Where is Steve Burns now? Blue’s Clue’s Steve’s career after 2002 exit explored as he shares impact of death rumors

Steve Burns is back on social media. Burns, who hosted Blue’s Clues from 1996 to 2002, abruptly left public life and began living in isolation after working on the hit children’s educational show for six years.

Currently, Burns resides in the Catskills region of New York and maintains a balanced distance from the world of showbiz. He spends his time creating music and raising awareness about mental health among university students on campuses.

During the last couple of years, Burns has intermittently shared with the media details of the undiagnosed depression that he had been suffering from while hosting the children’s show. Recently, while speaking to Rainn Wilson during the Soul Boom Podcast, Burns shared,

“I know I had a good thing going, but you can imagine, it was difficult to be the happiest man in North America when I did not feel that way, and it was very difficult to come to work. I was the only actor in every take of every shot every day…it was difficult for me to provide a generation with self esteem when I myself did not even have my own approval that day”

Steve Burns further shared details about his isolation in the years following his exit from Blue’s Clues. Burns spoke to Wilson about his alcohol addiction. Burns shared,

“It was after the show ended that alcohol became a thing in my life. I built a house in Brooklyn and never left it. I call it the gray hum of my life, it was about ten years where I did nothing, but like drink a couple of bottles of wine every night alone”

Steve Burns on rumors about his death

Steve Burns not only had to battle depression, but also faced the repercussions of exiting the public eye. His sudden disappearance from public life sparked rumors that he had died.

As Burns gained widespread popularity as the host of Blue’s Clues, the rumors spread uncontrollably. In an interview with The New York Times, Burns said,

“I was the recipient of a negative internet rumor for a long time. Everyone thought I was dead for a while. I was kind of an urban legend. And that hurt, to be honest. And it kind of messed me up because that was happening while the internet was just sort of beginning to internet. No one, including myself, was kind of prepared for the degree of consensus that it represented. When a zillion, trillion people all think you’re dead for 15 years, it freaks you out.”

Burns, who is currently active on social media, realized the negative influence of the internet when he had to endure rumors about his own death. Describing the consensus-building power of the internet, Burns shared with Today,

Trending

“but the internet provides unprecedented consensus for things that are not true. And it's weird, there's power in these little moments that seem harmless, but when you add them up, they create actual harm.”

After Steve Burns had exited Blue’s Clues, he started spending time creating music, notably collaborating with the rock band, The Flaming Lips.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback