Jason Bernard
Jason Bernard (May 17, 1938 – October 16, 1996) was an American film and television actor.
Jason Bernard | |
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Jason Bernard and Shirley Jo Finney in Wilma in 1977 | |
Born | |
Died | October 16, 1996 58) Burbank, California, U.S. | (aged
Occupation | Film, television, voice actor |
Years active | 1969–1996 |
Spouse(s) | Debra Bernard |
Children | Jason Bernard Jr.[1] |
Life and career
Bernard was born in Chicago, Illinois. His first starring role was in the pilot episode of the television series The White Shadow as Jim Willis. His other well-known TV roles are in the 1980s TV series Cagney & Lacey as Inspector Marquette from 1982–1983, Days of Our Lives as Preston Wade in 1982, and a recurring role in the first season of Night Court as Judge Stone's arrogant rival Judge Willard. His big role came in the 1983 hit NBC miniseries V as Caleb Taylor. Bernard reprised his role in the 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle. His other big TV role was in the 1990s FOX comedy series Herman's Head as Herman's boss, Mr. Paul Bracken. He appeared in the video games Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger and Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom as Captain William Eisen.
Bernard's first role in a feature film was a cameo in the Charles Bronson film Death Wish, and his first major role was in the 1974 movie Thomasine & Bushrod. He later appeared in Car Wash, WarGames, No Way Out, While You Were Sleeping, and Blue Thunder.
Bernard made many guest appearances on a variety of television shows, ranging from Starsky & Hutch, Flamingo Road and The Jeffersons to The Flash, Murder, She Wrote, Wiseguy and Partners. He also appeared, as the chief security guard, in The Dukes of Hazzard episode "The Dukes in Hollywood".
He played the blind musician Tyrone Wattell in the film All of Me. Bernard's final appearance was in the 1997 film Liar Liar as Judge Marshall Stevens.
Death
Shortly after the filming of Liar Liar was completed, Bernard suffered a heart attack on October 16, 1996. He had been driving his car in Burbank, California when he was stricken, and was involved in a rear-end accident. Bernard was rushed to Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank where he died.[2] He was survived by his wife Debra and son Jason Jr. His body was cremated. Both Suddenly and Liar Liar were dedicated in memory of him.
Filmography
- Days of Our Lives (1965, TV Series, unknown episodes,
a.k.a. Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives (USA: summer title)
a.k.a. DOOL (USA: informal short title)
a.k.a. Days (USA: short title)) .... Preston Wade (1982) - The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969, TV Series) .... Dr. Griffith
- Then Came Bronson (1969, TV Series) .... Reverend Taylor
- Medical Center (1969-1972, TV Series) .... Resident / Emergency Resident
- Thomasine & Bushrod (1974) .... Seldon
- Friday Foster (1975) .... Charles Foley
- Starsky & Hutch (1976, TV Series) .... R.C. Turner
- The Blue Knight (1976, TV Series) .... Det. Bosco
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1976, TV Series) .... Dr. Hal Mendoza
- Switch (1976, TV Series) .... Capt. Dellinger
- Car Wash (1976) .... Lonnie's Parole Officer
- Delvecchio (1977, TV Series) .... Sgt. Ogden
- Wilma (1977, TV Movie) .... Coach Temple
- Coma (1978) .... Surgical Residents (uncredited)
- The White Shadow (1978, TV Series) .... Jim Willis
- A Woman Called Moses (1978, TV Series) .... Daddy Ben Ross
- Uncle Joe Shannon (1978) .... Goose
- The Night the City Screamed (1980, TV Movie) .... Dale Wrightson
- Concrete Cowboys (1981, TV Series) .... Turman
- Pray TV (1982, TV Movie, a.k.a. Mixed Blessings) .... Everett
- M*A*S*H (1982, TV Series) .... Capt. Quentin Rockingham
- Flamingo Road (1981–1982, TV Series) .... Carl Turner
- Here's Boomer (1982, TV Series) .... Sergeant Lindsey Andrews
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) .... Gym Teacher (uncredited)
- The Greatest American Hero (1982, TV Series) .... Morgan
- Tucker's Witch (1982, TV Series) .... Mr. Stillwell
- I Was a Mail Order Bride (1982, TV Movie) .... Judge
- Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988, TV Series) .... Deputy Inspector Marquette
- Blue Thunder (1983, a.k.a. Blue Thunder the Movie (UK: video box title) .... Mayor
- High Performance (1983, TV series, unknown episodes) .... Fletch
- V (1983, TV Mini-Series, a.k.a. V: The Original Miniseries (USA: DVD box title)) .... Caleb Taylor
- WarGames (1983) .... Captain Knewt
- The Star Chamber (1983) .... Judge Bocho
- The Jeffersons (1983, TV Series) .... Lloyd Tyndall
- This Is the Life (1984, TV Series)
- V: The Final Battle (1984, TV Series) .... Caleb Taylor
- All of Me (1984) .... Tyrone Wattell
- Wolf Rock TV (1984, TV Series, unknown episodes, a.k.a. Wolf Rock Power Hour (USA: syndication title)) .... Mr. Morris
- Hunter (1984, TV Series) .... Chief Kenny Lanark
- Airwolf (1984, TV Series, a.k.a. Lobo del aire (USA: Spanish title) .... Aaron Martin
- City Killer (1984, TV Movie) .... Captain Frank Sydney
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1984, TV Series) .... The Chief Guard
- Night Court (1984, TV Series) .... Judge Robert T. Willard
- Riptide (1984, TV Series) .... Mr. Collins
- Knots Landing (1984, TV Series) .... Dr. Garner
- Crazy Like a Fox (1985, TV Series)
- The Rape of Richard Beck (1985, TV Movie, a.k.a. Deadly Justice (USA: DVD title), a.k.a. The Broken Badge, a.k.a. Violated (USA: video title)) .... Sgt. Wally Rydell
- Hotel (1985, TV Series, a.k.a. Arthur Hailey's Hotel) .... Irwin Smith
- The Facts of Life (1985, TV Series) .... Frank
- Hardcastle and McCormick (1985, TV Series) .... Arnie Sandoval
- Shadow Chasers (1985, TV Series) .... Burke
- The Children of Times Square (1986, TV Movie, a.k.a. Street Wise (Australia: video title)) .... Lt. Devins
- Comedy Factory (1986, TV Series) .... Finney Morgan
- Starman (1986, TV Series) .... Chief Harold Galley
- The Cosby Show (1986, TV Series) .... Sgt. Major Boswell Stokes
- It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–1987, TV Series) .... Officer Sweeny
- Amen (1987, TV Series) .... Dexter
- No Way Out (1987) .... Major Donovan
- CBS Summer Playhouse (1987, TV Series) .... Vern Puckett
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987, TV Movie) .... Sergeant Koslow
- Beauty and the Beast (1987, TV Series) .... Jack Davis
- Bird (1988) .... Benny Tate
- Police Story: Gladiator School (1988, TV Movie) .... Lt. Crawford
- Designing Women (1988, TV Series) .... Wilson Brickette
- Empty Nest (1988, TV Series) .... Mr. Noack
- Original Sin (1989, TV Movie) .... Det. Mitchell
- Unsub (1989, TV Series) .... Bishop Grace
- Heart and Soul (1989, TV Short) .... Cecil Kincaid
- American Playhouse (1989, TV Series) .... Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Paint It Black (1989) .... Lt. Wilder
- Hardball (1989, TV Series)
- Wiseguy (1989, TV Series) .... Attorney General
- Equal Justice (1990, TV Series) .... Judge Thaddeus Jones
- The Flash (1990–1991, TV Series) .... Dr. Desmond Powell / Nightshade / Desmond Powell / Nightshade
- Herman's Head (1991–1994, TV Series) .... Mr. Paul Bracken
- Dinosaurs (1992, TV Series) ... Edward R. Hero (voice)
- Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (1994, TV Series, unknown episodes) .... (voice)
- Cosmic Slop (1994, TV Movie) .... Bernard Shields (segment "Space Traders")
- Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger (1994, Video Game) .... Capt. William Eisen
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995, TV Movie) .... Prof. Miles Quigley
- While You Were Sleeping (1995) .... Jerry Wallace
- Down, Out & Dangerous (1995, TV Movie) .... Detective Danner
- Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1996, Video Game) .... Capt. William Eisen
- Murder, She Wrote (1996, TV Series) .... Wilson Sloane
- Sophie & the Moonhanger (1996, TV Movie) .... Holt
- Partners (1996, TV Series) .... Leavitt
- The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play(1996, TV Movie) .... Leon Martin
- Suddenly (1996, TV Movie) .... Louie (posthumous release)
- Liar Liar (1997) .... Judge Marshall Stevens (final film role, posthumous release)
References
- "Actor Jason Bernard, 58, Succumbs After He Suffered Heart Attack In California". Jet. 4 November 1996. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- Pace, Eric (21 October 1996). "Jason Bernard, 58, an Actor In Television Films and Series". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 August 2018.