A Twitter account devoted to classic television is reminding the public about the birthday of an actor whose career included some of the most famous series in the history of television. Those series included the very popular military show “MAS*H” and “The Jeffersons.”
The actor is Jason Bernard. And, according to @SilverAgeTV, he was born on May 17, 1938. The tweet included four photos of the actor from this career.
“Remembering #JasonBernard (RIP), film, television and voice actor from 1965 to 1996, born this day in 1938. …” the tweet shared on Monday (May 17, 2021) also said.
On “M*A*S*H,” Bernard played the character of Major Quentin Rockingham in a 1982 episode, according to IMDb.com. That episode was titled “The Tooth Shall Set You Free.” Also, it is the 14th episode from the show’s 10th season. This episode of the beloved series dealt with racism in the military.
In addition to his role on “MAS*H,” Jason Bernard appeared on many, many other television shows during his career. These also included “Days of Our Lives” in 1965, “The Jeffersons” in 1983, “Knots Landing” in 1984, “Cagney & Lacey” from 1982 until 1988, and “Herman’s Head” from 1991 to 1994.
Bernard also had a career in film. The final film of his career was “Liar, Liar.” This was a comedy starring Jim Carrey. In it, Bernard played the supporting role of character Judge Marshall Stevens. In fact, the film was dedicated to Bernard’s memory because he passed away before it was released.
The actor also appeared in the films “While You Were Sleeping,” “WarGames,” and “No Way Out.”
Actor Known for Role on ‘M*A*S*H’ As Well As Many Others Was Born in Chicago
Jason Bernard, an actor who would go on to have an acting career that included such popular shows as “M*A*S*H” and many more, was born in Chicago, Illinois. His birth name was not Jason Bernard. The name he was given at birth was Ronald Carl Johnson.
He honed his acting skills in Seattle, Washington. It was there that he was an actor for the Seattle Repertory Theatre beginning in 1966. His work in Seattle also included working as a director for some productions. He worked on such productions at “The Threepenny Opera” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Just before his death, Bernard received a Cable Ace award nomination for his work in a television movie. This project was “Sophie & the Moonhanger.” It aired on the Lifetime channel during 1996.
It was during October 1996 that the “M*A*S*H” actor had a heart attack while driving his car in Hollywood. He was taken to the hospital and passed away there. His date of death was Oct. 16, 1996. In addition to his acting legacy, Jason Bernard left behind one son and two stepchildren.
