Steve Burns revealed he suffered from depression while filming “Blue Clue’s” for six years and said it contributed to his exit from the show.
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In an interview with Variety, the Nick Jr. star discussed his struggles with mental health while working on the popular children’s show. From 1996 to 2002, Burns played Steve, a caregiver of Blue who helps her figure out clues in each episode.
“I didn’t know it yet, but I was the happiest depressed person in North America. I was struggling with severe clinical depression the whole time I was on that show. It was my job to be utterly and completely full of joy and wonder at all times, and that became impossible.”
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The actor also said it was hard to film some episodes because he had to find ways to look more authentic on screen.
“I was always able to dig and find something that felt authentic to me and good enough to be on the show, but after years and years of going to the well without replenishing it, there was a cost. My strategy had been: ‘Hey, you got a great thing going, so just fight it!’ Turns out, you don’t fight depression; you collect it,”
In 2002, Burns announced he was leaving the show and said he started losing his hair, stating he wasn’t looking young anymore. His healing journey began after the death of his father. Burns said he regretted not looking for help to deal with his mental health and also dealt with rumors of his death spreading on the internet. It has been disproven that the rumors were a hoax.
“That rumor was so persistent and so indelible that I assumed it was a cultural preference. I eventually just took the hint. I kept my head down and left public life.”
Burns shocked fans last year after he appeared in a video commemorating the 25th history of the show.
So about that time Steve went off to college… #BluesClues25 pic.twitter.com/O8NOM2eRjy
— Nick Jr. (@nickjr) September 7, 2021
“Everyone wants to feel seen and heard. I think it punched through because it was about respectful, active listening — a more direct conversation than you’re used to seeing on your screen.”
Currently, he makes guest appearances on Blue Clue’s newest series, “Blue Clue’s & You!”