Terry Kiser

Terry Kiser (born August 1, 1939) is an American actor. While he has more than 140 acting credits to his name, with a career spanning more than 50 years, he is best known for portraying the deceased title character Bernie Lomax in the comedy Weekend at Bernie's and its sequel, Weekend at Bernie's II.

Early life and education Terry Kiser was born on August 1, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Kansas on both football and dramatic scholarships. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering and worked for three years in this profession in Omaha.

Career After college, Kiser returned to his hometown Omaha and worked as an engineer for three years while acting in amateur productions including more than fifty plays. His first two years in New York City included an array of small parts, ranging from theater to television to commercials. By 1967, Kiser gained significant recognition for his work, winning both an Obie Award and Theatre World Award for Fortune and Men's Eyes.

Becoming a life member of The Actors Studio, Kiser was a regular on several soap operas, The Secret Storm and The Doctors. In 1978, he starred on the short-lived sitcoms The Roller Girls and Sugar Time!. It was during the 1970s and early 1980s that Kiser appeared in Three's Company, Hardcastle and McCormick, One Day at a Time, The Love Boat, Night Court, 227, Maude and The Golden Girls.

One of his roles was on the TV drama Hill Street Blues, playing comedian Vic Hitler ("Vic the Narcoleptic Comic"). He was a cast member on the syndicated sketch comedy show Off the Wall and a part of the ensemble on Carol Burnett's Carol & Company, which aired in 1990. In the 1990s, he appeared on Walker, Texas Ranger, The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (as H. G. Wells) and Will & Grace.

His film appearances include Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979), Rich Kids (1979), Steel (1979), An Eye for an Eye (1981), Making Love (1982), Six Pack (1982), Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983), Surf II (1984), From a Whisper to a Scream (1987) and Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988).

Kiser starred in Weekend at Bernie's (1989), in the title role of Bernie Lomax, a corrupt insurance executive who is dead for most of the film. Bernie's young employees Richard Parker and Larry Wilson, played by Jonathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy, attempt to convince people that Bernie is still alive. He reprised the role in Weekend at Bernie's II (1993). Since 2012, several YouTube videos featuring "The Bernie Dance" generated more than 17 million views collectively by April 2016. Other film appearances include Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991), Into the Sun (1992), The Pledge (2011), and A Christmas Tree Miracle (2013).

In 2013, Kiser moved to Austin, Texas, where he founded an acting school, The Actors Arena, which closed in 2016.

Filmography Movies

Rachel Rachel (1968) as Preacher Lapin 360 (1972) as Bernard Lapin Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979) as Lester Neal Rich Kids (1979) as Ralph Harris Steel (1979) as Valentino Seven (1979) as Senator All Night Long (1981) as Ultra-Save day manager An Eye for an Eye (1981) as Dave Pierce Looker (1981) as Commercial Director Making Love (1982) as Harrington Six Pack (1982) as Terk Logan Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983) Freddie Barret Surf II (1984) as Mr. O'Finlay Young Lust (1984) From a Whisper to a Scream (1987) as Jesse Hardwick Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) as Dr. Crews Weekend at Bernie's (1989) as Bernie Lomax Side Out (1990) as Uncle Max Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991) as Count Gunther Spretzle / Sorcerer Into the Sun (1992) as Mitchell Burton Weekend at Bernie's II (1993) as Bernie Lomax Tammy and the T-Rex (1994) as Dr. Wachenstein Pet Shop (1994) as Joe Yeagher Loving Deadly (1994) as Walter Forest Warrior (1996) as Travis Thorne Divorce: A Contemporary Western (1998) as Gary Flamingo Dreams (2000) as Gus See Jane Run (2001) Dead Start (2009) as Mort Maxwell Maskerade (2011) as Mr. Peck The Pledge (2011) as Joe Speed Demons (2012) A Christmas Tree Miracle (2013) as Henry Banks Spoilers: The Movie (2014) as Mr. Stoyanovich Almosting It (2016) as Mort

Television The Doctors (1967-1968) as Dr. John Rice The Secret Storm (1970-1971) as Cory Boucher Emergency! (1976) "Fair Fight" - Wes Hubbard Barnaby Jones (1976) "Eyes of Terror" - Arlie The Bionic Woman (1976) "Mirror Image" - Matthews Hawaii Five-O (1977) "Blood Money is Hard to Wash" - Augie Sugar Time! (1978) "Punk Rock" - Manager All in the Family (1978) "Stale Mates" as Bob Maude (1978) as Reggie WKRP in Cincinnati (1979) as Jason Realli One Day at a Time (1979) as Parsons Knots Landing (1981) as Teddy Becker Three's Company (1981-1982) as Mr. Canon/Max The Fall Guy (1982) as Nick Trainer Tucker's Witch (1983) as Andrew Brenn Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) as Larry Singer Diff'rent Strokes (1983) "Rashomon II" - Burglar Hill Street Blues (1983) as Vic Hitler Scarecrow & Mrs. King (1984) as Keene Night Court (1984) as Al Craven The Golden Girls (1986) as Santa Claus/Don Knight Rider (1986) as Royal Davis Off The Wall (1986-1987) as various characters Murder, She Wrote (1988) as Wally Bryce Carol & Company (1990-1991) as various characters The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993) as Mr. Hosek Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1995-1996) as H. G. Wells Caroline in the City (1997) as Taxicab Driver Walker, Texas Ranger (1997) as Charlie Brooks / Maxwell 'Iceman' Kronert Will & Grace (1999) as Carl The Norm Show (2000) as Councilman Wilkinson