You probably remember her running down the beach in that iconic red swimsuit. Or maybe you remember her as the sharp-tongued host of The Chase, making life miserable for "The Beast." Either way, Brooke Burns is one of those faces that feels like home for anyone who has watched television over the last twenty years. But if you’ve been wondering what Brooke Burns is up to lately, the answer isn't just one thing. She’s kind of everywhere, and honestly, she’s busier than she’s been in a long time.
It's actually pretty wild. While a lot of actors from the Baywatch era sort of faded into the "where are they now" file, Brooke pivoted. She didn't just stay in front of the camera; she mastered a very specific, very difficult niche: the high-stakes game show.
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The Queen of GSN: Master Minds and Beyond
Right now, if you flip on the Game Show Network (GSN), there is a very high chance you’re going to see Brooke. She’s currently the host of Master Minds, which is basically a revamped version of Best Ever Trivia Show. If you haven't seen it, the premise is simple but stressful: three contestants go head-to-head against some of the smartest trivia experts in the world (including Ken Jennings, before he became the permanent Jeopardy! host).
But the big news for 2026 is that Brooke has officially taken over the revival of a classic. In late 2025, GSN launched a brand-new iteration of Tic-Tac-Dough, and Brooke is the one at the helm. It’s a bit of a departure from the "mean host" persona she had on The Chase. In recent interviews, she’s mentioned how much she loves the intimacy of this new set.
She recently joked that after twenty years in the game show world, she’s starting to feel like the "dean of trivia." It’s a title she’s earned. Hosting a game show isn't just about reading questions; it’s about managing the energy of the room, especially when the contestants are sweating through their shirts. She’s mentioned that the secret to a good host is being "genuinely curious" about people. If you aren't listening, you lose the audience. Basically, she’s the glue holding the whole production together.
Living with Titanium: The 20-Year Anniversary
Something many fans forget—or never knew—is that Brooke Burns is technically a walking miracle. Back in 2005, she dove into her own swimming pool and broke her neck. It was a chin-to-chest paralyzing break. She was alone. If her friend hadn’t found her, things would have ended very differently.
Fast forward to late 2025 and early 2026, and Brooke has been opening up more than ever about the 20th anniversary of that accident. She has a titanium fusion in her neck now—a plate, a rod, and ten screws. She calls herself "lucky to be alive" and often talks about the survivor's guilt she feels because she can still walk while others with similar injuries can’t.
This isn't just celebrity fluff, either. She spends a huge chunk of her time working with the Life Rolls On Foundation. It’s a group that helps people with spinal cord injuries get back into an active lifestyle. She doesn't just write a check; she’s involved. She’s also a spokesperson for ThinkFirst, focusing on preventing the kind of injury that nearly took her out.
The Hallmark Life and the Mom Life
When she isn't in a TV studio in Los Angeles, Brooke is usually in "mom mode." She’s been married to director Gavin O'Connor since 2013, and they have a daughter together. She also has an older daughter, Madison, from her previous marriage to Julian McMahon.
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If you're a Hallmark fan, you’re probably asking: "What about The Gourmet Detective?"
For a while, Brooke was a staple of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. While there hasn't been a new installment of The Gourmet Detective in a bit, Brooke still pops up in holiday movies and specials. She’s one of those reliable stars who can carry a rom-com or a mystery without breaking a sweat. She’s hinted that she’d love to return to the character of Maggie Price if the timing is right, but right now, the game show schedule is pretty grueling. They often tape five or six episodes in a single day. That’s a lot of standing in heels and a lot of trivia to keep straight.
What Most People Get Wrong
People tend to pigeonhole Brooke Burns. They see the Baywatch history and assume she’s just another "pretty face" from the 90s. But look at her resume. She was a trained ballerina who studied with the Romanian Opera Ballet before an injury ended that dream. She was a top-tier model in Paris and Milan. She did her own stunts on Fear Factor.
The reason Brooke is still working at 47—and working more than she did in her 20s—is that she’s incredibly sharp. You can't host a show like The Chase or Master Minds if you aren't quick on your feet. She has this "pretty dorky girl" energy (a phrase the Farrelly brothers used when they cast her in Shallow Hal) that makes her relatable despite looking like a supermodel.
What’s Next for Brooke?
If you want to keep up with what Brooke is doing now, here is the best way to do it:
- Watch GSN: Master Minds and Tic-Tac-Dough are her main gigs right now. Check your local listings because they air them in blocks.
- Follow her advocacy work: She is very active on social media regarding spinal cord injury awareness, especially around the anniversary of her accident in November.
- Keep an eye on Hallmark: She still has a strong relationship with the network, and a return to the mystery genre is always a possibility.
Brooke is living proof that you can reinvent yourself. From the beach to the trivia desk, she’s managed to stay relevant by being the smartest person in the room—literally.
If you’re looking to get into the same kind of trivia shape as Brooke’s contestants, your best bet is to start watching Master Minds daily. It’s one of the few shows that actually rewards deep knowledge rather than just fast reflexes. You can also support her causes like the Life Rolls On Foundation if you want to see the work she’s doing off-camera.