Chris Burke (actor)
Chris Burke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Christopher Joseph Burke |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Website | www.chrisburke.org |
Christopher Joseph Burke (born August 26, 1963, in Point Lookout, New York) is an American actor who played Charles "Corky" Thacher on the television series Life Goes On.
Early years
He is the youngest of four children of Marian Burke, a retired trade-show manager, and Frank Burke, a retired NYPD inspector. Burke has Down Syndrome, and his parents were told to institutionalize him when he was born, but they decided to raise him at home and nurture his talents. He was encouraged to follow his career objectives no matter how untraditional they seemed for a young man with Down Syndrome. His siblings also worked with him. Many were surprised at how healthy and bright Burke was when he entered formal schooling.
In the early 1980's the public schools were not mainstreaming students with disabilities into the general population and there were no good private education programs for disabled students in the area, so Burke was eventually sent to board at the Don Guanella School in Springfield, Pennsylvania and he graduated in 1985. After graduation he worked as an elevator operator and did volunteer work.
Performing
Burke first set his sights on becoming a tap dancer. He later switched to acting while at the Don Guanella School. He was further inspired by attending night classes, going through auditions, writing scripts, and reading books.
Burke got his first acting job in the ABC movie "Desperate". Network executives at ABC were impressed by his performance and created Life Goes On with Burke's character as the main role. Burke also performed all his own stunts for the show. Life Goes On propelled Burke into fame and wide recognition. Burke made several guest appearances in Touched by an Angel as Taylor, an angel who has Down syndrome. In one, the angel appears to tell an invalid woman that God orders him to appear to those who are invalids, handicapped or have Down Sydrome to realize that there is hope for them and God knows their afflictions.
Down syndrome work
Speaking
Burke delivers inspirational speeches to university students. He is the goodwill ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society and serves as the editor-in-chief of its quarterly magazine, Straight Talk. He is also a spokesperson for National Down Syndrome Congress.
Writing
In 1992, Burke wrote an autobiography, the New York Times Best-Seller, A Special Kind of Hero. The book is dedicated to Chris' biggest fan and look-alike Scott Muir. He contributed a chapter entitled, "Believe in Yourself" in the 1999 book, Down Syndrome: A Promising Future, Together, edited by T.J. Hassold & D. Patterson and published by Wiley-Liss.
Other
- Tours with his 3-piece folk band. He sings with his twin friends, Joe and John DeMasi. They were his music counselors at a camp for persons with disabilities. The band has released several albums.