50 Years After An Oscar-Nominated Actor Vanished, The Reality Has Finally Come To Light

Catherine Burns earned an Academy Award nomination for her standout performance in the 1969 teen drama Last Summer. Aside from the Oscar nod, the role also won Burns critical acclaim for her talent, seemingly tipping her to become Hollywood’s next big thing. Instead, the actor shied away from the limelight, before ultimately disappearing altogether.

Hollywood Debut

In 1969 it seemed that Burns was on the brink of a successful Hollywood career. That year, she had made her film debut in the teen drama Last Summer. Her role as Rhoda in the dark indie flick, from filmmaker Frank Perry, earned the young actor critical acclaim and even an Oscar nomination. But she was not your average starlet.

Big Dreams

Born in 1945, Burns grew up in New York City, in a West 11th Street apartment. She was the only child of a Polish secretary and an Irish salesman, but she herself dreamed of a career as an actor. And she got the idea after watching George C. Scott perform in a production of Richard III in her hometown.

Professional Training

In order to pursue those acting dreams, Burns attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at the weekends. However, she later took up a place at New York’s Hunter College, with the intention of becoming an English teacher. It seems that the future star couldn’t resist the call of the stage, however, and dropped out in her sophomore year.

Chasing Her Dreams

The star later reflected on her decision to quit college. According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, published in February 2020, Burns said, “There’s nothing worse than an English teacher who’s a frustrated actor.” So, in order to avoid such a fate, she hired theatrical agents and embarked on her new career.