‘Police Woman’ and ‘Shaft’ actor Ed Bernard dies at 86

May 8, 2026 by bilal

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Born on July 4, 1939, in Philadelphia, Bernard built a career defined by consistency, range and quiet impact. He got his start on stage, appearing off-Broadway in Five on the Black Hand Side in 1969, before transitioning to film and television in the early 1970s.

His film debut came in 1971 with Shaft, followed by roles in Across 110th Street and The Hot Rock. But it was television that would make him a familiar face across America.

Bernard’s breakthrough came when he appeared in Police Story, including the 1974 episode “The Gamble,” which served as a backdoor pilot for what would become Police Woman. When the series launched later that year, Bernard joined the main cast as Det. Joe Styles, working alongside Angie Dickinson’s trailblazing Sgt. “Pepper” Anderson.

From 1974 to 1978, Police Woman became a major ratings success and cultural touchstone, with Bernard appearing in 90 episodes across its four-season run. Decades later, the show remains notable for its groundbreaking portrayal of a female lead in law enforcement—and Bernard’s role as part of her core team helped anchor its success.

Following the show’s conclusion, Bernard quickly transitioned into another prominent role, playing Principal Jim Willis on The White Shadow.

Starring Ken Howard as a former NBA player turned high school basketball coach, the series tackled social issues through the lens of sports and education. Bernard’s character, a former college classmate of Howard’s, brought authority and depth to the fictional Carver High School.

Final on-screen credit
He remained on the series for its first two seasons before his character exited to take a position with the Oakland Board of Education.