Jere Burns Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Jere Burns: A Career Forged in Character and Consistency

From his early days in Cambridge, Massachusetts to decades of television and film work, Jere Burns has built a career defined less by blockbuster fame and more by durable versatility. As of now, he remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors — equally at ease in sitcoms, dramas, and villainous turns. Born on October 15, 1954, Burns’s birthday and birthdate have become known to fans worldwide.

A Voice and Presence That Carried Him Through Decades

Burns first entered the public eye not via a flashy leading-man starring role, but through supporting and guest-parts that showcased his distinctive raspy voice, wit, and subtle menace. After earning a B.A. (and later an MFA) and moving from stage to screen, his television debut came in 1984.

It was the role of Kirk Morris on the sitcom Dear John (1988–1992) that brought him widespread recognition; Morris was a sleazy ladies-man whose sarcastic charm made the character memorable. From there, Burns carved out a niche playing flawed, edgy, or morally ambiguous characters — a path that would define his career for decades.

By the 2000s and 2010s, he pivoted more frequently toward dramatic and villainous roles. His work as the manipulative DIA psychiatrist Anson Fullerton on Burn Notice, and as the Dixie Mafia crooked enforcer Wynn Duffy on Justified (2010–2015) earned him critical attention and a devoted fan base.

That trajectory — from sitcom comic relief to nuanced dramatist — speaks to his adaptability. Whether as a morally ambiguous villain or a wisecracking ex-husband, Burns has shown himself capable of bringing depth and texture to roles that might otherwise be forgettable.

The Quiet Foundations: Birthplace, Education, and Early Years

Born Jerald Eugene Burns II on October 15, 1954, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Burns grew up away from the Hollywood spotlight and without early fame. His youth in Massachusetts laid the groundwork — but it wasn’t until college that he discovered acting. According to biographical sources, he studied literature before switching gears toward performance, ultimately earning a degree and training that would launch his stage, and eventually screen, career. 

That academic and theatrical foundation helped Burns bring a certain gravitas and versatility to his screen roles: an actor comfortable with complexity, with an eye for nuance, informed by broad training rather than early stardom.

Estimating Worth — The Price of Consistency and Craft

Assessing celebrity net worth is always speculative — especially for actors whose careers are built on many supporting roles rather than headline-dominating salaries. According to a widely referenced public-facing resource, Burns’s net worth is estimated at around US$5 million.

That estimate reflects decades of steady work, recurring television roles, film appearances, and likely residuals — a testament to the value of a durable, working-actor career in Hollywood. While not the scale of a blockbuster movie star, $5 million speaks to long-term professional stability and an ability to make a living through craft and consistency.

Private Life: Marriages, Family, and the Man Beyond the Roles

Behind the character-driven roles, Burns has led a private but full personal life. Over the years, he has been married three times: first, in 1982, to Melissa Keeler (divorced in 1996); then briefly in 1997 to actress Kathleen Kinmont (divorced in 1999); and finally on June 29, 2008, to actress/producer Leslie Cohen. That third marriage ended in divorce in 2018.

He is a father of four. From his first marriage, Burns has three children; another child was born during his third marriage. Publicly available records suggest that his children value their privacy and largely stay out of the limelight.

Though not flashy or tabloid-driven, Burns’s personal life reflects a man balancing long-term career demands with family — a private life kept conscientiously away from public spectacle.

Legacy in Roles: Why Jere Burns Still Resonates

What makes Jere Burns’s career compelling — and profile-worthy — isn’t a single defining blockbuster, but rather the accumulation of many strong, consistent performances over nearly five decades. From sitcoms in the late 1980s to high-stakes crime dramas in the 2010s and beyond, he has managed to evolve with the times, shifting from comedic archetypes to darker, more layered characters.

This adaptability — combined with his unmistakable screen presence and voice — has given him longevity in an industry known for fleeting fame. For aspiring actors, his journey is a model of steady craft, dedication, and embracing a broad palette of roles rather than chasing headline stardom.

Though estimates like the $5 million net worth offer a snapshot of financial success, Burns’s true legacy may lie in the respect he earns among producers, casting directors, and fans — as a reliable, powerful character actor who delivers, every time.