Edward Burns was born on January 28th 1968 in Woodside, Queens New York. The second of three children of Irish Catholic immigrants. His father Edward J. Burns was a Police Sergeant and active spokesperson for the New York Police Dept. His mother Molly, worked for the Federal Aviation Administration at Kennedy Airport. Edward, along with his older sister Mary and brother Brian were raised in Long Island. He attended Catholic Chaminade High School before transferring to a public high school. He went on to attend The State University of New York at Albany and Oneonta College in New York to major in English Literature. During his junior year he transferred to Hunter College in Manhattan, studied filmmaking and began writing the first of many short films.

Upon graduating and through his father's connections secured a job at Entertainment Tonight in 1993 working at as a "go-fer". There he was able to finance and begin working on "the Brother's McMullen". A comedy focusing on life's trials and tribulations facing three Irish-Catholic siblings. Shot primarily in his parents' Long Island home, with a cast of unknowns including Burns himself and his then-girlfriend Maxine Bahns. The feature was filmed over eight months' time with a budget reported of about $ 30,000. Rejected by a series of distributors, The Brothers McMullen bowed at Sundance, after giving Robert Redford a copy of the film while working on ET. In 1995 his film won the festival's Grand Jury Prize, becoming one of the most successful independent efforts of the year. He then sold the film to 20th Century Fox's Searchlight Pictures.

For his follow-up Burn's wrote and directed "She's the One", Burns retained much of McMullen's cast and crew, including girlfriend Maxine Bahns. He was also able to cast up-and-coming stars Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz in pivotal roles with original music from rocker Tom Petty. Filmed with a fulsome budget of almost three million dollars, the romantic comedy premiered during the summer of 1996 successfully. Burns soon began work on his third feature, "No Looking Back". A romantic drama set in a coastal town's working-class community. Burn's career seemed to be flourishing but his personal relationship with Maxine Bahns to whom he became engaged to, ended after eight years. During filming of "No looking back", there were reported romantic sightings with Burns and his co-star Lauren Holly. The relationship seemed to end when the film was released in 1998. That same year, Burns co-starred in the Steven Spielberg World War II epic "Saving Private Ryan". Burns continued a good year, with a pivotal role in one of the greatest films of all time and a new relationship with Heather Graham. In an interview with USA Weekly Magazine, Heather stated they met in a bar in LA, they exchanged numbers and had numerous conversations. He than flew back to New York and she flew to the east to see him a month later. Soon after Burns and Heather were seen at many premiers and events. It was also reported that couple was living together. Their relationship ended after two years. Although Burns and Heather were dating during filming of his next project "15 minutes" starring along side Robert De Niro. Burns attended the premier with non other than Christy Turlington. While his next few films did not make much of a dent in the box office including his film "Sidewalks in New York, which co starred Heather Graham. His relationship with Christy was getting hot and heavy. The couple got engaged in 2001. It was then reported their engagement was called off but the couple reunited after a 7 month split. Burns and Christy got married on June 7th, 2003 and welcomed their first child, Grace born on October 25th, 2003. Burns most recent projects include writing and directing "the Groomsmen" and "Purple Violets". He welcomed his second child (Feb/2006) with wife Christy. A boy name Finn.

Burns is committed to writing and directing his own films. He's not affected by his futile work and continues his own projects with poise. Tackling touchy relationship subjects and pioneering real life matters. With his portray of Woody Allen like films, there is no doubt Edward Burns will continue to dazzle us with his undeniable talent while gaining the recognition he deserves as a great writer and director.
Owns two production companies. One with brother Brian Burns: "Irish Twins". The other is called "Marlboro Road Gang Films", named for the road in Long Island that he grew up on. While working as a "go-for" at Entertainment Tonight, he financed (for about 25G's), produced, and directed his first film, The Brothers McMullen, in his spare time. Once completed, he got a copy to Robert Redford during an appearance he made at ET. Soon after, Mr. Burns quit his job at ET. Worked for Entertainment Tonight. Has a degree in English from Hunter College, where fellow actors Vin Diesel and Sam Feuer, attended. All three got their big break from Steven Spielberg. Father, Edward J. Burns, was a policeman/spokesman for the NY Police Dept. Has one sister and one brother. Is the middle child. Purchased the late 'John F. Kennedy, Jr.' 's Manhattan loft on N. Moore Street for over $2 million. [2000] Engaged to model Christy Turlington [2001] Got his role in Life or Something Like It after Edward Norton dropped out of the project. Has the same birthday (January 29) as ex-girlfriend Heather Graham Broke off his engagement to Christy Turlington, but the couple reunited in October 2002 after a seven-month split. Son of Edward J. Burns and brother of Brian Burns Is an Irish-American Daughter, Grace, was born on October 25th, 2003 in New York Is, to the day, 2 years older than Heather Graham. Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2006 Razzie Award nominating ballot. He was suggested in the Worst Actor category for his performance in the film A Sound of Thunder, however, he failed to receive a nomination. Son, Finn, born February 2006.