Mark Burnett

Burnett was born on 17 July 1960 in London, the only child of Archie and Jean Burnett, both Ford Motor factory workers,{{cite web|title=Mark Burnett biography|url=http://notablebiographies.com/news/A-Ca/Burnett-Mark.html|access-date=27 October 2011}} and was raised in Dagenham, Essex. His father was a Roman Catholic Glaswegian and his mother was a Presbyterian; it is not known in which denomination he was raised.[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2013/03/08/mark-burnett-and-roma-downey-on-the-bible/15126/ Mark Burnett and Roma Downey on "The Bible"], PBS, 8 March 2013.[http://www.pressherald.com/2016/08/21/a-ben-hur-for-our-time/ Portland Press Herald: "A 'Ben-Hur' for our time" by Steven Zeitchik] 21 August 2016 | Downey and Burnett are staunch Catholics; Ridley is also a devout Christian, Huston and Bekmambetov, who was raised in a communist country, are more secular; Daniel and MGM principal Gary Barber are Jewish{{Cite magazine |last=Keefe |first=Patrick Radden |date=2018-12-27 |title=How Mark Burnett Resurrected Donald Trump as an Icon of American Success |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/how-mark-burnett-resurrected-donald-trump-as-an-icon-of-american-success |access-date=2024-09-15 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} At the age of 17, he enlisted in the British Army, and in the rank of corporal became a Section Commander in the Parachute Regiment.{{Cite magazine|date=2018-12-27|title=How Mark Burnett Resurrected Donald Trump as an Icon of American Success|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/how-mark-burnett-resurrected-donald-trump-as-an-icon-of-american-success|access-date=2022-01-30|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en-US}} From 1978 to 1982 he served with the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in C Company and saw action during the Falklands War and Northern Ireland. After his service, he initially planned to go to Central America and work as a "weapons and tactics adviser".

In October 1982, Burnett emigrated to the United States, where his friend Nick Hill, who had emigrated from the UK earlier, was working as a nanny and chauffeur. Hill knew of an open position for a live-in nanny with the Jaeger family in affluent Beverly Hills. Despite having no experience as a nanny, Burnett went on the interview. The Jaegers, realizing the advantage of having a nanny and security at the same time, hired him. After a year of working for the Jaegers, he moved on to another family in Malibu, California, taking care of two boys for $250 a week. He was eventually given a position in the insurance office owned by the boys' father. Two years later, Burnett rented a portion of a fence at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, and sold T-shirts for $18 each during weekends. Realizing he made more money selling T-shirts, he left his insurance job.{{cite book |title= JJump In! |pages= [https://archive.org/details/jumpinevenifyoud00burn/page/16 16–25] |year= 2005 |first= Mark |last= Burnett |publisher= Ballantine Books / Random House |location= New York |isbn= 0-345-48098-8 |url= https://archive.org/details/jumpinevenifyoud00burn/page/16 }}

In 1991, Burnett and four others joined a French adventure competition, the Raid Gauloises. Afterward, Burnett saw a business opportunity in holding similar competitions. He purchased the format rights and brought a similar competition, Eco-Challenge, to America. Eco-Challenge launched Burnett's career as a television producer.

File:Eco-Utah.jpg during Eco-Challenge Utah in 1995]]

Burnett first produced the expedition race show Eco-Challenge in 1995.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=47okqR2JA-QC&pg=PA14|title=Adventure Racing |author1= Jacques Marais|author2= Lisa De Speville |page=14 |isbn=978-0736059114|publisher= Human Kinetics Publishers|date= 2004 }} This led to the hit reality show Survivor which premiered in the summer of 2000, and was the most watched summer series since Sonny & Cher.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/07/14/survivor-castoffs-speak/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=David|last=Hochman|title=And The Banned Played On|date=14 July 2000}} Survivor was named the Number 1 reality series of all time by Entertainment Weekly in 2009.[http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20282498_20282501_20282998_19,00.html 20 Best Reality-TV Shows Ever] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227041313/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20282498_20282501_20282998_19,00.html |date=27 December 2013 }} EW.com

In 2004, NBC premiered The Apprentice, a reality television series in which contestants competed for a job under real estate magnate and later U.S. President Donald Trump.

Burnett has produced several other television franchises including Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, Shark Tank, The Voice, Beat Shazam, Coupled, and TKO: Total Knock Out.

Past shows include The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC), Bully Beatdown, Combat Missions, The Contender, The Contender Asia, Expedition Africa, Expedition Impossible, How'd You Get So Rich?, Martha Stewart, My Dad Is Better than Your Dad, On the Lot (a collaboration with Steven Spielberg), Pirate Master, The Restaurant, Rock Star, Sarah Palin's Alaska, Stars Earn Stripes, Starmaker, Toughest Cowboy and Wedding Day.

Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey, produced The Bible, a ten-hour History Channel drama based upon stories of the Bible.{{cite news|last=Elber |first=Lynn |title='The Bible': History Channel, Mark Burnett Creating CGI 10-Hour Miniseries |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/the-bible-history-channel-mark-burnett-miniseries_n_866030.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528012256/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/the-bible-history-channel-mark-burnett-miniseries_n_866030.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 May 2011 |publisher=Huffington Post |access-date=11 October 2011 |date=24 May 2011 }} The Bible became the No. 1 new series on cable TV in 2013Press Release. [https://archive.today/20130410171100/http://www.cnbc.com/id/100589601 Roma Downey And Mark Burnett's #1 New Cable Series THE BIBLE Is Also A New York Times Best Seller, Dominating Amazon And Is #1 On iTunes And #1 On Twitter], 25 March 2013. {{Dead link |date=January 2017}} and was the No. 1 series in Canada, Spain and Portugal.{{cite web|url=http://bibleseriesresources.com/press-release|title=Press Release|access-date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524194950/http://bibleseriesresources.com/press-release|archive-date=24 May 2013|url-status=dead}} In total, with subsequent airings, The Bible was seen by more than 100 million viewers.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/the-bible-miniseries-mark-burnett-roma-downey-satan-obama_n_3069779.html|work=Huffington Post|first=Lisa|last=Capretto|title=WATCH: Mark Burnett And Roma Downey Respond To Satan-Obama Controversy|date=12 April 2013}}

After the success of The Bible, Burnett and Downey started developing more faith-based scripted series. A.D. The Bible Continues premiered on NBC on Easter Sunday 2015, and The Dovekeepers miniseries aired on CBS in 2015.

In September 2014, MGM acquired a 55 percent interest in One Three Media and LightWorkers Media. The two companies were consolidated into a new film and television company, United Artists Media Group, which was then acquired fully by MGM in 2015.

In December 2015, Burnett was named president of MGM Television and Digital Group, signing a five-year deal. Burnett's appointment was set up to occur simultaneously with the closing of MGM's acquisition of the remaining 45 percent of Hearst's, Burnett's and Roma Downey's interests in United Artists Media Group (UAMG), which would be absorbed under the MGM Television Group umbrella. MGM Television would now have numerous unscripted and scripted television shows airing on network and cable or in production, including: The Voice (NBC); Survivor (CBS); Shark Tank (ABC); Beyond the Tank (ABC); Celebrity Apprentice (NBC); Fargo (FX); Vikings (HISTORY); Teen Wolf (MTV); 500 Questions (ABC); The People's Choice Awards (CBS); LIGHT TV, Lucha Underground (El Rey Network) and America's Greatest Makers (INTEL/Turner).{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/mark-burnett-named-president-of-mgm-television-and-digital-group/|title=Mark Burnett Named President of MGM Television|date=14 December 2015}} In June 2018, MGM appointed Burnett as Chairman of MGM Worldwide Television.

In 2017, Burnett had timeslot winning shows on six nights out of seven.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} As Chairman of MGM Worldwide Television, he oversaw scripted television shows including, Fargo (FX), The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu), Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix).{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

As of 2024, Burnett is the executive producer of five network television shows: Generation Gap (ABC), Beat Shazam (FOX), Shark Tank (ABC), Survivor (CBS) and The Voice (NBC). Burnett is also the executive producer of the cable series Lucha Underground (The El Rey Network) and The Contender (EPIX).{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Burnett's first wife was Kym Gold, but that marriage only lasted about a year.{{Cite web |last=Bart |first=Peter |date=2019-01-10 |title=Peter Bart: Mark Burnett Stands Firmly Behind The Reality TV President He Helped Create |url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/mark-burnett-donald-trump-protector-the-apprentice-commentary-peter-bart-1202532074/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} Before that marriage ended he met Dianne J. Burnett (née Valentine) and they married in 1992; they have two sons together, James and Cameron.{{cite web|url=http://www.fearnotlaw.com/articles/article9252.html|title=In re the Marriage of J. MARK and DIANNE J. BURNETT|publisher=Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BD376427|website=fearnotlaw.coma|access-date=8 October 2011}} In 2014, Cameron survived a neuroendocrine tumor at the age of 17, had brain surgery and had to learn to walk again.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/mark-burnett-son-cameron-toughest-person-after-learning-walk-again/|title=Mark Burnett Says His Son Is 'the Toughest Person I Know' After Learning to Walk Again Following Brain Tumor Surgery|website=People|access-date=12 November 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/mark-burnett-shares-photo-son-cameron-hospital-article-1.3911812|title=Mark Burnett shares photo of son Cameron following hospitalization|last=BITETTE|first=NICOLE|website=nydailynews.com|date=3 April 2018 |access-date=12 November 2019}} Cameron was awarded the 2015 Courage Award at the Visionary Ball which raises money each year for UCLA's Department of Neurosurgery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uclahealth.org/u-magazine/a-vision-for-healing|title=A Vision for Healing - U Magazine - UCLA Health - Los Angeles, CA|website=www.uclahealth.org|access-date=12 November 2019}}{{not in citation|date=March 2023}}

The couple filed for legal separation in September 2002, and a judgment for legal separation was granted in December 2003;{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/1169562561.html?dids=1169562561:1169562561&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+28%2C+2006&author=Michael+Starr&pub=New+York+Post&desc=BURNETT+FINDS+HIS+'ANGEL'&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615211822/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/1169562561.html?dids=1169562561:1169562561&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+28,+2006&author=Michael+Starr&pub=New+York+Post&desc=BURNETT+FINDS+HIS+'ANGEL'&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|title=BURNETT FINDS HIS 'ANGEL'|work=New York Post|date=28 November 2006|access-date=8 October 2011|author=Michael Starr}} they divorced in 2006. In January 2004, Burnett began dating Roma Downey. In November 2006, while the two were vacationing with their children in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, he proposed to her.Sharon Cotliar and Cynthia Wang. [http://people.com/celebrity/mark-burnett-and-roma-downey-engaged/ "Mark Burnett and Roma Downey Engaged"], People.com, 27 November 2006 They wed on 28 April 2007 in their Malibu home. The ceremony was officiated by Downey's former co-star, Della Reese.Wang, Cynthia. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070501031434/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20037196,00.html "Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Marry in Malibu"], People.com, 29 April 2007

In 2004, Time called Burnett one of the Most Influential People in the World Today.{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1970858_1970888_1971022,00.html?xid=fblike|title=The 2004 TIME 100|magazine= TIME}} Burnett was also named "Philanthropist of the Year" by the Reality Cares Foundation. He has won both Brandweek's "Marketer of the Year Award", the prestigious Rose d'Or Frapa Format Award, the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award and the Norman Lear Award from the Producers Guild of America.

Burnett served for two years on the board of directors for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.[http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/bio_burnett.shtml Burnett profile at nbc.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015150610/http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Apprentice_2/bio_burnett.shtml |date=15 October 2012 }} In November 2007, Burnett was elected into the Broadcast & Cable Hall of Fame and in 2008, it was announced that he would be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On 8 July 2009, Burnett received a star at 6664 Hollywood Blvd.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i9813ed99c5e2b4f3512aab87374874dc|title=Entertainment/Hollywood News|website=The Hollywood Reporter }} In June 2011, Burnett was elected into the Producers Guild of America Council Board of Delegates and currently serves on the Producers Council. He is an ambassador for Operation Smile.

In 2013, the ten-hour mini-series The Bible received the Parents Television Council 2013 Seal of Approval. Shark Tank, The Voice and Survivor were all nominated for Critics Choice Awards, at which The Voice won for Best Reality Series – Competition.[http://tvline.com/2013/06/10/critics-choice-awards-winners-2013/ Critics Choice Award Winners 2013 — The Big Bang Theory]. TVLine (10 June 2013). Retrieved on 23 October 2013. The three shows were nominated for the Television Critics Association Awards, at which Shark Tank won for Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming.[http://tvcritics.org/2013/06/10/the-television-critics-association-announces-2013-tca-award-nominees/ The Television Critics Association Announces 2013 TCA Award Nominees | Television Critics Association] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110083308/http://tvcritics.org/2013/06/10/the-television-critics-association-announces-2013-tca-award-nominees/ |date=10 January 2014 }}. Tvcritics.org (10 June 2013). Retrieved on 23 October 2013.

In 2013, The Voice, Shark Tank, and The Bible were nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards; The Voice won for Outstanding Reality – Competition Program. The Voice and Shark Tank were nominated at the 2015 Critics' Choice Television Awards, at which Shark Tank won for Best Reality Series.

In 2014, Burnett was named the "Number 1 Reality Producer" on The Hollywood Reporter Reality Power List.{{Cite web|date=6 April 2014|title=The Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 Reality Players of 2014 - The Hollywood Reporter|website=The Hollywood Reporter |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/top-25-reality-players-2014-692806|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406104031/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/top-25-reality-players-2014-692806|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2014|access-date=12 July 2020}}

In 2014, Burnett and his wife Roma Downey were recipients of the Anti-Defamation League's Entertainment Industry Award. He and Downey are heavily involved with philanthropic organizations Operation Smile and Compassion International.Tim Glenn, compassion.com, [https://www.compassion.com/news-releases/son-of-god-movie.htm Compassion International Partners with Award-Winning Producers and Multiple Churches in 40 U.S. Cities to Promote "Son of God" Feature Film], USA, 10 February 2014 In 2015, they partnered with the Institute for Global Engagement to launch the Cradle Fund (TCF). TCF is focused on raising $25 million to help Middle Eastern minorities displaced by ISIS{{cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2014/october/winter-is-coming-mark-burnett-roma-downey-iraq-syria-ige.html|title=Winter Is Coming: Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Launch $25 Million Plan To Help Christians in Iraq and Syria|last=Weber|first=Jeremy|website=News & Reporting|date=24 October 2014 |access-date=12 November 2019}} to return to a home where they can practice their faith without fear.{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/october/winter-is-coming-mark-burnett-roma-downey-iraq-syria-ige.html?paging=off|title=Winter Is Coming: Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Launch $25 Million Plan To Help Christians in Iraq and Syria|work=Gleanings | ChristianityToday.com |date=24 October 2014 }}{{Cite web|url=https://globalengage.org/updates/view/an-update-on-the-cradle-fund|title=An Update on The Cradle Fund|last=Engagement (IGE)|first=The Institute for Global|website=The Institute for Global Engagement (IGE)|access-date=12 November 2019}} As of 2019, they have helped more than 10,000 displaced Christian refugees to relocate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/november-web-only/christian-syrian-harvard-divinity-fuller-seminary-alkhour.html|title=The Road from Damascus: How a Syrian Christian Spoke at Harvard's Commencement|last=Casper|first=Jayson|website=ChristianityToday.com|date=7 November 2019 |access-date=12 November 2019}}

Special Awards

• 2004: Brandweek Marketer of the Year Award
• 2004: Reality Cares Foundation 'Philanthropist of the Year'{{cite web|last=Buzz Media|title=Press Release|url=http://www.buzzmg.com/pressrelease/040512.pdf|access-date=11 October 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• 2004: 'Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award'
• 2004: Time Magazine: 'Time 100: 100 Most Influential People in the World Today'
• 2005: Rose d'Or Frapa Format Award
• 2009: Producers Guild of America 'Norman Lear Award'{{cite web|last=PGA|title=Award-Winning Television Producer Mark Burnett to Be Honored with 2010 Norman Lear Achievement Award|url=http://www.producersguild.org/news/34897/Awards-Award-Winning-Televsion-Producer-Mark-Burnett-to-Be-Honored-wit.htm|publisher=PGA|access-date=11 October 2011|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924082258/http://www.producersguild.org/news/34897/Awards-Award-Winning-Televsion-Producer-Mark-Burnett-to-Be-Honored-wit.htm|url-status=dead}}
• 2009: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: 'Excellence in Television'{{cite web|last=Weber|first=Scott|title=Mark "Survivor" Burnett Gets Hollywood Walk of Fame Star|date=8 July 2009 |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/celebrity/Mark-Survivor-Burnett-Gets-Hollywood-Walk-of-Fame-Star-.html|publisher=NBC Los Angeles|access-date=11 October 2011}}
• 2010: Producers Guild of America 'Lifetime Achievement Award in Television'
• 2013: TV Guide Magazine 'Producer of the Year'
• 2013: The Dove Foundation Recognition of 'Son of God'
• 2014: Anti-Defamation League 'Entertainment Award'

Burnett has been nominated for many television industry awards between 1999 and 2018, including Emmy Awards,{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/mark-burnett|title=Mark Burnett|website=Television Academy|access-date=4 December 2019}} Critics Choice Awards, Producers Guild of America Awards, and People's Choice Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/person/mark-burnett|title=Meet Mark Burnett, one of Fast Company's Most Creative People|website=Fast Company|access-date=4 December 2019}}{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Vannessa|date=1 October 2020|title=2020 People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominees|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1193078/2020-peoples-choice-awards-complete-list-of-nominees|access-date=4 October 2020|website=Eonline}}{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/emmys/2015/09/20/emmys-2015-the-voice-reality-show-winner-mark-burnett/|title='The Voice' wins best reality show Emmy, EP apologizes to 'The Amazing Race'|website=EW.com|access-date=4 December 2019}}

• Mark Burnett; Martin Dugard (2000). Survivor: the Ultimate Game. New York: TV Books, L. L. C. {{ISBN|9781575001432}}.
• {{cite book|author=Mark Burnett|title=Dare to Succeed:How to Survive and Thrive in the Game of Life|year=2001|publisher=Hyperion|location=New York|isbn=0-7868-6849-X|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/daretosucceed00mark}}
• {{cite book|author=Mark Burnett|title=Jump In!: Even If You Don't Know How to Swim|year=2005|publisher=Random House|location=New York|isbn=0-345-48098-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/jumpinevenifyoud00burn}}

• List of television producers

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{{Commons category|Mark Burnett}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110429004023/http://swindlemagazine.com/issueicons/mark-burnett/ SWINDLE Magazine Interview with Mark Burnett]
• [https://www.mgm.com/corporate/leadership-mark-burnett/ Corporate page]

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Category:1960 births

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