Jason Bernard

Jason Bernard (May 17, 1938 – October 16, 1996) was an American actor who starred in movies and on television.

Career

Bernard was born in Chicago, Illinois. His first starring role was in the Television series The White Shadow as Jim Willis in the pilot episode, his other well known TV role was in the 1980s TV series Cagney & Lacey as Inspector Marquette from 1982-1983, Days of our Lives as Preston Wade in 1982. His big role came in the 1983 hit NBC mini series V as Caleb Taylor, Jason 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 was a very popular addition to the Wing Commander franchise in 1994's Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger as Captain William Eisen.

Bernard's first feature film role (other than a very quick cameo as a man lighting a cigarette in an alley in the Charles Bronson film Death Wish) was in the 1974 movie Thomasine & Bushrod. He later appeared in Car Wash, WarGames 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, Wiseguy and Partners.

One of his most memorable appearances was as the blind musician Tyrone Wattell, close friend of Steve Martin's Roger Cobb, in the film All of Me. Bernard's final appearance was in the 1997 film Liar Liar as Judge Marshall Stevens. Ironically, both movies involved a theme of supernatural intervention leading to a less-than-honest lawyer telling the truth.

Sudden death

Shortly after principal filming of Liar Liar was completed, Bernard suffered a massive heart attack on October 16, 1996. He had been driving his automobile 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 and died within the hour at age 58. He was cremated.

Liar Liar was dedicated in memory of him.

Filmography

• Thomasine & Bushrod (1974)
• Friday Foster (1975)
• Car Wash (1976)
• M*A*S*H (TV series) Episode #228 - "The Tooth Shall Set You Free" (1982)
• V (1983)
• WarGames (1983)
• Blue Thunder (1983)
• The Star Chamber (1983)
• V: The Final Battle (1984)
• All of Me (1984)
• No Way Out (1987)
• Bird (1988)
• Paint It Black (1988)
• The Flash (1990-'91)
• Herman's Head (1991-1994)
• Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger (1994) (computer game)
• While You Were Sleeping (1995)
• Sophie & the Moonhanger (TV movie) (1996)
• The Rockford Files Ep. entitled Friends and Foul Play (1996) (TV)
• Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom (1996) (computer game)
• Suddenly (1996)
• Liar Liar (1997)

External links

• Jason Bernard at the Internet Movie Database
• Jason Bernard at Allmovie
• Jason Bernard at Find a Grave