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 made her acting debut in the television film "The Crucible" in 1967, playing the role of Mary Warren, a 18-year-old servant girl. She then made her theatrical debut in 1968 in the play "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", earning critical acclaim and a Clarence Derwent Award.
In 1969, Burns made her film debut in the coming-of-age teen drama "Last Summer", portraying Rhoda, a sensitive and conservative teenage girl. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
From 1969 to 1970, Burns gained her first recurring role in television as Cathy Craig in the soap opera "One Life to Live". She left the series in 1970, and the character continued to appear until 1978, with Burns replaced by several other actresses.
In 1971, Burns published her first children's novel, "The Winter Bird", and devoted much of her time to writing novels, screenplays, and stage plays. She reportedly preferred writing to acting, as she disliked the publicity and increased scrutiny that came with her acting success.
During the 1970s, Burns had guest-star roles in several popular television series, including "The Mod Squad", "Adam-12", "The Waltons", "Emergency!", and "Cannon". In 1978, she had the recurring role of Lori Cook in the mini-series "The Word".
In the 1980s, Burns had few acting roles, but continued to work as a screenwriter, primarily on episodes of the long-running soap opera "Guiding Light". She married in 1989 and largely retired from her chosen career at the age of 44.
Burns lived in retirement until 2019, when she moved into a retirement community in Lynden, Washington. She died in February 2019 at the age of 73 due to complications from an accidental fall, with cirrhosis listed as a contributing factor.
