Crystal Bernard

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Crystal Bernard
Bernard at the 1994 Emmy rehearsal
Born
Crystal Lynn Bernard

(1961-09-30) September 30, 1961 (age 62)
Garland, Texas, US
Alma materBaylor University
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, actress
Years active1982–2008

Crystal Lynn Bernard (born September 30, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for her roles as Helen Chappel-Hackett on the sitcom Wings (1990–1997), Amy on It's a Living (1985–1989), and K.C. Cunningham on Happy Days (1983–1984).

Early life[edit]

Bernard was born in Garland, Texas, to Southern Baptist parents. Her father,televangelist Jerry Wayne Bernard, traveled across the United States preaching and singing.[1] Her mother, Gaylon (née Fussell) Bernard, was a teacher though in the 1980s she became an artist and sculptor.[2][3] Bernard became an entertainer at a young age, singing gospel songs with her older sister, Robyn (1959–2024), also an actress. One recording of the two that has survived from those years is a song called "The Monkey Song" on Feudin' Fussin' and Frettin' , recorded when Crystal was eight years old.[4] The recording is from a 1972 Thomas Road Baptist Church service led by Jerry Falwell. In addition to Robyn, she also 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, studying acting and international relations.[5]

Career[edit]

Television[edit]

Bernard at the 1991 Emmy Awards

Bernard got her start in prime time television on the sitcom Happy Days, playing K.C. Cunningham during season 10 (1982–83). Then, after various guest appearances on other series, she joined the cast of the resurrected, syndicated version of the sitcom It's a Living,[6] playing waitress Amy Tompkins. In 1989, she starred in a television 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.

She played strong-willed airport lunch counter operator and cellist Helen Chappel Hackett on the sitcom Wings for the series entire eight season duration (1990–97). In 1999, she starred in the television movie To Love, Honor and Betray opposite David Cubitt and James Brolin.

Film[edit]

Early in her film career, she appeared in Young Doctors in Love (1982), along with her Happy Days co-star Ted McGinley. She starred in Deborah Brock's Roger Corman-produced horror film Slumber Party Massacre 2 (1987). Later, her work included a role in the film Jackpot (2001) and starring roles in Welcome to Paradise (2007) and Grave Misconduct (2008). She also starred in two Hallmark Channel movies, Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004) and its sequel, Meet the Santas (2005).

Theatre[edit]

Bernard has appeared in these stage productions since the end of Wings:

Music[edit]

In addition to acting, Bernard has a music 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. The single "Don't Touch Me There" peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

She co-wrote the song "If I Were Your Girl" with Rhett Lawrence, which appeared on Paula Abdul's album Head over Heels (1995). She also co-wrote the song "Come To Me" on the debut self titled album of Angie & Debbie Winans (1993).

Bernard sang a duet with Peter Cetera called "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight", released on Cetera's album One Clear Voice (1995). The single peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 86 on the Hot 100.

She sang a duet with Jim Messina called "Watching the River Run".[9]

She appeared in the video for "Birdhouse in Your Soul" by They Might Be Giants.

Filmography[edit]

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Young Doctors in Love Julie
1984 Master Ninja II Carrie Brown
1987 Slumber Party Massacre II Courtney Bates
1999 Gideon Jean MacLemore
2001 Jackpot Cheryl
2007 Welcome to Paradise Debbie Laramie
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Gimme a Break! Kelly Episode: "Hot Muffins"
1982–83 Happy Days K.C. Cunningham 16 episodes
1983 Fantasy Island Ally Miller Episode: "The Devil Stick/Touch and Go"
High School U.S.A. Anne-Marie Conklin Movie
1983/85 The Love Boat Wendy 'Minerva' Pryor / Susie Epshaw 2 episodes
1984 The Master Carrie Brown Episode: "State of the Union"
1985–89 It's a Living Amy Tompkins 93 episodes
1989 My Two Dads Liz Schaefer Episode: "The Courtship of Nicole's Fathers"
Paradise Laura Clark Episode: "A Proper Stranger"
Chameleons Shelly Movie
1990 Without Her Consent Marty Movie
When Will I Be Loved? Julie Weston Movie
1990–97 Wings Helen Chappel-Hackett 172 episodes
1992 Lady Against the Odds Dol Bonner Movie
1993 Miracle Child Lisa Porter Movie
1994 Siringo Kaitlin Mullane Movie
1995 As Good as Dead Susan Warfield Movie
1996 Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Peña Story Ellen Hart Peña Movie
1999 The Secret Path Marie Foley Movie
A Face to Kill For Allison Bevens Movie
To Love, Honor and Betray Melissa Brennan Movie
2003 According to Jim Lisa Christie Episode: "The Ring"
2004 Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Beth Sawtelle Hallmark Channel movie
2005 Meet the Santas Beth Sawtelle Hallmark Channel movie
2008 Grave Misconduct Julia London Movie

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
US Country US Heat
Girl Next Door 47 36
Don't Touch Me There
  • Release date: February 2, 1999
  • Label: River North
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles[edit]

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[10] 		US AC
[11] 		US
[12]
1995 "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight" (with Peter Cetera) — 22 86 One Clear Voice
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[edit]

Year Video Director
1995 "I Wanna Take Forever Tonight
1996 "Watching the River Run"' with Jim Messina
1996 "Have We Forgotten What Love Is" Steven R. Monroe
1997 "State of Mind"
1999 "Hey"

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jerry Bernard". Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Michael A. Lipton (November 22, 1993). "Crystal-a-Go-Go". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mrs. Gaylon Bernard". Legacy.com. March 2, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "WFMU: Mark Allen: Playlist from June 16, 2005". wfmu.org. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  5. ^ Bernard's Biography from Allmovie via The New York Times website
  6. ^ "It's a Living". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Replacements and additions to the 1999 Annie Get Your Gun revival Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from the Internet Broadway Database
  8. ^ "Barbra's Wedding". Falcontheatre.com. September 14, 2005. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  9. ^ Artiscindesign (March 10, 2014). "Crystal Bernard & Jim Messina Watching The River Run". Retrieved September 30, 2017 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Crystal Bernard – Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  11. ^ "Crystal Bernard – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  12. ^ "Crystal Bernard – Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crystal Bernard.
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