Corbin Bernsen, a talented actor, made his mark on the iconic television series L.A. Law as the opportunistic divorce lawyer "Arnie Becker," earning him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations over the show's eight-year run. This role was not a dead-end stereotype, as Bernsen proved that he was a versatile actor, maintaining a steady career in both television and film over the course of three decades.
Born on September 7, 1954, in North Hollywood, California, Corbin was raised in and around the entertainment business. His father, film and television producer Harry Bernsen, and mother, veteran actress Jeanne Cooper, encouraged him to follow in their footsteps. After high school, Bernsen attended UCLA with the intention of pursuing law, but instead, he received a BFA in Theatre Arts and MFA in Playwriting.
Bernsen worked on the Equity-waiver L.A. stage circuit as both an actor and set designer, making his film debut as a bit player in his father's picture Three the Hard Way. He then set his sights on New York in the late 1970s, where he carved out a living as a carpenter building rooftop decks that still stand to this day. In 1983, he landed the role of "Ken Graham" on daytime's Ryan's Hope, and he put his tool belt away.
This break led to an exclusive deal with NBC and eventually the TV role in L.A. Law. The perks of his newfound stardom on L.A. Law included a hosting stint on Saturday Night Live and the covers of numerous major magazines.
Not one to settle for what he knew could be fleeting comfort, Bernsen worked diligently to parlay his small-screen success into a diverse resume of feature film roles, both starring and supporting, often enjoying the challenge of portraying unsympathetic characters with an infusion of charm and likability.
He co-starred as Shelley Long's egotistical husband in the reincarnation comedy Hello Again; played an equally vain Hollywood star in the musical comedy Bert Rigby, You're a Fool; and starred as a disorganized ringleader of a band of crooks in the bank caper Disorganized Crime.
He capped the 1980s decade opposite Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger in the box office hit Major League, which took advantage of his natural athleticism, playing ballplayer-cum-owner "Roger Dorn." Two sequels followed. Other notable feature film work includes the mystery thriller Shattered, directed by Wolfgang Peterson, which re-teamed him with Tom Berenger, Stephen Frears' Lay The Favorite, and a turn opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Shane Black's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
On the TV front, Bernsen has appeared in many MOW's, including Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story as the famed civil rights attorney who founded the Southern Poverty Law Center. Topping it off, Bernsen's title role in the horror/thriller The Dentist for HBO had audiences developing a similar paranoia of tooth doctors as Anthony Perkins invoked decades before to motel clerks. As spurned husband-turned-crazed dentist "Dr. Alan Feinstone," Bernsen reached cult horror status.
The movie spawned a sequel in which he also served as a producer. Most recently, Bernsen has reunited with Dentist director Brian Yuzna on a slate of films exploring similar themes starting with "The Plastic Surgeon."
More recently Bernsen wrapped eight seasons on USA Network's hit series Psych as Henry Spencer, playing James Roday's retired cop father who taught his "fake psychic," crime-solving son everything he knows.
In 2006, Bernsen formed his own production company, Team Cherokee Productions, to exert more creative control over his projects and begin exploring material both as writer, director, and producer. Today that company has taken root as Home Theater Films, an early player in the Faith and Family film genre.
The company has explored a wide variety of themes beginning with the film "Rust" which was distributed by Sony Pictures. With five other films under their belt, including "25 Hill," "Beyond the Heavens," "Christian Mingle" starring Lacey Chabert, and the upcoming "Jesse and Naomi," Home Theater Films has firmly carved a niche and name in this lucrative genre.
Corbin has been happily married (since 1988) to British actress Amanda Pays, who most recently be seen on "The Flash." They have appeared together in the sci-fi film Spacejacked and the TV-movies Dead on the Money and The Santa Trap, among others. The couple has four sons. Never one to become complacent or fall prey to the hype - a lesson learned from his mother - Bernsen still practices his carpenter skills at home as he continues to write, produce, and direct.
Perseverance and dedication have played a large part in his continued success. Having a savvy take-charge approach hasn't hurt either - characteristics worthy of many of the characters he's explored on screen
