Catherine Burns was a talented American actress and children's book writer of Irish and Polish descent. Born in 1945 in New York City, she was educated at Hunter College High School, Hunter College, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Burns began her acting career in television, making her debut in the film "The Crucible" in 1967. She played the role of Mary Warren, a 18-year-old servant girl, at the age of 22. Her theatrical debut came in 1968, when she performed in the play "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", earning critical acclaim and a Clarence Derwent Award.
Burns' breakthrough role came in 1969, when she played the role of Rhoda, a sensitive and conservative teenage girl, in the coming-of-age teen drama "Last Summer". Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, although she did not win.
From 1969 to 1970, Burns had a recurring role in the soap opera "One Life to Live", playing the character Cathy Craig, a teenager struggling with an Electra complex and drug addiction. She left the series in 1970 and was replaced by several other actresses.
In addition to her acting career, Burns was also a prolific writer. She published her first children's novel, "The Winter Bird", in 1971 and went on to write several other novels, screenplays, and stage plays. She reportedly preferred writing to acting, as she disliked the publicity and scrutiny that came with her acting success.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Burns had a number of guest-star roles in popular television series, including "The Mod Squad", "Adam-12", "The Waltons", "Emergency!", and "Cannon". She also had a recurring role in the mini-series "The Word" in 1978.
Burns largely retired from acting in the 1980s, although she continued to work as a screenwriter on the soap opera "Guiding Light". She married in 1989 and lived in retirement until her death in 2019 at the age of 73.
Burns is still remembered fondly for her youthful roles and is considered a talented and accomplished actress and writer.
