Background
Burns was born May 18, 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. He was born and raised Christian Scientist.
Burns was born May 18, 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. He was born and raised Christian Scientist.
He attended the University of Oregon between 1953 and 1957.
Burns is best known for, alongside James L. Brooks, creating and writing for the television sitcoms The Munsters, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda. He is a former writer for The Bullwinkle Show. Burns also produced the television shows Cutters (1993), The Duck Factory (1984), and co-wrote the unaired version of the 1965 pilot episode of The Smothers Brothers Show.
Before breaking into television and film, Burns started in animation, working for Jay Ward and collaborating and animating The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Dudley Do-Right, and George of the Jungle.
Burns also created the Cap"n Crunch character for Quaker Oats. The last project between Hayward and Burns would be as story editors for the sitcom Get Smart.
Burns joined the Room 222 writing staff and later produced the series. After Room 222, television executive Grant Tinker hired Brooks and Burns to develop a television series for Columbia Broadcasting System starring Mary Tyler Moore.
In 1970, The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered and became a critically acclaimed series, spawning spin-off series such as Lou Grant and Rhoda.
Burns also wrote and produced three television series. FM, Eisenhower and Lutz, and Cutters. Burns has also done screenwriting for movies.
He also wrote the screenplays Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, Just the Way You Are and wrote and directed Just Between Friends.
Member Academy television Arts and Sciences, Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Married Joan Irene Bailey, June 11, 1964. Children: Eric, Matthew.