Crystal Bernard

Crystal Lynn Bernard (born September 30, 1961 Bernard became an entertainer at a young age, singing gospel songs 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. 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.

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, but not graduating.

Career

Television

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, 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 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), the latter of which being her final acting role before retirement. She also starred in two Hallmark Channel movies, Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004) and its sequel, Meet the Santas (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 revival of Annie Get Your Gun wherein she was the last in a series of actresses to play Annie Oakley 2005: West Coast premiere of Barbra's Wedding, starring opposite Daniel Stern (who also wrote the play) at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank, California

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 artist Billy Dean.

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".

She appeared in the 1989 video for "Birdhouse in Your Soul" by They Might Be Giants.

Filmography 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 Christian drama film Television Year Title Role Notes 1982 Gimme a Break! Kelly Episode: "Hot Muffins" 1982–83 Happy Days K.C. Cunningham 16 episodes1983 Fantasy Island Ally Miller Episode: "The Devil Stick/Touch and Go" High School U.S.A. Anne-Marie Conklin Television film 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 episodes1989 My Two Dads Liz Schaefer Episode: "The Courtship of Nicole's Fathers" Paradise Laura Clark Episode: "A Proper Stranger" Chameleons Shelly Television film1990 Without Her Consent Marty Television film When Will I Be Loved? Julie Weston Television film 1990–97 Wings Helen Chappel-Hackett 172 episodes 1992 Lady Against the Odds Dol Bonner Television film 1993 Miracle Child Lisa Porter Television film 1994 Siringo Kaitlin Mullane Television film 1995 As Good as Dead Susan Warfield Television film 1996 Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Peña Story Ellen Hart Peña Television film 1997 Just Shoot Me! Herself Episode 3 "Secretary's Day"1999 The Secret Path Marie Foley Television film A Face to Kill For Allison Bevens Television film To Love, Honor and Betray Melissa Brennan Television film 2003 According to Jim Lisa Christie Episode: "The Ring" 2004 Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus Beth Sawtelle Hallmark Channel film 2005 Meet the Santas Beth Sawtelle Hallmark Channel film 2008 Grave Misconduct Julia London Television film

Discography

Albums Title Album details Peak chartpositions US Country US Heat Girl Next Door Release date: October 29, 1996 Label: River North 47 36 Don't Touch Me There Release date: February 2, 1999 Label: River North — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles Year Single Peak positions Album US Country US AC US 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 Year Video Director 1995 "I Wanna Take Forever Tonight1996"Watching the River Run"' with Jim Messina 1996 "Have We Forgotten What Love Is" Steven R. Monroe 1997 "State of Mind" 1999 "Hey"