- Crystal Bernard
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Crystal Bernard 
Bernard at the 1994 Emmy rehearsalBorn Crystal Lynn Bernard
September 30, 1961
Garland, Texas, U.S.Occupation Actress/Singer Years active 1982–present Crystal Lynn Bernard[1] (born September 30, 1961) is an American actress and singer, most widely known for her seven-year-long role on the situation comedy Wings. While her main work has been on television, she has appeared in some films, and also attempted to pursue a music career as a songwriter/performer.
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Early life
Bernard was born in Garland, Texas. She was raised in a Southern Baptist home. Her father, Dr. Jerry Wayne Bernard, was a Baptist televangelist who traveled across the United States preaching and singing.[2] She became an entertainer at a young age, singing gospel songs with her elder sister, Robyn (also an actress, who played "Terry Brock" on General Hospital, 1984-1990[3]). One recording of the two that has survived from those years is a song called "The Monkey Song" (an objection to evolution), on Feudin' Fussin' and Frettin' recorded when Crystal was 8 years old,[4] a recording of a 1972 Thomas Road Baptist Church service led by Jerry Falwell. She has two younger sisters, Scarlett[5] and Angelique Bernard.
Bernard studied acting at Alley Theatre while growing up in Houston, Texas. She attended Spring High School and continued her education at Baylor University, where she studied acting and international relations.[6]
Career
Television
at the 1991 Emmy Awards.
Bernard got her start in prime-time television on the sitcom Happy Days, playing "K.C. Cunningham" during the show’s penultimate season. After various guest appearances on television, she joined the cast of the resurrected, syndicated version of the sitcom It’s a Living, playing waitress Amy Tompkins. But she is best known for her role as strong-willed airport lunch-counter operator “Helen Chappel Hackett” on the sitcom Wings, a role she played for the show’s duration (1990–1997).
Film
Early in her film career, she appeared in Young Doctors in Love. She starred in the Roger Corman-produced, direct-to-video film Slumber Party Massacre 2.
During the 21st century, her work includes a role in the film, Jackpot, and starring roles in Welcome to Paradise, and Grave Misconduct.
She has also starred in two Hallmark Channel TV-movies, Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus and Meet the Santas.
She also starred in a 1989 TV-series pilot, Chameleons, created by Glen A. Larson. She played Shelley, a self-proclaimed crazed heiress who discovers that her eccentric millionaire uncle Jason Carr has been murdered. She sets out on a quest to find the truth behind his murder.
Theatre
Bernard has appeared in stage productions since the end of Wings:
- In 1999, she was in a Los Angeles production of Crimes of the Heart;
- In 2001, she was the last in a series of actresses to play Annie Oakley, in a 1999 Marquis Theatre revival of Annie Get Your Gun.[7]
- In 2005, she was in the West Coast premiere of Barbra's Wedding, starring opposite actor/playwright Daniel Stern, in a production staged at Falcon Theatre, in Burbank, California.[8]
Music
In addition to acting, Bernard has a music career as a singer-songwriter. Albums include The Girl Next Door (1996) and Don't Touch Me There (1999). The latter includes a gospel track she recorded with her father and one sung with country artist Billy Dean.
Co-wrote the song "If I Were Your Girl" with Rhett Lawrence, which appeared on the Paula Abdul album Head over Heels in 1995.
Bernard did a duet with Peter Cetera called, "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight," released on Cetera's One Clear Voice album.
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 1982 Young Doctors in Love Julie 1987 Slumber Party Massacre II Courtney Bates 1999 Gideon Jean MacLemore 2001 Jackpot Cheryl 2007 Welcome to Paradise Debbie Laramie Television Year Title Role Notes 1982 Gimme a Break! Kelly 1 episode 1982–1983 Happy Days K.C. Cunningham 16 episodes 1983 Fantasy Island Ally Miller 1 episode High School U.S.A. Anne-Marie Conklin 1983–1985 The Love Boat 2 episodes 1984 The Master Carrie Brown 1 episode 1985–1989 It's a Living Amy Tompkins 93 episodes 1989 My Two Dads Liz Schaefer 1 episode Paradise 1 episode Chameleons Shelly 1990 Without Her Consent Marty When Will I Be Loved? Julie Weston 1990–1997 Wings Helen Chappell 172 episodes 1992 Lady Against the Odds Dol Bonner 1993 Miracle Child Lisa Porter 1994 Siringo Kaitlin Mullane 1995 As Good as Dead Susan Warfield 1996 Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story Ellen Hart Pena 1999 The Secret Path Marie Foley A Face to Kill for Allison Bevens To Love, Honor & Betray Melissa Brennan 2003 According to Jim Lisa Christie 1 episode 2004 Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Beth 2005 Meet the Santas Beth 2008 Grave Misconduct Julia London Discography
Albums
Title Album details Peak chart
positionsUS Country US Heat Girl Next Door - Release date: October 29, 1996
- Label: River North
47 36 Don't Touch Me There - Release date: February 2, 1999
- Label: River North/Platinum
— — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Singles
Year Single Peak chart
positionsAlbum US Country US AC 1996 "Have We Forgotten What Love Is" 56 — Girl Next Door 1997 "State of Mind" 70 — "You're Gonna Miss a Whole Lotta Love" — — 1999 "Don't Touch Me There" — 25 Don't Touch Me There "Hey" — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Music videos
Year Video Director 1996 "Have We Forgotten What Love Is" Steven R. Monroe 1997 "State of Mind" 1999 "Hey" References
- ^ Crystal Bernard Biography (1959-)
- ^ Dr. Jerry Wayne Bernard Bernard's father and gospel singing partner
- ^ Robyn Bernard
- ^ Playlist for Mark Allen - June 16, 2005 a playlist for a WFMU show featuring "The Monkey Song"
- ^ Scarlett Bernard
- ^ Bernard's Biography from Allmovie via The New York Times website
- ^ Replacements and additions to the 1999 Annie Get Your Gun revival from the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Falcon Theatre presents Barbra's Wedding from the Falcon Theatre website
External links
- Crystal Bernard at the Internet Movie Database
- Crystal Bernard at the Internet Broadway Database
- Crystal Bernard at Yahoo! Movies
- Crystal Bernard at AllRovi
- Crystal Bernard at Allmusic
Categories:- American country singers
- American female singers
- American television actors
- People from the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex
- People from Garland, Texas
- California Republicans
- Baylor University alumni
- 1961 births
- Living people
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