Carlease Burke's journey in the entertainment industry began when she rented a "Cadillac of Mini Vans" to John Travolta in the 1995 film Get Shorty. She wondered if her unique name would lead to high-octane roles in Hollywood, and director Barry Sonnenfeld confirmed her suspicions.
Born in New York City, Ms. Burke was encouraged to pursue a career in show business by her childhood dentist in her hometown of Hollis, Queens. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Law from City College of New York and performed in several Off-Broadway shows before moving to Los Angeles.
Ms. Burke has since appeared in a range of films and television shows, including In Her Shoes opposite Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette, The Terminal with Tom Hanks, and numerous guest star roles on popular TV series. Her first TV credit was a recurring role on the hit soap opera The Young and The Restless, and she has since expanded her list of credits to include Castle, Pilot, Going the Distance?, Hot in Cleveland, Raising Hope, and many more.
Ms. Burke's knowledge of American Sign Language led to a role in the Hallmark movie of the week Sweet Nothing in My Ear, starring Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels. She has also appeared in live theatre productions, including Romeo & Juliet at Boston Court, Gem of the Ocean at The Fountain Theatre, and Helen at The Getty Villa.
Under her production company, Bits N Pieces Productions, Ms. Burke has produced Laugh-A-Latte, a monthly stand-up comedy show in Long Beach, CA, and has filmed a documentary short about the show's creation and impact on the deaf and hearing communities. Her reality solo show Fifty! It Doesn't Look This Good on Everybody won the Actors Repertory's 2nd Annual Solo Show Festival, and Bits n Pieces has also produced Ask A Stage Goddess, a series of advice videos on YouTube for people pursuing or navigating a career in show business.
In her free time, Ms. Burke enjoys riding her bicycle near the ocean, swimming, water yoga, trying out new recipes, traveling, hula hooping, playing bid whist, and learning how to play the djembe (African drum).
