Crystal Bernard This talented Texan singer and actress is mostly known for her memorable role as Helen Chappel Hackett, the airport lunch counter operator on the hit television series Wings. Crystal Bernard was born in Garland, Texas on September 30, 1961, into a musical family environment. She started off in show business early on as a child performer and singer with her dad, Jerry Wayne Bernard, at Christian revivals. She also worked and performed with her sister, Robyn Bernard, writing and singing gospel songs, such as “Monkey Song” and “The Ecumenical Movement.” Bernard still sings gospel today, and has produced a number of different albums with a bit of a religious bent. She released for debut album, The Girl Next Door in 1996, and three years later, she released Don’t Touch Me There, which included a gospel number she sang with her dad, and another one she recorded with country singer Billy Dean. She is also famous for singing a hit duet—Forever Tonight—with musician Peter Cetera, and, as a noted songwriter, for co-writing the song If I Were Your Girl, which singer and American Idol judge Paula Abdul performed.
As an actress, Bernard first appeared in the 1982 hospital soap opera spoof Young Doctors in Love, co-starring Sean Young, Michael McKean, Gary Friedkin, Kyle T. Heffner, and Rick Overton. She then landed a recurring guest role as K.C. Cunningham on the sitcom Happy Days, starring Henry Winkler that same year. She also appeared in a number of different shows until landing the lead role as Courtney Bates in the 1987 sexy horror flick Slumber Party Massacre II, co-starring Jennifer Rhodes, Kimberley McArthur, Patrick Lowe, Juliette Cummins, and many others. However, her role as Helen on the popular sitcom Wings is what propelled her into true success as a critically acclaimed actress. Bernard snagged the role in 1990, and starred alongside Timothy Daly, Steven Weber, David Schramm, Thomas Haden Church, Rebecca Schull, and Tony Shalhoub. Bernard’s popularity peaked during her stint on Wings, which lasted from 1990 until 1997, during which she became the spokeswoman for Q: The Sports Club. Since Wings ended, Bernard has spent some time on stage, appearing in a myriad of Broadway musicals and other theatrical performances, such as Crimes of the Heart in 1999, Annie Get Your Gun in 2001, and Barbra’s Wedding in 2005.
Besides her accomplishments in singing and acting, Bernard is also renowned for her ultra shag hairstyle, which has essentially become her trademark, and which she has kept throughout the years. The singer-actress lives in Beverly Hills. YUDDY |
