Steve Burns never expected to become the face of one of Nickelodeon’s most beloved children’s shows — and certainly not while living in a hallway and scraping by on voiceover gigs.
In a recent appearance on actor Rainn Wilson’s “Soul Boom” podcast, the original “Blue’s Clues” host opened up about the unexpected path that led him to the role, the harsh financial reality behind the scenes, and the emotional toll his fame — and later, his disappearance —took on his mental health.
Famous But Broke
Burns described his time on “Blue’s Clues,” which he hosted from 1996 to 2002, as a “side hustle,” revealing that even as the show exploded in popularity, he wasn’t making enough to live comfortably. “Every waiter I ever knew made more money than I did for the first many seasons of that show,” he told Wilson.
While millions of children tuned in to watch him help his animated puppy solve puzzles, Burns was relying on voiceover work to get by. “My real gig was, I was a voice-over guy,” he said. “It kind of sustained me, but man, it was grim.” At the time, he was living in a hallway between two bedrooms in a New York City apartment.
Burns said he landed the “Blue’s Clues” role “entirely by accident.” He thought he was auditioning for an animated voice role and was surprised to see a camera when he walked into the room. “I thought, ‘Oh s–t, I better do something,’” he recalled. “So I looked at the script, and I figured … I’m going to act the s–t out of this.” Despite being an aspiring dramatic actor with no interest in children’s programming, Burns nailed the audition — long hair, cigarette pack, and all.
The intimacy he brought to the role, including his now-signature habit of leaning into the camera to engage viewers, was a spontaneous decision that became central to the show’s success.
After six seasons and a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2001, Burns left “Blue’s Clues,” a move that confused and saddened fans. Behind the scenes, he was dealing with what he described as a decade-long period of depression, or what he called “the gray.”
“I gained 50 pounds, I never left my house,” he told Wilson. He also addressed persistent death rumors — some of which even his own family members believed. “Eventually I started playing along,” he said. “Maybe I am [dead]. That was the strategy.”
Therapy helped Burns re-emerge in the public eye. He later reconnected with the “Blue’s Clues” fanbase and contributed to the reboot “Blue’s Clues & You!” — both as a writer and in cameos as his original character.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Burns recorded a heartfelt video addressed to his millennial fans. He acknowledged his sudden departure from the show and offered reassurance: “After all these years, I never forgot you. Ever. And I’m super glad we’re still friends.”
Today, he continues to share calming videos on Instagram, often just listening silently — a small act of comfort from the man who helped a generation feel seen.