Kevin Bernhardt
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. 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 had over 30 screenplays produced, before returning to a lead role opposite Amy Redford in Hate Crime. And most recently - to a major supporting role opposite Michael Caine and Ben Foster in 2020's Medieval.
Early life and education
Bernhardt was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was adopted by Navy Damage Control Officer 'Red' and wife Beverly. Years there were spent at an African-American elementary school, 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
After completing a Bachelor's Degrees in Economics and Drama in 1983 he traveled to Los Angeles in January 1984, 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 was the center of attention in the 'Laurelton Murders' storyline, and with it General Hospital 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 . 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, Andrew Davis, Abel Ferrara, John Hillcoat , William Friedkin, Mimi Leder, Sylvester Stallone, Frederic Forestier, Renny Harlin, Wayne Cramer, and Brad Anderson. 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 Millennium-NuImage.
Writer – film
- Medieval Starring Michael Caine, Ben Foster, Matthew Goode, Til Schweiger, William Moseley
- Echo Boomers Starring Michael Shannon, Nick Robinson, Alex Pettyfer
- ' Starring Sylvester Stallone
- '
- Shiner
- The Shanghai Job Starring Orlando Bloom
- S.M.A.R.T. CHASE Starring Orlando Bloom and various Chinese stars. Produced by China's Wei Han
- Cliffs of Freedom Produced by billionaire Metropoulos family. Starring Christopher Plummer, Patti Lupone
- 60'6"
- Shi – Patrick Tatopoulos to direct/Constantin to finance.
- The Genesis Code – Brad Anderson to direct/Myriad to finance.
- The Dove – Producers Paul Schiff and Tai Duncan
- Pretty Boy Floyd – Andy Davis to direct.
- Daughter of Destiny – Shekhar Kapur to direct.
- Blue Eyed Samurai Marcel Langenegger to direct.
- The Charm School Based on the Nelson DeMille novel. Producer Phil Anschultz & Kennedy/Marshall
- Coup D'Etat Co-written with Abel Ferrara
- Elephant White Starring Djimon Hounsou and Kevin Bacon. Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
- The Godmother
- Veronica Amy Redford to direct.
- John Rambo . Sylvester Stallone.
- Peaceful Warrior . Directed by Victor Salva. Starring Nick Nolte.
- Virginia
- One Last Dance Starring Patrick Swayze.
- Without a Word
- The Art of War . Starring Wesley Snipes, Michael Biehn.
- Jill Rips Starring Dolph Lundgren.
- Fear of Flying . Starring Craig Sheffer, Jennifer Beals.
- Diplomatic Siege . Starring Peter Weller, Daryl Hannah
- Five Aces . Starring Charlie Sheen.
- Sweepers . Starring Dolph Lundgren.
- Top of the World . Starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Weller, Tia Carrere, Joey Pantoliano
- Natural Enemy . Starring Donald Sutherland, Leslie Ann Warren.
- The Peacekeeper . Starring Dolph Lundgren.
- Hollow Point . Starring John Lithgow, Donald Sutherland, Tia Carrere.
- The Immortals. Starring Chris Rock, Eric Roberts, Joey Pantoliano, Tony Curtis.
Producer
- Best Sellers
- Echo Boomers
- Medieval
- Ghoul
- Amazing Grace
- Top of the World
- The Immortals
Actor – film
- Medieval - Captain Martin
- Hate Crime - Tom, costarring Amy Redford
- Shiner - Happy Baer
- Top of the World -Dean, costarring Dennis Hopper, Peter Weller
- The Immortals -Billy Knox, costarring Chris Rock, Eric Roberts, Tony Curtis, Joey Pantoliano
- Treacherous -Damon Vasquez, costarring Adam Baldwin, Tia Carrere, C. Thomas Howell
- Beauty School -Colt
- -J.P. Monroe / J.P. Cenobite, costarring Pinhead
- Midnight Warrior -Nick Branca
- Counterforce -Sutherland, costarring Robert Forster, George Kennedy, Louis Jourdan, Kabir Bedi
- Kick or Die -Don Potter
- Le feu sous la peau -Raphael
Actor – television
- General Hospital – Frisco Jones
- General Hospital – Kevin O'Connor
- Dynasty
- * "Catch 22" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "Blasts from the Past" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "Here Comes the Son" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "No Bones About It" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "Tale of the Tape" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "Sins of the Father" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "Grimes and Punishment" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "The Son Also Rises" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "Virginia Reels" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- * "All Hands on Dex" TV episode - Father Tanner McBride
- Superboy – Dr. Byron Shelley
- * "Run Dracula, Run" TV episode - Dr. Byron Shelley
- * "Young Dracula" TV episode - Dr. Byron Shelley
Miscellaneous crew
- The Peacekeeper
- Hollow Point