Sam Bernard

Sam Bernard (born Samuel Barnett, 5 June 1863 – 16 May 1927) was an English-born American vaudeville comedian who also performed in musical theatre, comic opera and burlesque and appeared in a few silent films.

Life and career Bernard was born in Birmingham, England, and moved to the United States as a child. He began performing a song and dance act with his brother Dick in variety houses in Manhattan, changing their stage name from Barnett as they considered the name Bernard more "ethnic". Sam went solo in 1884, and joined B. F. Keith's theatre company in Providence, Rhode Island. After a brief tour in England, he returned to the U.S., performed in the Night Owls comedy troupe, and then became the part-owner and leading comedy actor in the French Folly Company. He was friendly with Joe Weber and Lew Fields, and in 1890 agreed to manage their troupes, the Russell Brothers Comedians and then the Vaudeville Club touring company, in which Bernard also starred.

Sam Bernard died of apoplexy while aboard the after its departure from New York en route to Europe.

Acting credits Theatre

Selected plays: The Man in the Moon (1899) The Belle of Bohemia (1900) Hoity Toity (1901) The Girl from Kays (1904) The Rollicking Girl (1905) The Rich Mr. Hoggenheimer (1906) Nearly a Hero (1908) The Girl and the Wizard (1909) He Came from Milwaukee (1910) All for the Ladies (1912) The Belle of Bond Street (1914) The Century Girl (1916) Friendly Enemies (1918) As You Were (1920) Music Box Revue (1923)

Films Some of the movies in which he was featured include:

A Janitor's Wife's Temptation (1915) Because He Loved Her (1915) Fatty And The Broadway Stars (1915) Poor Schmaltz (1915) The Great Pearl Tangle (1916) Call A Cop (1921)