Steve Burns, the original host of Blue’s Clues , left the show in 2002 after six years of hosting. His departure was explained on the show as Steve leaving for college, with his "brother" Joe taking over. However, in real life, Burns left primarily due to personal reasons, including struggling with severe clinical depression and feeling the need to take care of his mental health. He later revealed that the demands of constantly performing joyfully on screen became overwhelming, especially as he was the only actor in every take, often working in isolation on a green screen

. After leaving, Burns withdrew from public life, spending years living in relative isolation in Brooklyn and later moving to the Catskills. During this period, he also struggled with alcohol addiction, describing it as a "gray hum" in his life where he largely kept to himself

. Rumors about his death or other scandals circulated, but these were unfounded

. In recent years, Steve Burns has re-emerged, becoming active on social media and reconnecting with fans. He has returned to the Blue’s Clues universe, making cameos in the revival series Blue’s Clues & You! and appearing in the 2022 film Blue’s Big City Adventure. Burns now focuses on music, mental health advocacy, and occasionally participates in conventions and media appearances. He has spoken openly about his mental health journey, emphasizing the importance of asking for help and the lessons he learned from his time as Steve