Saturday, May 12, 2007

Chris Burke

Chris Burke is an actor best known for his role as "Corky" on the moderately successful 1989-1993 family drama Life Goes On. Burke is unique among actors in that he is suffering from Down Syndrome. Despite his handicaps, he has managed to accomplish quite a bit during his life and acting career.




Chris Burke should be commended for doing what he's done, overcoming his conspicuous disabilities. He is an inspiration to all people suffering from mental handicaps. This post focuses on Burke's career, not his mental handicaps over which he has no control.

Burke was born on August 26, 1965 in Point Lookout, New York. His parents were told to institutionalize him when he was born, but they decided to raise him at home and nurture his talents. During the early 1980's, public schools were not mainstreaming students with disabilities into the general population and there were no good private education programs for disabled students in the area, so Burke was sent to board at the Don Guanella School in Springfield, Pennsylvania and he graduated in 1985. After graduation he worked as an elevator operator and did volunteer work.

Burke first set his sights on becoming a tap dancer. He later switched to acting while at the Don Guanella School. He was further inspired by attending night classes, going through auditions, writing scripts, and reading books.

Burke's his first acting work was in the ABC movie Desperate. ABC network executives were moved by his performance and created Life Goes On with Burke's character as the main role.

In Life Goes On, Burke's Corky character was sent to a public high school with normal kids. The show generally focused on Corky's troubles and how he strived to be accepted and fit in with the other kids. In one of the episodes, Corky was shown lip-synching and dancing to Public Enemy song, Fight The Power:


Burke also achieved literary success while he was on Life Goes On. In 1992, Burke wrote an autobiography, the New York Times Best-Seller, A Special Kind of Hero.

Burke has acted sporadically since the cancellation of Life Goes On in 1993, primarily appearing in minor roles on TV shows and movies. His more notable roles include his role as a custodian in Mona Lisa Smile in 2003 and a role in 2002 on ER.

Burke has been touring with a band in recent years. His band mates are twins Joe and John Demasi (collectively, "the Demasi twins"):

Unfortunately, it appears as though the Demasi twins are taking advantage of Burke's fame for their own selfish needs. The Demasi twins also look like a couple of freaky weirdos. Here is a video of Burke and the Demasi twins performing. Even though Burke is supposedly the star of the band, the Demasi twins are hogging the camera time. I sure hope that Burke keeps his wits about himself and protects the children from the Demasi twins!

Edit - June 25, 2007

The original video I had linked was of Chris and the DeMasi twins singing to some mentally handicapped kids at a camp or school. Unfortunately, that video was deleted from YouTube. Here is a different clip of Chris and the DeMasi twins performing:


The Demasi twins are even worse than I thought! According to a Down Syndrome website, Chris Burke "met the DeMasi twins, 47, when he was 13 and they were music counselors at a day camp." I sure hope that Chris is a chaperone at this camp and protects the kids from the weirdo DeMasi twins!!


Chris Burke's career peaked with Life Goes On and he has accomplished far more than anyone could have expected when he was born. However, by hooking up with the Demasi twins who appear to be taking advantage of him, Burke has become one washed-up celebrity!

75 comments:

Anonymous said...

Look how tightly those weird twins are gripping his arms!

Anonymous said...

If you watch the clip carefully, you can see the Downer giving some guy a lap dance! He's really grinding it! Oh dear me.

Anonymous said...

Demasi is an anagram for 'Samedi' - as you all know Baron Samedi is a spirit of the Voodoo religion practiced Haiti.

"Baron Samedi stands at the crossroads, where the souls of dead humans pass on their way to Guinee. As well as being the all-knowing loa of death, he is a sexual loa, frequently represented by phallic symbols and noted for disruption, obscenity, debauchery, and having a particular fondness for tobacco and rum. Additionally, he is the loa of sex and resurrection."

I think we can all agree that Burke is corrupted by force far beyond his control.

Anonymous said...

LMFAO KURT YOU DID IT. I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOU.

Anonymous said...

Those twins are creepy as hell and they dress like dorks.

Here's other Chris Burke/Corky clips for everyone's viewing pleasure:

Corky finally gets his Oscar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-07YpWoiL4

Corky Saves the Bus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgB5y-FkJ18

Corky (Chris Burke) and His Band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aJFSpkxjtY

Corky goes crazy on LA Runway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjcMDljX7l0

Chris Burke Tribute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnWdai6IDYI

Chris Burke with Joe and John demasi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrDzCCXbjMA

Anonymous said...

Chris Burke is really hot. I would love to get him to use his mongo strength to take me roughly from behind. Usually I take the reigns but for a special guy like Corky I'm willing to take a few loads in the ass. Of course I would have to break his nose afterwards and shoot a load so that my sperm mixes with his blood like icecream and strawberry sauce. CALL ME, CHRIS!

Anonymous said...

I like this website a great deal but I have to question the inclusion of this profile. As far as I'm aware, Burke hasn't expressed an interest in doing anything beyond his current pursuits. As creepy and nauseating as the Demasi twins are, the claim that they are taking advantage of Burke doesn't seem to stem from much more than your own speculation.

It's good that you don't shy away from profiling Burke, given that many would consider him an unfair target (ironically dehumanizing him in the process), but I don't see that he has mishandled his career a la the likes of Dustin Diamond and Michael Oliver.

Anonymous said...

Add this

http://www.lehman.cuny.edu/faculty/jfleitas/bandaides/amancork.jpg

Anonymous said...

Is it really fair to call him "washed up"? I mean he has down syndrome.

Anonymous said...

the band worships Corky

myspace/667goff

Anonymous said...

oops

myspace.com/667goff

Anonymous said...

There are some really sick people posting GROSS comments. I looked up Chris Burke because I think he is a positive role model for other children with disabilities. Maybe a chance for hope among so many negatives for these children. You all need to get a life!

Anonymous said...

Washed up!

Anonymous said...

F'N Hilarious!! I never have laughed so hard in my life!!

Anonymous said...

chris burke is an angel to me and to everyone who is in the world. i have always love chris with all of my heart.

Anonymous said...

why dont you suck his cock then faggot?

Anonymous said...

I wonder who has more respect for Burke: the author of this blog, or the Demasi brothers? On the one hand you've got this stranger who gets his or her kicks from mocking other people. And on the other you've got two people who work with the guy, and sing songs about celebrating things and being nice. Being nice and hugging someone is molestation according to everybody here.

Anonymous said...

Do you have any proof that they are creeps or exploiting him or are you just judging them by their looks?

Unknown said...

I have known the DeMasi twins for years and I can assure you that they are most definitely not taking advantage of Chris Burke in any way.

Anonymous said...

Chris made a recent guest appearance on "The Family Guy":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvE2uFljDiU

Bocanej said...

Your disgusting remarks regarding the DeMasi brothers are untrue and completely unfounded. Perhaps you should try doing a bit of research before dragging someones name through the dirt with nothing more than your own perverse opinion as backup.

Movie Fan said...

Jen, I never claimed that the Demasi twins were child molesters. Instead, I wrote that they look like weirdos and that it wouldn't surprise me if they were child molesters.

Unknown said...

Jesus,

ive worshiped cork from the begginning he is awesome! get that money corky! im actually working on a script for him its gonna be GREAT! Met him and the twinks few years back. it was a hot day and cork was hurtin and pasty but was one of the best days in my life cork talked about being positive and going for your dreams.
BUT those fkn boners dress him up in a dog suit and make him sing and bark. They said they pay him in hotdogs and pizza!

Unknown said...

jesus,

Those dudes also said they work all the time mostly everyday and travel around the world raping corkys legacy and bank account! I wish I had a retard that i could bank off of but I am not that fn heartless. Dnt worry Cork ill talk to you up in Lockport and we can run this script thru some heads. I hear a comeback!! maybe have peewee make guest appearance?!!

Anonymous said...

One of the Demasi twins is named Joe. There was a famous legal case of a child molesting psychiatrist named Joseph DeMasi who molested children in the mid-1980s. He was sent to prison for this offense. Is that the same guy who is in Chris Burke's band? I sure hope he isn't molesting little retarded kids. See:
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/19/nyregion/child-psychiatrist-pedophile-his-therapist-knew-but-didn-t-tell-victim-suing.html

Anonymous said...

It is the same DeMasi yes. They are absolutely child molesters.

Anonymous said...

I heard that all of their performances are cut short due to the retard takin all his clothes off and starting to eat his own doodoo on stage

Anonymous said...

A psychiatrist told his therapist that he was a pedophile.

thats hilarious ! the shrink was seeing a shrink lol

Christian said...

I'm sorry, I always found this Super-Retardo annoying, I'd put him in a gas chamber, not in TV.

Anonymous said...

^What the eff is wrong with you?!??? Gosh I hope God punishes you for that comment.

Anonymous said...

I wonder how much money Chris Burke spent on hookers last year?

Anonymous said...

Q:what's the difference between a prostitute and chris burke?


A:a prostitute gets paid for having sex with creepy old men

Anonymous said...

If they aren't molesters, they certainly try hard to look/act like 'em.

Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WOrM2ZhOJc

^check that one out.. its a brand new video of these three stooges

BOTR said...

its a brand new video of these three stooges

If you think that one's bad, check these ones out...

*Chris and the creepy twins look like dollar store furries: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_oUDBo6Nbw

*This video is worth watching just for the 1:37 minute mark alone (think "Downs Looks Like a Lady"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZkbpc5-rM0

*The 21st century version of Milli Vanilli: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbbKgip4Jow

Anonymous said...

LOL LOL First time I"v laughed in years, thank you everyone.

Anonymous said...

I'm so confused. I know the way humor works, and mine is mostly unlimited. But there are lines, you know? It was crossed so many times on here, and I wish I could stop being shocked by the insensitive, inexperienced, unworldly and uneducated creatures in this world. I certainly won't be returning to this site (as I shouldn't have even read these comments to begin with), but I really wonder; what would you do if your child was born with Down Syndrome? Do you even have the ability to put yourself in the scenario of growing up protecting a sibling with Downs, or any mental/birth defect? Can you even remotely imagine-privately, seriously, and to yourself, rather than attempting to be witty on the anonymous internet- the pain and struggle involved (at times) with being DS or being related to a DS person, and trying to just have a life?

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Chris Burke was never paid for appearing on Life Goes On because he forgot to ask for any money?

Anonymous said...

There is something very wrong about that performance with "Corky"
and the Demasi twins. I'm pretty sure "Corky" is tapping with his feet the Morse Code for "S.O.S." and "Torture" and "Chinese Twin Finger Cuffs".

At the very least it seems like torture to listen to that group. They might be more entertaining if they had "Corky" do some Beat Boxing or Freestyle Rapping.

Anonymous said...

Chris Burke was a great character actor and it is a shame that he has been typecast as a Down's Syndrome victim by Hollywood.

Anonymous said...

I heard dude was raped

Anonymous said...

Omg I think I peed a little reading some of your comments!!

Anonymous said...

I heard chris is having sex with them on his own free will but someone needs to stop this the mongaloid doesn't know any better, and the one brother is the same guy from the rape case

Anonymous said...

Hey, I like this site. I especially enjoy leaving comments about washed up "douchenozzles" like Screech Powers. My satisfaction comes from having little doubt Screech & the like will actually READ my comments. Why? Well because they are self obsessed & bitter cause Hollywood chewed em up & spit em out. Screech spends 24 hours a day trying to prove he isn't Screech & trolls sites like this.

Chris Burke does NOT belong here. This is coming from a guy who made another cry cause he nicknamed him "Corky" back in middle school. The fact that he was able to mange a weekly television series with his handicap is AMAZING. Downs Syndrome comes with a slew of other health problems so its also even more amazing he is still healthy & happy 20 some years after his show ended. Chris Burke's life is a truly inspiring story & something he can take great pride in, Screech Powers can't say that. Screech's life is more of a joke than Chris Burke's could ever be, & supposedly Screech at least has the proper amount if chromosomes.

Anonymous said...

Even the twins sweaters look gay.

Anonymous said...

Chris Burke is a great character actor, but it really is a shame that he has been typecast. He may seemed like a lovable 'tard on Life Goes On, but I heard that he is quite the ladies' man in real life and has impregnated many of the Life Goes On groupies over the past 20 years.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know whether all of the seasons of Life Goes On are going to eventually to released on DVD? I really want to watch the classic episode from the third season where Corky's dad kicked his ass for going dookie in the kitchen sink! I bet that Chris Burke ad-libbed that scene...

Anonymous said...

who cares? Is just a Downo.

http://imagemacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/you_win_prize_downs.jpg

WillyJohnWeiner said...

I once saw Chris Burke with what appeared to be a 6'3 transvestite out the back of liu wen's Chinese restaurant.... True story

Anonymous said...

I saw this comment about Corky posted in another forum:

"OMFG I remember that episode. But the best episode is when Corky shat in the sink and his dad beat the crap out of him yelling "I can't believe I made such a fucked up retard out of my loins" and when they hugged in the end near the end credits, you see Corky pull out a knife...."

E G said...

The creepy Demasi twins wanted to pork the cork! What a bunch of freaks!

Anonymous said...

Seriously, moderate the comments. Some of this stuff is despicable.

cOrky said...

corky make dookie!!!1!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I had never realized until recently that Corky was on many episodes of "Saved by the Bell"! He was on some of the later episodes and would go Dookie on the floor as Mr. Beldings assistant. Corky also was the boss of Screech who he made an unpaid bathroom attendant!

Mr.Flynn said...

I heard a rumor that ABC paid Chris Burke in toilet paper and Jolly Rancher candy. Is this true?

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Burke has ever used his retard streangth to fight of some unseemly rape action by his two sidekicks.

Anonymous said...

Is he still a regular at the Bunny Ranch? I wonder how many hookers he has infected with his strain of Down's Syndrome...

Anonymous said...

I find the fact that these guys thought it would be a good idea to recruit a tard for their act disturbing. What's more disturbing is that they pulled the trigger on the idea. Actually it's kind of genius, how can anyone dog their act? They'd be bashing a drool case, and everyone knows that's not politically correct.

Anonymous said...

Is it true that Chris has infect several hookers with a virulent strain of Down's Syndrome?

Anonymous said...

At the height of his fame, Corky was driven everywhere in a short limousine

Anonymous said...

I found a picture of Corky and his son:

http://noahsdad.com/wp-content//2012/08/chris-burke-corky-life-goes-on-ndss-1-640x426.jpg

Frank Dunbar said...

I didn't know they could have children. Or feelings. Or thoughts. It's like they're people!

Terry Mcgee said...

You can make all of the negative comments you want about Chris, but the cold hard truth is that Chris is the mastermind of the Lufthansa Heist portrayed in the 1990 film Goodfellas. It really is brilliant. Who would suspect a young man with Down Syndrome as the head of a crime family? The Cork is one smart mofo!

Anonymous said...

I don't think chris has a son. I could be wrong.

Anonymous said...

I don't think chris has a son. I could be wrong.

Ace said...

The episode where Corky took a dump in the sink was pure gold. They don't make sitcoms like that anymore. Classic!

Anonymous said...

I'd love for this guy to demonstrate his retard strength for all to see. I'd be like a mongoloid strong man contest.

Anonymous said...

There has been a lot of recent speculation that Corky is now dating former Yankee Alex Rodriguez! From reports I've seen Corky is somewhat abusive and really enjoys smacking A Rod around!

Anonymous said...

one of those twins recently posted this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7HSkXRlYqo

Anonymous said...

You are one sick A-Hole to say something so stupid about such a wonderful man as Chris is. He has a beautiful wife and child, so take your comments with you to HELL!!������☠��������

Anonymous said...

I miss Corky! Some retarded parents copied his real life name and that kid overcame a lot and became a major league ball player! Look it up with if you don't believe me!

Unknown said...

Totally agree

Andy Assfuck said...

No it's not, it's beautiful.. :)

MAD 69 said...

They are also into Cleveland Steamers and Wisconsin Wheelbarrows

Anonymous said...

Is there any truth to the rumors that Corky has a massive dong?