Background
Burmester was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and studied at Western Kentucky University as a biology major before switching to drama.
Burmester was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and studied at Western Kentucky University as a biology major before switching to drama.
After receiving an Master of Fine Arts from the University of Denver, he taught college for a year before becoming a working actor.
Burmester worked for director John Sayles several times, including in and, and also for directors such as John Schlesinger and Sidney Lumet, and as the Apostle Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese"son He also starred in the Columbia Broadcasting System sitcom Flo as Randy Stumphill, the mechanic who frequented the Barometer He worked summer stock at Shawnee Summer Theatre of Greene County, Indiana.
Burmester appeared with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, originating roles in the plays Getting Out and Lone Star, and eventually recreating them in his Office-Broadway and Broadway debuts, respectively.
He made his feature film debut in a big budget project with, and had a featured role as the mortuary director in. Burmester played one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents hounding the faux Rosenberg couple in Daniel (1983).
He played the role of Thénardier in the Original Broadway production of Les Misérables and the Police Sergeant in Harry Connick, Junior."s musical Thou Shalt not. He played Holly Hunter"s character"s father in the prologue of, and the bum in front of The Plaza in.
Roles started to get larger with James Cameron"s, as Catfish DeVries, decompression expert.
Although thought to have died of leukemia, death was caused by a tick bite that was complicated by his compromised immune system. He died at age 63 on June 28, 2007. His ashes were scattered in Kentucky.
The Fantasticks (2006) - Hucklebee Lone Star (1979) Big River (1985) Raggedy Ann (1986) Les Misérables (1987) - Thenardier Buried Child (1996) Ah, Wilderness (1998) The Civil War (1999) Thou Shalt Not (2001) - The Police Officer Urban Cowboy (2003) (partial list) Walker, Texas Ranger - "An Innocent Manitoba" (1993) Alex Haley"s Queen (1993) Law & Order - "Snatched" (1994) Law & Order - "Charm City: Participant 1" (1996) Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1999) Law & Order: Criminal Intent - "The Third Horseman" (2002) Law & Order - "Patriot" (2002) Carry Maine Home - "Grizzle" (2004).
Married Lora Lee Ecobelli, 2005. 1 child Dan.