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Ed Bernard, a bid regular connected specified deed bid Police Woman and The White Shadow, died January 23 successful Northridge, California, his family has announced. He was 86.
His decease was announced connected Facebook. A origin of decease was not disclosed.
“While nan world knew him arsenic a star, his family knew him arsenic a devoted father, a proud grandfather, and a man of heavy curiosity,” nan connection reads. “Ed was a existent ‘foodie’ who loved sushi and patient cooking, a lifelong learner, and a man of awesome faith. He is now reunited pinch his beloved woman of 44 years, Shirley Mae Bernard, who passed successful 2005.”
Born July 4, 1939 successful Philadelphia, Bernard made his movie debut successful 1971’s Shaft, portraying nan Harlem militant Peerce who came to nan assistance of nan title characteristic played by Richard Roundtree.
Subsequent movie roles came quickly, pinch appearances in, among others, The Hot Rock (1972) and Across 110th Street (1972).
His TV credits were moreover much plentiful, pinch early ’70s roles successful specified bid arsenic Cool Million, Love Story, Mannis, Kojak and, successful 1973 and 1974, 4 episodes of NBC’s Police Story. One of those episodes, 1974’s “The Gamble,” was a backdoor aviator for what would go a successful 1974-1978 spin-off Police Woman.
Police Woman starred Angie Dickinson arsenic Sgt. Suzanne “Pepper” Anderson, an undercover supplier pinch nan LAPD’s criminal conspiracy unit. Bernard played Detective Joe Styles, a personnel of her vice squad team. Premiering connected NBC successful September 1974, nan action bid vanished its rookie play arsenic nan No. 15 show successful nan three-network primetime universe. But it moved from nan 10 p.m. Friday slot to 9 p.m. for Season 2 and mislaid immoderate traction, hardly cracking nan year-end Top 30 successful 1975-76. Police Woman past bounced astir nan schedule and couldn’t regain a wide audience. It yet aired for 4 seasons done summertime 1978.
Bernard’s adjacent awesome domiciled came successful 1978 after Police Woman near nan NBC line-up. He was formed arsenic a regular connected nan first 2 seasons connected CBS’ Bruce Paltrow-created The White Shadow, playing Principal Jim Willis, who recruits ex-NBA subordinate and assemblage buddy Ken Reeves (Ken Howard) to coach nan hoops squad astatine L.A.’s inn-city Carver High School. The critically acclaimed topical dramedy, pinch scripts by Steven Bochco and Joshua Brand, among others, dealt pinch a number of nan era’s societal issues.
After various clip slot moves, nan show was canceled successful 1981 aft 3 seasons. Subsequent credits from nan 1980s done early 2000s see episodes of T.J. Hooker, Life With Lucy, Amen, What’s Happening Now!, Doogie Howser, M.D., Suddenly Susan, JAG, Becker, ER and Cold Case.
In 1983 he appeared successful head John Badham’s characteristic movie Blue Thunder, and nan pursuing twelvemonth began a five-episode recurring domiciled connected NBC’s Hardcastle and McCormick.
Bernard is survived by sons Edward Brian and Mark Sheldon Bernard; grandchildren Liz, Joshua, Samantha and Alexandra; and different extended family.
The family suggests donations beryllium made to nan International Black Theatre Festival.
