Dianne Burnett

Actress, author, producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, visionary, mother. Dianne Burnett is doing exactly what she'd always dreamed of doing –- and then some –- while growing up in the modest suburb of Commack on New York's Long Island. The youngest of four children, Dianne's always wanted to break into show business. She worked full-time to put herself through college, majoring in theater at Nassau College in Westbury. She continued to study dance and, at the age of 23, two-stepped her way into an entertainment position in Midtown Manhattan, where she met Mark Burnett, her future ex-husband and eventual father of her two sons.

During their adventure-filled fourteen years together, Dianne and Mark Burnett joined creative forces to introduce a new type of television show -- Eco-Challenge, an over-the-top expedition-length adventure race held annually across five continents that was broadcast to millions worldwide. Eco-Challenge served as the impetus for Survivor, which kick-started America's reality television show craze and went on to become the longest running and most lucrative reality TV series of all time. In addition to the tremendous role Dianne played in launching Survivor, she has independently produced theater and film projects and has performed on stage and television, including an appearance on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Dianne's memoir, The Road to Reality, vividly charts her path through the thrills and spills of her life and is slated for a September 2012 release. Poignant and entertaining, it inspires women who are struggling to pick themselves up after a life-shattering divorce and encourages readers to take the high road. Dianne also recently launched the social network platform TheOtherSide.com. Call it "Facebook with a conscious," this groundbreaking multimedia site brings together alternative views on health, spirituality and relationships; it hopes to serve as a catalyst to help humanity and individuals to hit new heights.

With a zest for life and passion to help others, Dianne also dedicates herself to philanthropic endeavors and strives to make a difference in this world. Dianne sits on the Board of Advisors of Children Mending Hearts and supports various charitable causes, including Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, Malibu Film Foundation and Mercy for Animals. She is actively involved with Women in Film, a non-profit dedicated to helping women achieve their highest potential in the global entertainment, communications and media industries.

As if philanthropy, working on her memoir and designing TheOtherSide.com wasn't enough to handle while raising her two amazing sons, Dianne faced tragedy along the way. Her world was turned upside down when her mother, always her loudest cheerleader, was diagnosed with cancer. Joan Valentine eventually lost her courageous battle in 2010. In response, Dianne launched Joan Valentine –- A Foundation for Natural Cures, Inc. The nonprofit organization is searching the world over for new and effective natural cures for cancer and is also funding research of alternative treatments to help pave their way into mainstream medicine.

Dianne, a dynamo who has turned her passion into success, lives in Malibu with her family.