Burnie Burns is an American film producer, animator, and comedian, best known for his work on the Machinima series Red vs. Blue, which he co-founded with his friends and co-workers. Born on January 18, 1973, in Rochester, New York, Burns grew up in Houston, Texas, the son of a Catholic priest and a Catholic nun. He was one of four siblings and was raised in a family with a strong emphasis on education.
Burns' early life was directed towards the medical profession, and he was a member of HOSA, a national organization for high school students interested in healthcare. He was a state champion in medical terminology and focused his academic career on attending the University of Notre Dame. However, after high school, he decided to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science.
While at UT, Burns got his start in video production by volunteering at K29HW-D, Texas Student Television. During his time with TSTV, he founded Sneak Peek, the longest-running student television program in the world, where he reviewed films and conducted interviews with guests such as Adam Sandler.
After graduating from UT, Burns worked at a tech support company, where he met his co-workers and future Red vs. Blue collaborators Geoff Ramsey and Gus Sorola. In June 2002, Burns teamed up with his colleagues to create their first viral video, a Mac Gamer Switch parody.
In 2003, Burns co-founded Rooster Teeth Productions with his friends and co-workers, and he began working on the hit web series Red vs. Blue. The series was a huge success, and Burns became an Internet celebrity. He went on to create several other successful web series, including The Strangerhood and P.A.N.I.C.S.
Burns has also acted in several films and television shows, including The Outfield and The Amazing Race. He has been nominated for several awards, including two IAWTV awards for his work on Immersion and The Gauntlet. In 2015, he was named one of the "Top 25 Digital Stars" by The Hollywood Reporter.
Burns is a co-founder and current chief creative officer of Rooster Teeth Productions, and he lives in Austin, Texas.
