Jason Bernard
Biography
Jason Bernard (May 17, 1938 – October 16, 1996) was an American actor who worked in film and television. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. Bernard’s first starring television role was as Jim Willis in the pilot episode of The White Shadow. In the early 1980s he appeared as Inspector Marquette on Cagney & Lacey (1982–1983) and as Preston Wade on Days of Our Lives (1982). He also played Judge Willard, a rival to Judge Stone, in the first season of Night Court. Bernard’s most prominent part came in the 1983 NBC miniseries V, in which he portrayed Caleb Taylor, a role he repeated in the 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle. His career continued into the 1990s with a notable television role on a Fox comedy series.
Career overview
Jason Bernard (May 17, 1938 – October 16, 1996) was an American actor who worked in both film and television. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. Bernard’s first starring television role came with the pilot episode of the series The White Shadow, in which he portrayed the character Jim Willis.
During the early 1980s Bernard became a familiar face on network dramas. He appeared as Inspector Marquette on Cagney & Lacey from 1982 to 1983 and played Preston Wade in the daytime soap Days of Our Lives in 1982. In the first season of Night Court he held a recurring part as Judge Willard, the rival of Judge Stone. Bernard’s most prominent role arrived with the 1983 NBC miniseries V, where he played Caleb Taylor; he returned to the same character for the 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle.
Bernard continued to act into the 1990s, taking a regular part in a Fox comedy series during that decade. His career spanned a range of genres, from procedural dramas to science‑fiction miniseries, and he remained active in television until his death in 1996 at the age of 58.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Jason Bernard.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Liar Liar (1997) as Judge Marshall Stevens
- Liar Liar (1997) In Memory Of
- Suddenly (1996) as Louie
- The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play (1996) as Leon Martin
- Sophie and the Moonhanger (1996) as Holt
- While You Were Sleeping (1995) as Jerry
- Partners (1995)
- The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1995) as Miles Quigley
- Down, Out and Dangerous (1995) as Detective Danner
- Cosmic Slop (1994) as Bernard Shields (segment 'Space Traders')
- The Flash III: Deadly Nightshade (1992) as Desmond Powell / Nightshade
- Dinosaurs (1991) as Edward R. Hero (voice)
- Herman's Head (1991)
- The Flash (1990) as Dr. Desmond Powell
- Paint It Black (1990) as Lt. Wilder
- Hardball (1989)
- Original Sin (1989) as Det. Mitchell
- The Meeting (1989) as Martin Luther King, Jr
- Empty Nest (1988) as Mr. Noack
- Police Story (1988) as Lt. Crawford
- Bird (1988) as Benny Tate
- Police Story: Gladiator School (1988) as Lt. Crawford
- Wiseguy (1987)
- A Year in the Life (1987) as Richard Caldwell
- No Way Out (1987) as Major Donovan
- Beauty and the Beast (1987) as Jack Davis
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987) as Sergeant Koslow
- Designing Women (1986) as Wilson Brickett
- It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986) as Officer Sweeny
- Starman (1986)
- The Children of Times Square (1986) as Lt. Devins
- The Comedy Factory (1985) as Finney Morgan
- The Rape of Richard Beck (1985) as Sgt. Wally Rydell
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Wilson Sloane
- Night Court (1984) as Judge Willard
- The Cosby Show (1984) as Sgt. Major Boswell Stokes
- Hunter (1984) as Chief Kenny Lanark
- Airwolf (1984) as Aaron Martin
- Crazy like a Fox (1984) as Judge
- V: The Final Battle (1984) as Caleb Taylor
- City Killer (1984) as Captain Frank Sydney
- All of Me (1984) as Tyrone Wattell
- Hardcastle and McCormick (1983)
- V (1983) as Caleb Taylor
- WarGames (1983) as Captain Knewt
- Blue Thunder (1983) as Mayor
- The Star Chamber (1983) as Judge Bocho
- High Performance (1983)
- American Playhouse (1982) as Martin Luther King Jr.
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Deputy Inspector Marquette
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Dep. Inspector Marquette
- Hotel (1982) as Irwin Smith
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) as Gym Teacher (uncredited)
- I Was a Mail Order Bride (1982) as Judge
- Pray TV (1982) as Everett
- The Greatest American Hero (1981)
- Flamingo Road (1981)
- Here's Boomer (1981)
- The Night the City Screamed (1980) as Dale Wrightson
- Knots Landing (1979) as Dr. Garner
- The Facts of Life (1979)
- The White Shadow (1978) as Jim Willis
- Coma (1978) as Surgical Resident (uncredited)
- A Woman Called Moses (1978) as Daddy Ben Ross
- Uncle Joe Shannon (1978) as Goose
- Wilma (1977) as Coach Temple
- Delvecchio (1976) as Sgt. Ogden
- Car Wash (1976) as Lonnie's Parole Officer
- Starsky & Hutch (1975) as R.C. Turner
- Switch (1975) as Capt. Dellinger
- The Jeffersons (1975)
- Friday Foster (1975) as Charles Foley
- Movin' On (1974)
- Thomasine & Bushrod (1974) as Seldon
- M*A*S*H (1972) as Major Rockingham
- The Longest Night (1972) as FBI Agent (uncredited)
- Medical Center (1969)
- Medical Center (1969) as Resident
- The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969) as Dr. Griffith
- Then Came Bronson (1969) as Reverend Taylor
- The Friendly Game (1967) as Black
- Another World (1964)