Crystal Bernard
Encyclopedia
Crystal Lynn Bernard 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.
. 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. 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). 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, a recording of a 1972 Thomas Road Baptist Church
service led by Jerry Falwell
. She has two younger sisters, Scarlett 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.
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).
. 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.
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, she has appeared in some films, and also attempted to pursue a music career as a songwriter/performer.
Early life
Bernard was born in Garland, TexasGarland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
. 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. She became an entertainer at a young age, singing gospel songs
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
with her elder sister, Robyn (also an actress, who played "Terry Brock" on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, 1984-1990). One recording of the two that has survived from those years is a song called "The Monkey Song" (an objection to evolution
Objections to evolution
Objections to evolution have been raised since evolutionary ideas came to prominence in the 19th century. When Charles Darwin published his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, his theory of evolution by natural selection initially met opposition from scientists with different theories, but came to...
), on Feudin' Fussin' and Frettin recorded when Crystal was 8 years old, a recording of a 1972 Thomas Road Baptist Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church is a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia. It currently claims 24,000 members and is headed by Jonathan Falwell.-History:Started in 1956 by a group of 35, including Jerry Falwell, Thomas Road now claims over 24,200 members...
service led by Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
. She has two younger sisters, Scarlett and Angelique Bernard.
Bernard studied acting at Alley Theatre
Alley Theatre
The Alley Theatre is a Tony Award-winning indoor theatre in Downtown Houston, Texas, and hosts two stages. The "Hubbard" is the main stage with seating for 824; the more intimate "Neuhaus" seats 310. Nine towers and open-air terraces give the Alley Theatre a castle-like quality. Inside, a staircase...
while growing up in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. She attended Spring High School and continued her education at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, where she studied acting and international relations.
Television
Bernard got her start in prime-time television on the sitcomSituation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
, 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 LoveYoung Doctors in Love
Young Doctors in Love is a 1982 comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Similar in tone to the Airplane! movies, it spoofs a variety of medical shows ....
. She starred in the Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
-produced, direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
film Slumber Party Massacre 2
Slumber Party Massacre 2
Slumber Party Massacre II is the 1987 horror sequel. It was directed by Deborah Brock. It is preceded by The Slumber Party Massacre and succeeded by Slumber Party Massacre III, Cheerleader Massacre and Cheerleader Massacre 2.-Plot:...
.
During the 21st century, her work includes a role in the film, Jackpot, and starring roles in Welcome to Paradise, and Grave Misconduct
Grave Misconduct
Grave Misconduct is a 2008 thriller film directed by Armand Mastroianni, starring Fran Bennett and Crystal Bernard....
.
She has also starred in two Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
TV-movies
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
, Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus and Meet the Santas.
She also starred in a 1989 TV-series pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
, Chameleons, created by Glen A. Larson
Glen A. Larson
Glen Albert Larson is an American television producer and writer best known as the creator of Battlestar Galactica, The Fall Guy, Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider.-Career:...
. 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 AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
production of Crimes of the HeartCrimes of the HeartCrimes of the Heart is a play by Beth Henley.-Synopsis:At the core of the tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The trio was raised in a dysfunctional family with a...
; - In 2001, she was the last in a series of actresses to play Annie OakleyAnnie OakleyAnnie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...
, in a 1999 Marquis TheatreMarquis TheatreThe Marquis Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 1535 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan.Situated on the third floor of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, the 1611-seat venue was designed by developer/architect John C. Portman, Jr...
revival of Annie Get Your GunAnnie Get Your Gun (musical)Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
. - In 2005, she was in the West Coast premiere of Barbra's Wedding, starring opposite actor/playwright Daniel SternDaniel Stern (actor)Daniel Jacob Stern is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the Hollywood films C.H.U.D., Diner, City Slickers and the first two Home Alone films, and as the narrator for the television series The Wonder Years.-Early life:Stern was born in Bethesda, Maryland to a...
, in a production staged at Falcon Theatre, in Burbank, CaliforniaBurbank, CaliforniaBurbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
.
Music
In addition to acting, Bernard has a musicMusic
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
career as a singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. 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
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Billy Dean
Billy Dean
William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search...
.
Co-wrote the song "If I Were Your Girl
If I Were Your Girl
"If I Were Your Girl" is a ballad that was supposed to be the 4th single from Paula Abdul's album, Head Over Heels. It was written by Crystal Bernard and Rhett Lawrence.The song was included on both of Paula's greatest hits albums.-Promo CD:...
" with Rhett Lawrence
Rhett Lawrence
Rhett Lawrence is a record producer and songwriter. He is originally famous for producing the Grammy Award–winning, Billboard #1 Hot 100 and #1 R&B single "Vision of Love" for Mariah Carey. He produced and co-wrote the Kelly Clarkson pop rock hit "Miss Independent” which was #1 for 6 weeks at Top...
, which appeared on the Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
album Head over Heels
Head Over Heels (Paula Abdul album)
-Personnel:**Adapted From allmusic*Paula Abdul: All Lead Vocals*Bryan Abrams, Cha'n Andre, Robb Boldt, Robbie J. Brown, Mark Calderon, Cindy & Janie Cruse, Valerie & Worthy Davis, Bruce DeShazer, Ofra Haza, Marva King, Tanya Smith, Sandra St...
in 1995.
Bernard did a duet with Peter Cetera
Peter Cetera
Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
called, "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight," released on Cetera's One Clear Voice
One Clear Voice
One Clear Voice is the 5th solo album for music artist Peter Cetera and his 4th album since leaving the group Chicago. This album is his 1st album to include more than 1 duet: the songs " Forever Tonight" and "S.O.S." , in addition to being the first solo album in which he does a remake of a song...
album.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love Young Doctors in Love Young Doctors in Love is a 1982 comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Similar in tone to the Airplane! movies, it spoofs a variety of medical shows .... |
Julie | |
| 1987 | Slumber Party Massacre II | Courtney Bates | |
| 1999 | Gideon Gideon (film) -Plot:Gideon Oliver Dobbs is a man with a mental disability. He moves into a nursing home known as Lakeview, with many elderly inhabitants. They are all grumpy old men and women. Gideon is much younger than the other residents, which causes confusion when he first introduces himself... |
Jean MacLemore | |
| 2001 | Jackpot | Cheryl | |
| 2007 | Welcome to Paradise | Debbie Laramie | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1982 | Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! Gimme a Break! is an American sitcom which aired on NBC from October 29, 1981, until May 12, 1987. The series stars Nell Carter as the housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters.-Premise:... |
Kelly | 1 episode |
| 1982–1983 | Happy Days Happy Days Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America.... |
K.C. Cunningham | 16 episodes |
| 1983 | Fantasy Island Fantasy Island Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:... |
Ally Miller | 1 episode |
| High School U.S.A. High School U.S.A. "High School U.S.A." is also the title of the biggest pop hit by Tommy Facenda.High School U.S.A. is a 1983 television movie directed by Rodney Amateau. The film originally aired on NBC on October 16, 1983 and features an ensemble cast including Michael J. Fox, Anthony Edwards, and Crispin... |
Anne-Marie Conklin | ||
| 1983–1985 | The Love Boat The Love Boat The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain... |
2 episodes | |
| 1984 | The Master The Master (TV series) The Master is a short-lived ninja-themed action-adventure TV series created by Michael Sloan which aired on NBC. The show focused on the adventures of John Peter McAllister, an aging ninja master , and his young pupil, Max Keller... |
Carrie Brown | 1 episode |
| 1985–1989 | It's a Living | Amy Tompkins | 93 episodes |
| 1989 | My Two Dads My Two Dads My Two Dads is an American sitcom that starred Staci Keanan, Paul Reiser and Greg Evigan. It aired on NBC from 1987 to 1990 and was produced by Michael Jacobs Productions in association with TriStar Television and distributed by TeleVentures.-Show synopsis:The show begins when Marcy Bradford , the... |
Liz Schaefer | 1 episode |
| Paradise Paradise (TV series) Paradise is an American Western family television series, broadcast by CBS from 1988 to 1991. Created by David Jacobs and Robert Porter, the series presents the adventures of fictitious gunfighter Ethan Allen Cord, whose sister left her four children in his custody when she died.-Synopsis:Paradise... |
1 episode | ||
| Chameleons | Shelly | ||
| 1990 | Without Her Consent | Marty | |
| When Will I Be Loved? When Will I Be Loved? When Will I Be Loved? is a 1990 television film directed by Michael Tuchner. The film focuses on three women of different backgrounds, portrayed by Stefanie Powers, Katherine Helmond, and Crystal Bernard who help each other going through divorce.- Plot :... |
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 According to Jim According to Jim is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children. It originally ran on ABC from October 3, 2001 to June 2, 2009.-Synopsis:Jim is an abrasive but lovable suburban father... |
Lisa Christie | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus | Beth | |
| 2005 | Meet the Santas | Beth | |
| 2008 | Grave Misconduct Grave Misconduct Grave Misconduct is a 2008 thriller film directed by Armand Mastroianni, starring Fran Bennett and Crystal Bernard.... |
Julia London | |
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| Girl Next Door |
|
47 | 36 |
| Don't Touch Me There |
|
— | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
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" |