Edward Burns is an American actor, writer, producer and director who is perhaps best known for his role as Private First Class Richard Reiban in Saving Private Ryan.Burns didn't start his career in the movie industry as an actor but as a production assistant on The Doors by director Oliver Stone and starring Val Kilmer.In 1995 he wrote, directed and starred in his very first picture The Brothers McMullen.Two main issues are complicating the lives of the Irish, Long Island-based, working-class McMullen brothers: Catholicism and women. Jack is the married oldest brother who's cheating on his perfect wife. Barry is the relationship-wary middle brother who, to his surprise and dismay, is finally falling in love. But Patrick, the most religious brother, ironically is the one who must deal with issues of premarital sex and abortion--a situation that leaves him consumed with guilt.
Fortunately for the siblings, however, they're all temporarily living under the same roof, where they can discuss their problems and philosophies--and help each other make it through this troubled time.
Made on a budget of just $28,000 the film was shot mostly in Burns' real life family home in Long Island.
The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1995 and went on to gross $10 million at the U.S. box office.
More writing, directing and starring followed as he made She's the One with Jennifer Anniston and Cameron Diaz.
In 1998 Burns landed the role of Reiban in Steven Spielberg's war epic Saving Private Ryan with Tom Hanks.
James Ryan, who has parachuted into France during the Allied invasion of Europe, has just lost three brothers in combat.
Government policy dictates that he should return home lest his family be deprived of all its male offspring.
A team of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller and fresh from the beaches of Normandy, is assembled to find and save Private Ryan.
While the story is fictional it is very loosely based on the real-life case of the Niland brothers, four brothers who fought during WWII.
Saving Private Ryan is remembered in particular for its harrowing opening twenty four minutes depicting the Omaha beachhead assault on June 6, 1944.
The film was a critical and commercial success grossing $480 million at the global box office.
It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, Best Editing and Best Director.
Edward Burns followed this performance up with a string of movie roles including 15 Minutes, with Robert De Niro, Confidence and Sidewalks of New York, which he wrote, directed and starred in.
His new project is a Hollywood remake of Asian hit Chakushin Ari, One Missed Call with Shannyn Sossamon.
Shannon Sossamon is Beth, a developmental psychology student who has plenty of cause for concern after her friend Leann (Azura Skye) receives a panicked cell phone message from herself days in the future.
After Leann falls in front of a train at the same date and time on the message, Beth suspects that she may be next.
Beths fear seems even more justified after her friend Taylor (Ana Claudia Talancon) befalls a similar fate as her phone message is being investigated by a reality TV host (Ray Wise) who specializes in unexplained phenomena.
With the help of police chief Jack Andrews (Ed Burns), Beth discovers a link between the calls and a deceased mother and daughter.
He is currently starring in romantic comedy 27 Dresses.
One Missed Call is released 4th April.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw