Daniel Bernhardt

For other people named Daniel Bernhardt, seeDaniel Bernhardt (disambiguation).

Daniel Bernhardt
Born	(1965-08-31)31 August 1965 Ittigen,Canton of Bern,Switzerland
Occupation(s)	Actor, stunt performer, model, fight choreographer
Years active	1996–present

Daniel Bernhardt(born 31 August 1965) is a Swiss actor, stuntman, martial artist, and former model.He is known for his work on variousaction films.He made his acting debut in the leading role in the martial arts filmBloodsport II: The Next Kumite(1996), and appeared in two of its sequels,Bloodsport III(1997) andBloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite(1999).

Also known for playing villainous characters, he appeared oppositeChuck NorrisinThe Cutter(2005),Jean-Claude Van DammeinKill 'Em All(2017),Sylvester StalloneinEscape Plan: The Extractors(2019), andKeanu ReevesinThe Matrix Reloaded(2003), andJohn Wick(2014). He also starred as Siro on the short-lived television seriesMortal Kombat: Conquest(1998-99), based on thefighting video game of the same name.He has also worked as a stunt performer and fight choreographer on various productions, includingCreed II(2018) andNobody(2021).

Bernhardt is a black belt inTaekwondounderBlack BeltHall of Fame memberHee-il Cho(the two also starred together inBloodsport II). He also studiedKyokushin karateunder South Korean masterMas Oyama.

Early life

Bernhardt was born inIttigen,Canton of Bernin 1965, to Heidi and Horst Bernhardt. He began studying martial arts at the age of 15, learning what called “something cobbled together out ofkung fuandkickbo xing."He later earnedblack beltsinTaekwondounderHee-il Cho,andKyokushin KarateunderMas Oyama.In Paris, he was a pupil ofDominique Valera.He has also studiedbo xing,judo,andBrazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Prior to his acting career, Bernhardt worked at anarchitecturefirm, and was a top model in Paris and New York, working for the likes ofClaude Montana,Thierry Mugler,Hugo Boss,andVersace.His first exposure to the film world was in 1992, when he was featured in a martial arts-themed Versace ad campaign, featuringJean-Claude Van Damme.He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.

Career

Acting

Bernhardt made his acting debut in the leading role inBloodsport II: The Next Kumite(1996),a sequel to the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Dammefilm.

He also appeared in two of its sequels and starred inFuture War(1997),True Vengeance(1997),Perfect Target(1997),G2 – Mortal Conquest(1999),Black Sea Raid(2000) andGlobal Effect(2002). From 1998 to 1999, he starred in the TV seriesMortal Kombat: Conquest.

In 2003, he appeared asAgentJohnson inThe Matrix Reloaded(2003),and in 2005 he appeared withChuck NorrisinThe Cutter.

In 2013, he returned to acting withJason StathaminParker(2013) and in a cameo inThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire(2013) as the male tribute from District 9. He trained with the 87Eleven Stunt Team and played Russian henchman Kirill inJohn Wickand the following year, he made his Bollywood debut as mixed martial arts fighter Max Potter in the remake ofWarrior,titledBrothers.He co-starred in a particularly acclaimed episode of HBO'sBarryas Ronny Proxin.

In September 2020, it was announced that Bernhardt was reprising hisMatrixrole as Agent Johnson inThe Matrix Resurrections;however, his scenes were cut from the final film.

Bernhardt is set to play the title character inDeathstalker,an upcoming remake of the1983 cult film of the same.

Stunts

Bernhardt's credits as a stunt performer includeA Good Day to Die Hard(2013),Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2014),Captain America: Civil War(2016),Deadpool 2(2018),Alita: Battle Angel(2019),Hobbs & Shaw(also 2019), andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3(2023). He was the principal fight trainer andfight choreographerforCreed II(2018) andNobody(2021), andThe Equalizertelevision series.

Personal life

Bernhardt has two brothers, Cliff and Dirk. He is married to actress Lisa Stothard, whom he met on the set ofBloodsport: The Dark Kumite.They have a daughter together.

Filmography

Cinema

• Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite(1996) – Alex Cardo
• Bloodsport III(1997) – Alex Cardo
• Future War(1997) – The Runaway
• True Vengeance(1997) – Allen Griffin
• Perfect Target(1997) – David Benson
• Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite(1999) – John Keller
• G2 – Mortal Conquest(1999) – Steven Conlin
• Black Sea Raid(2000) – Rick Halsey
• Global Effect(2002) – Lieutenant Marcus Poynt
• The Matrix Reloaded(2003) –AgentJohnson
• The Librarians(2003) – Toshko
• Confessions of an Action Star(2005) – Jason Everstrong
• Tornado – Rain to Kill(2005)
• The Cutter(2005) – Dirk Cross
• Children of Wax(2007) – Murat
• Supreme Champion(2010) – Lucien Gallows
• Creature(2011) – Lockjaw / Grimley
• Foodfight!(2012) – Additional Voices (voice)
• Santa's Summer House(2012) – Bryan
• Parker(2013) – Kroll
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire(2013) – District 9 Male Tribute
• Zombeo & Juliécula(2013) – Vladimir
• Knock 'em Dead(2014) – Victor The Butler
• John Wick(2014) – Kirill
• The Vatican Tapes(2015) – Psych Ward Security (uncredited)
• Brothers(2015) – Max Potter
• Precious Cargo(2016) – Simon
• Term Life(2016) – Detective Rick DiNardi (uncredited)
• Logan(2017) – 'Bone Breaker'
• Atomic Blonde(2017) – Soldier
• Kill 'Em All(2017) – Radovan Brokowski
• Escape Plan: The Extractors(2019) – Silva
• Hobbs & Shaw(2019) – Henchman (uncredited)
• Birds of Prey(2020) – Sionis' Chauffeur
• Skylines(2020) – Owens
• Hell Hath No Fury(2021) – Von Bruckner
• Nobody(2021) – Bus Goon
• Red Notice(2021) – Drago Grande (cameo role)
• The Matrix Resurrections(2021) – Agent Johnson
• Extraction 2(2023) – Konstantine
• The Killer's Game(2024) – Radovan
• Deathstalker(TBA) – Deathstalker

Television

• Mortal Kombat: Conquest(1998–1999, 22 episodes) – Siro
• Desire(2006, 4 episodes) – Vincent
• Castle(2016, Episode: "XX" ) – Vincent
• Jean-Claude Van Johnson(2017)
• Altered Carbon(2018) – Jaeger
• Barry(2019, Episode: "ronny/lily" ) – Ronny Proxin

External links

• Daniel BernhardtatIMDb