Herschel Bernardi

Career overview

Herschel Bernardi was born on 30 October 1923 in New York City, New York, and died on 9 May 1986 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 62. He was an American actor who worked in film, on Broadway, and on television. Over the course of his career he accumulated 79 credited performances, as recorded by the Motion Picture database.

On the Broadway stage Bernardi is best remembered for starring as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and for leading roles in Zorba and Bajour. His television work included appearances on Harbor Command and The Eleventh Hour, both alongside Wendell Corey, as well as guest spots on State Trooper and Peter Gunn. In addition to acting, he contributed at least one script to the Peter Gunn series. Bernardi’s most prominent television role was the title character in the CBS sitcom Arnie, where he portrayed a loading‑dock worker who was promoted to an executive position; he led the series for two years.

Throughout his varied career Bernardi was credited under the alternate spelling “Hershel Be,” and his body of work reflects a significant presence across mid‑century American stage and screen.