Chris Burke was born with Down Syndrome, and doctors advised his parents to put their newborn son in an institution. The Burkes ignored the advice and treated Chris the same as their other children. As he grew, so did his enthusiasm for acting and Hollywood. The family tried to gently dissuade him from his dreams. But undaunted, Chris pursued his interest–writing TV scripts, reading books, corresponding with people in the film industry, and attending evening classes in New York City. His persistence paid off.
Chris Burke is best known for his role as Corky Thatcher on the ABC-TV series “Life Goes On” and most recently as Taylor on the CBS-TV series “Touched By An Angel”. Chris is living out his dreams thanks to his perseverance, a belief in himself and a willingness to focus on his abilities rather than his disabilities.
He has also released several uplifting and inspiring music albums with his long time friends Joe and John DeMasi, capturing his incredible positive spirit. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the records is donated to Very Special Arts, an international organization providing programs in the arts for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.
Chris also serves as spokesperson for the McDonald’s McJobs program, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and the National Down Syndrome Society.
From: Wikipedia. (n.d.). Chris Burke.