Ed Bernard, renowned for his performances in the TV series “Police Woman” and “The White Shadow,” passed away on January 23 in Northridge, California, at the age of 86.
His passing was confirmed by his son, Edward B. Bernard.
“While the world knew him as a star, his family knew him as a devoted father, a proud grandfather, and a man of deep curiosity. Ed was a true ‘foodie’ who loved sushi and healthy cooking, a lifelong learner, and a man of great faith,” Edward shared in a statement.
Bernard’s acting career commenced in 1971 with his role in Gordon Parks’ classic film “Shaft.” He went on to feature in films such as Peter Yates’ “The Hot Rock” and Barry Shear’s “Across 110th Street” in 1972, before debuting on television in 1973 with “Love Story.”
In 1974, Bernard was cast as Detective Joe Styles in NBC’s “Police Woman,” a crime drama centered on Sergeant “Pepper” Anderson. He portrayed Styles for the entirety of the series, spanning 90 episodes across four seasons. During its run, “Police Woman” received seven primetime Emmy nominations. In 1978, Bernard took on the role of Principal Jim Willis in Bruce Paltrow’s “The White Shadow,” a series about a basketball coach at an inner-city high school, appearing in 33 episodes until 1980.
Bernard also appeared in other television series such as “Hardcastle and McCormick,” “Life with Lucy,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “ER,” and “Cold Case.” Beyond his screen work, he was also active on stage, notably performing in a 1969 production of “Five on the Black Hand Side” at the American Place Theatre.
Born in Philadelphia on July 4, 1939, Bernard is survived by his sons, Edward and Mark Sheldon Bernard, as well as his grandchildren Liz, Joshua, Samantha, and Alexandra. His wife, Shirley Mae Bernard, with whom he shared 44 years of marriage, passed away in 2005.
According to the family’s statement, Bernard will be laid to rest at sea in a private ceremony.
