his mother and have long conversations. She would share stories about growing up. Borrowed gems in the novel originated from his background as well. In an interview with People Magazine, Burns said, “There is freedom in fiction,”
Accolades for the Novel
Since Burns first went to college for literature, he already possessed the skills and expertise to craft written work. It makes sense that he would take the time to write a novel since he has previously written screenplays. Award-winning authors praised “A Kid From Marlboro Road,” which remains number 17 in the Cultural Heritage Fiction genre for Amazon. Malachy McCourt, author of A Monk Swimming, said, “Can a brilliant filmmaker be as good on the page? Yes! Ed Burns delights in the printed word”
Acting, Screenwriting and Production Career
Ed Burns’s professional acting career lasted from 1995 with The Brothers McMullen to 2024 with Millers in Marriage. His notable roles were in Saving Private Ryan, Life or Something Like It, and 27 Dresses. He has also been a long-time screenwriter, director, and producer of many movies in which he has acted. The Sidewalks of New York was one movie he wrote, directed and acted in. It had a budget of $1,000,000 and grossed $3,520,373 worldwide.
Additional Aspects About Burns
Burns is married to Christy Turlington, and they have two children: a girl born in 2003 and a boy born in 2006. He won the title of Best Director at the Boston Film Festival for Nice Guy Johnny, Best Ensemble Cast Performance and Outstanding Performance by a Cast Member by the Online Film Critics Society and the Screen Actors Guild (respectively) for his role in Saving Private Ryan, and Best Dramatic Film in the Sundance Film Festival for The Brothers McMullen.
Wrap-Up
It’s admirable to see a boy who grew up in an ordinary household become a director, actor, screenplay writer, movie producer, and now a novelist. Hard work and a little inspiration show that dreams can come true. As Ed Burns has demonstrated, true stories from the past can influence a fictional tale with some artistic license.
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