Christopher Bernau
Encyclopedia
Christopher Bernau was an American
actor
.
before getting his big break, appearing in the New York Shakespeare Festival
's production of Antony and Cleopatra
in 1962. He continued in that role until 1964, when he toured nationally in the production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
These roles, in addition to performing at Canada's Stratford Festival, led to an appearance in a story arc on Dark Shadows
in 1969 and 1970.
His most famous role, however, was that of villain
Alan Spaulding
on the soap opera
Guiding Light
, a role he played from 1977 to 1984 and again from 1986 until shortly before his death in 1989.
Though his famous character was portrayed as a habitual womanizer, Bernau is considered to be one of the only truly "out
" soap opera actors, as it was fairly well known by both the actors he worked with and the soap press at large that he was gay
.
but continued to work on Guiding Light. He left the show when he became too ill to show up at work, and he died of a heart attack
brought on by complications from AIDS. He is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Life and career
Bernau trained in the drama department at the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
before getting his big break, appearing in the New York Shakespeare Festival
New York Shakespeare Festival
New York Shakespeare Festival is the previous name of the New York City theatrical producing organization now known as the Public Theater. The Festival produced shows at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, as part of its free Shakespeare in the Park series, at the Public Theatre near Astor Place...
's production of Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623. The plot is based on Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony...
in 1962. He continued in that role until 1964, when he toured nationally in the production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a play by Edward Albee that opened on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theater on October 13, 1962. The original cast featured Uta Hagen as Martha, Arthur Hill as George, Melinda Dillon as Honey and George Grizzard as Nick. It was directed by Alan Schneider...
These roles, in addition to performing at Canada's Stratford Festival, led to an appearance in a story arc on Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
in 1969 and 1970.
His most famous role, however, was that of villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
Alan Spaulding
Alan Spaulding
Alan Spaulding is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. He was played by Chris Bernau from the time of the character's introduction on November 7, 1977 until June 1988, when Bernau left the role due to health problems ; Daniel Pilon stepped into the role from 1988 until Alan...
on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
, a role he played from 1977 to 1984 and again from 1986 until shortly before his death in 1989.
Though his famous character was portrayed as a habitual womanizer, Bernau is considered to be one of the only truly "out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
" soap opera actors, as it was fairly well known by both the actors he worked with and the soap press at large that he was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
.
Death
Bernau was diagnosed with AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
but continued to work on Guiding Light. He left the show when he became too ill to show up at work, and he died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
brought on by complications from AIDS. He is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
.