Bernie Kopell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bernie Kopell
Kopell as Dr. Adam Bricker, 1977
Born	Bernard Morton Kopell (1933-06-21) June 21, 1933 (age 91) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Education	New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1961–present
Known for	Siegfried – Get Smart Dr. Adam Bricker – The Love Boat
Spouse(s)	Celia Whitney (m. 1962; div. 1963) Yolanda Veloz ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1995)​ Catrina Honadle ​ ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	2
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Years	1955–1957
Rank	Seaman

Bernard Morton Kopell (born June 21, 1933) is an American actor. He is well-known for his roles in popular TV shows. You might know him as Siegfried from Get Smart. He also played Dr. Adam Bricker, or "Doc," on The Love Boat. He acted in these shows for many years.

Early Life and Military Service

Bernie Kopell was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Pauline and Al Bernard Kopell. He went to Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. After high school, he studied acting at New York University. He earned a special degree in fine arts in 1955.

After college, Kopell joined the military. He served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957. He worked as a librarian at a naval base. Later, he served on a large battleship called the USS Iowa. This ship had been used in World War II. During his time on the ship, he traveled to many places. He visited countries in Europe and the Middle East. He also went to South America. He even helped other sailors study for their high school equivalency exams. After his military service, he moved to Los Angeles to start his acting career.

Acting Career Highlights

When Bernie Kopell first arrived in Los Angeles, he worked odd jobs. He drove a taxi and sold vacuum cleaners. Soon, he got his first acting role in a TV show. It was a daytime soap opera called The Brighter Day. From there, he appeared in other shows. He played different characters in My Favorite Martian and The Jack Benny Program. He was good at doing different accents.

Cast of the TV series Needles and Pins, 1973. Bernie Kopell is in the top row, second from left.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Kopell was very busy. He appeared in many TV series. Most of these were funny shows called sitcoms. Some of the shows he was in include That Girl, Green Acres, and Bewitched. He became a familiar face on television.

Siegfried and Other Memorable Roles

One of Bernie Kopell's most famous roles was Siegfried. Siegfried was a funny villain on the spy comedy show Get Smart. He played this character many times. Kopell also had other recurring roles. He was Jerry Bauman in That Girl. He played Louie Pallucci in The Doris Day Show. On Bewitched, he played several different characters. These included a magic potion maker and a warlock. He also had a main role in the comedy show Needles and Pins.

Doc on The Love Boat

Bernie Kopell's longest and most famous role was Dr. Adam Bricker. Everyone called him "Doc." He played Doc on the popular show The Love Boat. This show was about people on a cruise ship. Kopell was on the show for its entire run. He appeared in 250 episodes!

After The Love Boat, people recognized him everywhere. He often played characters that reminded people of Doc. He made funny appearances on talk shows. He even did a commercial for an anti-snoring product. He joked that snoring could "ruin a romantic cruise." He also made guest appearances in shows like Charmed and Monk. In 2022, he acted in a play in New York City. Even today, he continues to act in movies and TV shows.

Personal Life

Bernie Kopell has been married three times. His current wife is Catrina Honadle. They got married in 1997. They have two children together. Their son Adam was born in 1998. Their son Josh was born in 2003.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Bernie Kopell para niños