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 A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...

'' (1990-1997), Amy on ''

It's a Living ''It's a Living'' (renamed for season two as ''Making a Living'') is an American sitcom television series set in a restaurant at the top of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. The show aired on ABC from October 30, 1980, until June 11, 1982. ...

'' (1985–1989), and K.C. Cunningham on ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marshall, it was one of the most su ...

'' (1983–1984).

Early life

Bernard was born in

Garland, Texas Garland is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located northeast of Dallas and is a part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is located within Dallas County except for small portions located in Collin and Rockwall Counties. At the ...

, to

Southern Baptist The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptists, Baptist denomination, and the Protestantism in the United States, largest Protestantism, Protestant and Christia ...

s. Her father, the

televangelist Televangelism ( tele- "distance" and "evangelism," meaning " ministry," sometimes called teleministry) is the use of media, specifically radio and television, to communicate Christianity. Televangelists are ministers, whether official or self-pr ...

Jerry Wayne Bernard, traveled across the United States preaching and singing. Her mother, Gaylon (née Fussell) Bernard, was a teacher, though in the 1980s she became an artist and sculptor. Bernard became an entertainer at a young age, singing

gospel songs Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

with her older sister, Robyn, 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, a recording of a 1972 Thomas Road Baptist Church service led by

Jerry Falwell Jerry Laymon Falwell Sr. (August 11, 1933 – May 15, 2007) was an American Baptist pastor, televangelism, televangelist, and conservatism in the United States, conservative activist. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, ...

. She has two younger sisters, Scarlett and Angelique Bernard. Bernard studied acting at

Alley Theatre The Alley Theatre is a Tony Award-winning theatre company in Houston, Texas. It is the oldest professional theatre company in Texas and the third oldest resident theatre in the United States. Alley Theatre productions have played on Broadway at L ...

while growing up in

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 ...

, Texas. She attended

Spring High School Spring High School is a public high school located in the Spring census-designated place in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States. Spring High School, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Spring Independent School Dis ...

and continued her education at

Baylor University Baylor University is a private Baptist Christian research university in Waco, Texas. Baylor was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and one of th ...

, studying acting and international relations.

Career

Television

Crystal Bernard at the 1991 Emmy Awards cropped and airbrushed

Bernard got her start in prime time television on the sitcom ''

'', 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 ''

'', 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 ''

'' 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 David Cubitt (born 18 March 1965) is an English-born Canadian television actor. Born in England in 1965 to a Dutch mother, Jette, and an English father, David, he moved with his parents to Vancouver, British Columbia when he was six months ol ...

and

James Brolin James Brolin (, born Craig Kenneth Bruderlin; July 18, 1940) is an American actor. Brolin has won two Golden Globes and an Emmy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 27, 1998. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin. He ...

Film

Early in her film career, she appeared in ''

Young Doctors in Love ''Young Doctors in Love'' is a 1982 American comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. It spoofs a variety of medical shows (in particular, ''General Hospital'') and has many guest stars from ABC soap operas. The film stars Sean Young, Michael Mc ...

'' (1982), along with her ''Happy Days'' co-star

Ted McGinley Ted Martin McGinley (born May 30, 1958) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Jefferson D'Arcy on the television sitcom '' Married... with Children'' and as Charley Shanowski on the ABC sitcom ''Hope & Faith''. He was a late regular ...

. She starred in

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...

's horror film ''

Slumber Party Massacre 2 ''Slumber Party Massacre II'' is a 1987 American black comedy slasher film written and directed by Deborah Brock, and produced by Roger Corman. It is the second installment in the original ''Slumber Party Massacre'' trilogy, and stars Crystal Be ...

'' (1987). Later, her work included a role in the film ''

Jackpot Jackpot or Jackpot! may refer to: * A prize, such as a progressive jackpot * Gardena jackpots, a poker variant * Jackpot, Nevada, a community on the Nevada–Idaho state border Comics * Jackpot (comics), several comic book characters * ''Jackp ...

'' (2001) and starring roles in ''Welcome to Paradise'' (2007) and ''

Grave Misconduct ''Grave Misconduct'' is a 2008 thriller television film directed by Armand Mastroianni, starring Fran Bennett and Crystal Bernard. Cast *Crystal Bernard as Julia London *Vincent Spano as Tent Dobson *Roxanne Hart as Margo Lawrence *Dorian Harewoo ...

'' (2008). She also starred in two

Hallmark Channel The Hallmark Channel is an American television channel owned by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., which in turn is owned by Hallmark Cards, Inc. The channel's programming is primarily targeted at families, and features a mix of television movies a ...

movies, '' Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus'' (2004) and its sequel, ''

Meet the Santas ''Meet the Santas'' is an American television film starring Steve Guttenberg and Crystal Bernard. It premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2005. It is a sequel to 2004's '' Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus''. As of 2010, it is shown in the 25 Days of Chr ...

'' (2005).

Theatre

Bernard has appeared in these stage productions since the end of ''Wings'': * 1999: a Los Angeles production of '' Crimes of the Heart'' * 2001: a 1999

Marquis Theatre The Marquis Theatre is a Broadway theater on the third floor of the New York Marriott Marquis hotel in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1986, it is operated by the Nederlander Organization. There are abou ...

revival of '' Annie Get Your Gun'' wherein she was the last in a series of actresses to play

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...

* 2005: West Coast premiere of ''Barbra's Wedding'', starring opposite Daniel Stern (who also wrote the play) at the Falcon Theatre in

Burbank, California Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank has a population of 107,337. The city was named after David Burbank, who ...

Music

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 A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whi ...

artist

Billy Dean William Harold Dean Jr. (born April 2, 1962) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition ''Star Search''. Active as a recording artist since 1990, h ...

. 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 Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American singer, dancer, choreographer, actress, and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 and later became the head choreographe ...

's album '' Head over Heels'' (1995). Bernard sang a duet with

Peter Cetera Peter Paul Cetera ( ; born September 13, 1944) is an American retired musician best known for being a lead vocalist and the bassist of the rock band Chicago from 1967 until his departure in 1985, before launching a successful solo career. His ...

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". She appeared in the video for "

Birdhouse in Your Soul "Birdhouse in Your Soul" is a song by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. It was released in late 1989 through Elektra Records as the lead single from the album '' Flood'', making the single the band's first release on a major la ...

" by ''

They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as a duo, often accompanied by a dr ...

''.

Filmography

Discography

Albums

Singles

Music videos

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bernard, Crystal 1961 births Living people Actresses from Texas American country singer-songwriters American women country singers American television actresses Baylor University alumni Country musicians from Texas People from Garland, Texas Singer-songwriters from Texas 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American singers 21st-century American actresses 20th-century American women singers