Kevin Bernhardt is an American screenwriter, film actor, television actor, and producer. Bernhardt started as an actor in TV, with contract roles on Dynasty in 1989 and General Hospital (1985–1986). Following that, he had a dozen lead film roles until the mid-1990s - when he began seeing his screenplays produced - and decided to focus on writing. He has had over 30 screenplays produced with name actors.

Kevin Bernhardt
Born
Years active1985–present
SpouseApollonia Kotero (1987–1997)

Early life and education

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Bernhardt was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was adopted by Navy Damage Control Officer 'Red' and wife Beverly.[1] Years there were spent at an African-American elementary school (Turie T. Small), as part of the integration which continued in the late 1960s.

Bernhardt attended college at Binghamton University on a National Merit Scholarship sponsored by the Eureka tent factory, where his mother worked.

Career

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After completing bachelor's degrees in Economics and Drama he traveled to Los Angeles in January 1984,[2][1] where he passed the Series 7 exam and was hired by a securities company. But his true passion was the theater.

He landed a coveted contract role on General Hospital, and his storyline led the ratings for two years. Bernhardt took acting seriously enough to study in the small master class taught by Stella Adler, and he continued to work steadily as an actor for several years; in TV with another contract role as a priest on Dynasty, as well as several mostly 'bad-guy' leads in films such as Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth.[3] But once he saw his first screenplay produced – he devoted his undivided attention to writing.

Since then his writing has attracted a diverse array of well-known actors, including Kevin Bacon, Ben Foster, Michael Caine, Michael Shannon, Chris Rock, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Plummer, Til Schweiger, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Goode, Roy Scheider, Djimon Hounsou, Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, Charlie Sheen, Dolph Lundgren, John Lithgow, Tom Berenger, Peter Weller, Sylvester Stallone and Nick Nolte.

He has also worked with many notable directors including Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth), Andrew Davis (Holes, The Fugitive), Abel Ferrara (King of NY), John Hillcoat (Lawless), William Friedkin (The French Connection), Mimi Leder (Deep Impact), Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2, The Misfits), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky, Rambo), Frederic Forestier (Asterix...), Renny Harlin, Wayne Cramer (The Cooler), and Brad Anderson (The Call). His screenplays were largely used to create the first breakthrough films - for independent companies such as Elie Samaha's Franchise Pictures, and the predominant independent company in the world, Avi Lerner's Nu Image.

Filmography

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Year Title Functioned as Role
Actor Writer Producer
1984 General Hospital Yes No No 15 episodes as Frisco Jones[3][4]
1985 Le feu sous la peau Yes No No Feature film; starring as Raphael[3]
General Hospital Yes No No Series regular; 310 episodes as Kevin O'Connor[3]
1987 Kick or Die Yes No No Film; starring as Don Potter[5][3][6][7]
1988 Counterforce Yes No No Feature film; starring as Sutherland[3]
1989 Dynasty Yes No No Guest Star; starring as Father Tanner McBride[3]
Midnight Warrior Yes No No Feature film; starring as Nick Branca[6]
Superboy Yes No No Guest Star; starring as Dr. Byron Shelley[3]
1992 Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth Yes No No Feature film; starring as J.P Monroe[5][3][6]
1993 Beauty School Yes No No Feature film; starring as Colt[5]
Treacherous Yes No No Feature film; starring as Damon Vasquez[6]
1995 The Immortals Yes Yes Yes Feature film; starring as Billy Knox[8]
1996 Hollow Point No Uncredited No Feature film; starring as Billy Knox[8]
1997 Top of the World Yes Uncredited Yes Feature film; starring as Dean
The Peacekeeper No Uncredited No Feature film
Natural Enemy No Yes No Feature film
1998 Sweepers No Story No Feature film;
1999 Five Aces No Uncredited No Feature film
Diplomatic Siege No Yes No Feature film
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying No Yes No Feature film; sequel to Turbulence
Jill Rips No Yes No Feature film
2000 The Art of War No Uncredited No Feature film
Agent Red No Uncredited No Feature film
Amazing Grace No No Yes Feature film
2001 Without a Word No Uncredited No Feature film
3000 Miles to Graceland No Uncredited No Feature film
2003 One Last Dance No Uncredited No Feature film
2005 Virginia No Yes No Feature film
Valiant No Uncredited No Feature film
2006 Peaceful Warrior No Yes No Feature film[9]
2008 John Rambo No Uncredited No Feature film
2009 The Art of War No Uncredited No Feature film
2010 Elephant White No Yes No Feature film
2015 Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman No No Executive Feature film
Ghoul No No Executive Feature film
2017 The Shanghai Job No Yes No Feature film
Hate Crime Yes No No Feature film; starring as Tom Brown
2018 Shiner Yes Yes No Feature film; starring as Happy McBride
2019 Cliffs of Freedom No Yes No Feature film
2020 Echo Boomers No Yes Executive Feature film
2021 Best Sellers No No Executive Feature film
2022 Medieval Yes Consultant Executive Feature film; starring as Captain Martin

References

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  1. ^ a b Grant, James. "General Hospital's Kevin Bernhardt Is Apollonia's Current Prince". PEOPLE.com. People Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  2. ^ Passalacqua, Connie (June 7, 1984). "Bernhardt running on the fast track". Eau Claire Leader Telegram. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kane, Paul (2015). The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy. McFarland. p. 104. ISBN 9781476600697. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Bonderoff, Jason (1987). Soap Opera Babylon. Perigee Books. p. 59. ISBN 9780399512919. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Martin, Mick; Porter, Marsha (1997). Video Movie Guide 1998. Ballantine Books. pp. 77, 470, 569. ISBN 9780345407931. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d Weldon, Michael (1996). The Psychotronic Video Guide. Titan Books. pp. 260, 311, 366. ISBN 9781852867706. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Cohn, Lawrence (August 24, 1992). "Television Reviews - Kick or Die". Variety. ISBN 9780824037963. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Visible Ink Press Staff; Craddock (1996). Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever, 1997. Thomson Gale. p. cclxx. ISBN 9780787607807. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Motion Picture Almanac. Quigley Publishing Company. 2007. p. 517. ISBN 9780900610806. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
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