As I delve into the lives of these remarkable actors post their stints on “Burn Notice,” it’s clear that their careers have been as dynamic and engaging as the series itself. Sharon Gless, a veritable TV titan, has graced our screens for decades, leaving an indelible mark with each role she embodies. Her recent memoir, “Apparently There Were Complaints,” offers a fascinating glimpse into her life and career, making it mandatory reading for any fan of her work.
As a gamer, stepping into the shoes of a covert operative means trust is always elusive. One moment you’re in the thick of espionage, the next, betrayed and banished to sunny Miami. Here, I’m left juggling off-the-wall tasks from mom and skirmishing against petty thugs, all while unraveling the mystery of who ousted me from the intelligence world. That’s the gist of “Burn Notice”, a seven-season spy-crime series that aired on USA Network from 2007 to 2013, and culminating in a movie. Just like any gripping procedural drama, its success hinged heavily on the rapport and talent of its ensemble cast.
In this rephrased version: Jeffrey Donovan stars as Michael Westen, a former spy who is now operating independently following a secretive “burn notice” that ended his career and left him stranded in Miami with his funds on hold. Accompanied by his mother Madeline (Sharon Gless), ex-romantic interest and Irish rebel Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), friends Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) and Jesse Porter (Coby Bell), Michael embarks on a lengthy journey to discover the truth behind his situation. Along the way, they confront criminal masterminds, aid the oppressed, and gradually piece together what truly transpired with Michael’s life.
Let’s revisit the cast members of the TV show “Burn Notice,” which was a significant part of the golden era for procedural dramas on USA Network. During its run, it shared the spotlight with similar shows such as “Psych,” “White Collar,” and the long-running series “Suits.” Since the series ended over a decade ago, let’s catch up with the actors from “Burn Notice” to see what they’ve been doing.
Michael Westen, Jeffrey Donovan
Following nearly ten years of portraying Michael Westen on the USA Network, Jeffrey Donovan expanded his acting repertoire. Post-“Burn Notice,” he continued to thrive in television, securing a recurring part as dangerous criminal Dodd Gerhardt in “Fargo” Season 2. Subsequently, he starred as psychic magician Charlie Haverford on Hulu’s “Shut Eye” for its two seasons. Additionally, he became part of the “Law & Order” universe by taking on the role of Det. Frank Cosgrove.
Since his time on “Burn Notice” concluded, Donovan has remained just as productive on the silver screen. He starred as Steve Forsing in both the 2015 film “Sicario” and its 2018 sequel “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” and portrayed John F. Kennedy in the 2016 biopic “LBJ.” From 2019 onwards, he’s been quite busy with film roles, including the Liam Neeson thriller “Honest Thief” in 2020, the John Boyega drama “Breaking” in 2022, and the 2023 Western “Surrounded.” Additionally, Donovan has dipped his toes into voice acting, with appearances as the robotic gangster Machine Head on the animated superhero series “Invincible” on Prime Video, and as Steve Trevor in the animated DC movie “Wonder Woman: Bloodlines.
In his personal life, Donovan tied the knot with Michelle Woods towards the final stages of the “Burn Notice” series in 2012. They are now parents to three kids.
Fiona Glenanne, Gabrielle Anwar
Gabrielle Anwar, who played Fiona Glenanne on “Burn Notice,” was frequently the one igniting the drama, literally with various explosives and figuratively through her intense character. Fiona’s fiery temperament provided a compelling contrast to Michael’s composed nature, and their tumultuous romantic dynamics served as a central plot point throughout the series, making it a key element in any well-crafted procedural drama.
After “Burn Notice” concluded in 2013, I’ve taken a bit of a break from Hollywood’s limelight, but I’ve made appearances every now and then. My most memorable role post-spy days was on ABC’s fairy tale series, “Once Upon a Time.” In this show, I played not one, but two characters – Victoria Belfrey and Lady Rapunzel Tremaine. For those who watched the series, you know that actors often portrayed both their real-world counterparts and magical versions of the same character. My performance earned me a nomination for Best Villain at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards.
Since her role in “Burn Notice,” Anwar’s other significant credit was in the 2019 teenage drama “The Last Summer.” Here, she portrayed the mother of KJ Apa’s main character, Griffin. In 2015, Anwar tied the knot with restaurateur Shareef Malnik. Interestingly, she designed her own wedding dress for the ceremony.
Sam Axe, Bruce Campbell
By the time Bruce Campbell made his appearance as Sam Axe on “Burn Notice” Season 1, he was already a well-known figure in the film world, having earned cult status alongside director and longtime friend Sam Raimi in the Evil Dead series. Over the years, Campbell has developed a diverse film portfolio, consistently staying true to his roots in B-movie genres. While some casual viewers might recognize him from later films directed by Raimi, such as the Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire.
In the hit show “Burn Notice,” Campbell often added a dash of humor, offering cocktail-infused counsel and aid whenever Michael required it. This light-hearted approach endeared him to viewers, leading to such popularity that he even headlined a TV movie prequel, delving into Sam’s past military experiences.
Campbell has taken on a significant television role since “Burn Notice,” most notably as the lead character in “Ash vs Evil Dead,” a Starz follow-up to the original horror film franchise which ran from 2015 to 2018. Similar to his “Burn Notice” co-star, Jeffrey Donovan, he also made a brief appearance on “Fargo” in 2015, playing Ronald Reagan. Additionally, he has lent his voice to animated series such as “Archer” and “The Last Kids on Earth.
As a gamer, I’ve always been thrilled to see Campbell on the big screen, whether it was a brief appearance in movies like “Oz the Great and Powerful” or “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” directed by Raimi. But what truly excites me is his return as Ash Williams in the modern Evil Dead films and the Starz series. What’s more, I can’t help but cheer when I hear his voice in video games like “Call of Duty” and “Dead by Daylight.
Madeline Westen, Sharon Gless
Among the cast members of “Burn Notice”, Sharon Gless stood out when the series debuted, with an extensive television background that few others could match. Her rise to fame began in the early ’80s, where she shone as Detective Christine Cagney on the critically-acclaimed CBS series “Cagney & Lacey”. She was awarded two Primetime Emmys for this role and received four additional nominations. In the early ’90s, she earned two more nominations for her work on the drama “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill”. Sharon Gless further cemented her status as a versatile TV actress by portraying Debbie Novotny in “Queer as Folk”, solidifying her reputation as a star spanning multiple decades.
In 2010, Gless received another Emmy nomination for her role as Michael’s mother Madeline in “Burn Notice.” Since then, she has only had one significant film role, which was in the 2023 Pierce Brosnan thriller “Fast Charlie,” but she continues to stay busy on television. This isn’t unexpected considering her career trajectory.
2016 saw Geena Davis portray Chris MacNeil in the initial season of Fox’s “The Exorcist” series. Subsequently, she made guest appearances on “The Gifted,” “Casualty,” and “Station 19.” Although she hasn’t taken on a leading role since “Burn Notice” concluded, the actress has consistently added to her already distinguished body of work in recent years. In 2022, she released her memoir, “Apparently There Were Complaints,” with Simon & Schuster, offering insights into her extensive life and career.
Jesse Porter, Coby Bell
As a gamer, I found myself stepping into the shoes of Jesse Porter, portrayed by the talented Coby Bell, in the gripping series “Burn Notice.” Unlike the rest of the main cast, my character wasn’t part of the story until Season 4. A twist of fate, orchestrated unintentionally by Michael, led to my own burn notice. After a tense spell, I became an integral member of the team, contributing my unique skills and camaraderie to the crew.
While gracing the screens of “Burn Notice,” Bell simultaneously acted in “The Game,” a TV show revolving around an imaginary American football team. This show originally aired on The CW, later moving to BET. In this series, Bell portrayed Jason Pitts, the team captain, and reprised his role in 2021 when it was revived on Paramount+. Following brief appearances in shows like “Mad Dogs” and “Hand of God,” he secured another lead role on the Fox X-Men series, “The Gifted,” portraying Sentinel Services agent Jace Turner. In 2019 and 2020, Bell made guest appearances on “SEAL Team” and “Lucifer.
Alongside lead actor Jared Padalecki, Bell has appeared in the revival of “Walker, Texas Ranger,” titled simply “Walker,” on The CW. He portrayed Texas Ranger Larry Samuel James. Unfortunately, this year marked the end of “Walker” after four seasons, leaving Bell’s calendar open for new opportunities.
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2024-09-29 19:00