Ed Burns, the beloved actor and filmmaker, shares his bittersweet transition into empty nesting. While he misses his children dearly, he has filled the void with ambitious projects and a debut novel inspired by his mother's untold stories.
Ed Burns, the acclaimed actor and filmmaker known for his endearing roles in "She's the One" and "Saving Private Ryan," has officially become an empty nester. As his two children, Grace (20) and Finn (18), embarked on their college journeys, Burns and his supermodel wife, Christy Turlington, faced the transition with a mix of joy and nostalgia.
"Obviously, we're so happy that the kids are happy and off starting their journey and loving their college experiences," Burns told Fox News Digital. "But you can't help but miss them like crazy."
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
To cope with the bittersweet change, Burns and Turlington planned projects and activities to keep their minds occupied. Burns, in particular, jumped into his first-ever book tour, a long-held dream he finally realized in his late 50s.
"I had never really thought about writing a novel, other than maybe when I was a senior in high school," Burns explained. "I had a great creative writing teacher who encouraged me to be a writer. But when I got to school, I started studying film. I fell in love with filmmaking and screenplays."
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
During the pandemic, with film production on hold, Burns turned his attention back to writing. But instead of a screenplay, he decided to embark on a novel.
"My parents were in Florida at the time and couldn't get to New York," Burns said. "I would speak to them every day on the phone. After a week or two, I started to ask my mom very specific questions about her life. 'What do you remember about the day you met Dad?' 'What do you remember the day you graduated from high school?'"
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
Inspired by his mother's rich stories, Burns pens "A Kid from Marlboro Road," a heartwarming novel that draws heavily on his Irish-American background. It explores the thwarted dreams of his mother, who came from a modest background with limited educational opportunities.
"My mom was never really lucky enough to get an education," Burns said. "But she was super smart and very well-read. ... I think that was the biggest surprise for me ... As a young woman, she imagined that there was another world available to her ... And maybe not having access to education thwarted some of those opportunities."
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
While "A Kid from Marlboro Road" is not a memoir, it is deeply personal, showcasing the dreams and aspirations of generations past. Burns admits that he would have loved for his mother to read his novel, but she sadly passed away before it was completed.
Apart from writing, Burns continues to pursue his filmmaking ambitions. He is currently working on a sequel to his critically acclaimed 1995 film "The Brothers McMullen," which tells the story of an Irish-American family in New York.
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
"It's funny with empty nesting approaching in my life," Burns said. "It's the story of my character. Barry is an empty nester ... His two adult kids asked to move back into his house on Thanksgiving. There's a part of him that's overjoyed about having them back. But there's another part of him that is concerned that they have moved back into the house."
Burns has finished the script for the sequel and has spoken to original cast member Connie Britton about it. He is eager to continue telling stories that resonate with his generation.
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
"The movies that I was attracted to as a kid in film school, and the films I've continued to make are small character-driven stories," he reflected. "It's always been my favorite form of cinema. ... When I came up in the '90s, we had dozens of films being made about Gen Xers ... now that the generation finds ourselves in our mid-50s, there are no films about us."
As Ed Burns embarks on his second act, he remains as driven as ever, fueled by a desire to tell meaningful stories and embrace the complexities of middle age. With a debut novel under his belt and a film sequel in the works, he is eager to continue exploring the human experience through his art.
Ed Burns Embraces Empty Nest Syndrome and His Second Act
