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Jerald Eugene "Jere" Burns II (born October 15, 1954) is an American actor who has appeared in theatre productions and on television and is best known for his role as ladies' man Kirk Morris on the television series, Dear John. Burns was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of a homemaker and a gown and cap manufacturer. Burns was drawn to acting late in college. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1980 Burns moved to Manhattan and was cast in the title role in Don Juan at the New York Shakespeare Festival. His Broadway theatre credits include Hairspray... MORE

Jerald Eugene "Jere" Burns II (born October 15, 1954) is an American actor who has appeared in theatre productions and on television and is best known for his role as ladies' man Kirk Morris on the television series, Dear John. Burns was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the son of a homemaker and a gown and cap manufacturer. Burns was drawn to acting late in college. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1980 Burns moved to Manhattan and was cast in the title role in Don Juan at the New York Shakespeare Festival. His Broadway theatre credits include Hairspray and After the Night and the Music. Burns made his television debut in a small role on ABC's Mom's On Strike in 1984. He had a recurring role as pathological rapist James Fitzsimmons on Hill Street Blues and body collector Breugel on Max Headroom. In 1988 he landed the plum role of sleazy Kirk Morris on Dear John. In 1989 he appeared in the William Lustig film Hit List as Jared Riley. He appeared as the villainous Cade Dalton on the NBC miniseries The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991), hateful Vice-President of Sales Pete Schmidt on Bob (1993), a member of the feuding family in Greedy LESS