Biographies

Bernard E. Trainor: U.S. Marine Corps General and Military Journalist Bernard E. Trainor Biography of Bernard E. Trainor, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general who became a prominent military correspondent, analyst, and coauthor of major books on recent Americ…

Bernard Ebbers: WorldCom founder and convicted CEO Bernard Ebbers Overview of Bernard Ebbers, co‑founder and long‑time CEO of WorldCom, his role in the accounting scandal and conviction, subsequent health issues, and his death in 2020.

Bernard Fanning Bernard Fanning is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician best known as the frontman of Powderfinger and for his solo work blending rock, blues and acoustic folk.

Bernard Fisher — Surgeon and Pioneering Breast Cancer Researcher Bernard Fisher (scientist) American surgeon Bernard Fisher (1918–2019) led randomized trials that established breast-conserving therapy and changed the surgical treatment of early-stage breast cancer.

Bernard Fox Bernard Fox (1927–2016) was a Welsh character actor whose long career spanned stage, film, television and voice work; he is remembered for frequent television guest roles and a dis…

Bernard Francis Law American cardinal and Archbishop of Boston (1984–2002); his tenure ended amid the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal. Later served in Rome and died in 2017.

Bernard Gersten: American theatrical producer and arts administrator Bernard Gersten Biography of Bernard Gersten (1923–2020), his work with the New York Shakespeare Festival and Lincoln Center Theater, his influence on nonprofit theatre leadership, and his legacy.

Bernard M. Glasser — American film producer and director Bernard Glasser Bernard M. Glasser (1924–2014) was an American film producer and director best known for mid-20th century science-fiction and genre pictures, including Space Master X-7 and The Ret…

Bernard Greenhouse: American cellist and founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio Bernard Greenhouse Bernard Greenhouse (1916–2011) was an American cellist celebrated for chamber music as a founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, and for his recordings, teaching and influence on t…

Bernard Haitink: Dutch conductor and violinist (1929–2021) Bernard Haitink Bernard Haitink was a leading Dutch conductor and former violinist, noted for his long tenure with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, acclaimed recordings of Bruckner and Mahler, a…

Bernard Hepton: British character actor known for television, film and stage Bernard Hepton Bernard Hepton (1925–2018) was an English character actor acclaimed for his work on stage, in film and especially in British television series such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, I,…

Bernard Herrmann: Composer of Film, Radio and Television Scores Bernard Herrmann American composer Bernard Herrmann (1911–1975) wrote distinctive, influential film, radio and television scores; noted for collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles and…

Bernard Hill: British actor known for Yosser Hughes, Titanic and The Lord of the Rings Bernard Hill British stage, film and television actor (born 1944). Noted for Yosser Hughes in Boys from the Blackstuff, Captain Edward Smith in Titanic, and King Théoden in The Lord of the Ring…

Bernard Hinault — Five-time Tour de France winner and Grand Tour champion Bernard Hinault Bernard Hinault (born 1954) is a French cycling legend, five-time Tour de France champion and one of the few riders to win all three Grand Tours multiple times.

Bernard Horsfall — English character actor (1930–2013) Bernard Horsfall English stage, film and television actor Bernard Horsfall (1930–2013) was known for character roles in Gandhi, Braveheart and several Doctor Who stories. Trained at Webber Douglas;…

Bernard Joseph McLaughlin — American Roman Catholic Bishop Bernard Joseph McLaughlin Bernard J. McLaughlin (1912–2015) was an auxiliary bishop in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, noted for long service to his diocese and his longevity among U.S. bishops.

Bernard Kalb: Journalist, Media Commentator, and State Department Spokesman Bernard Kalb Bernard Kalb (born 1922) is an American journalist and author who covered international affairs for decades and served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.

Bernard Katz Physiologist and Nobel laureate who elucidated the quantal mechanism of neurotransmitter release and advanced understanding of synaptic transmission.

Bernard King — American NBA scorer and Hall of Famer Bernard King Overview of Bernard King, an American professional basketball player known for prolific scoring, his NBA career across five teams, a major knee injury and a successful comeback, an…

Bernard Lamarre — Canadian civil engineer and business leader Bernard Lamarre Profile of Bernard Lamarre (1931–2016), a Canadian civil engineer who led Lavalin, served the engineering profession and influenced large-scale infrastructure development in Canada…

Bernard Landry (1937–2018): Quebec politician, premier and sovereigntist Bernard Landry Bernard Landry was a Canadian lawyer, teacher and politician who led the Parti Québécois, served as Quebec’s 28th premier (2001–2003) and remained a leading advocate for Quebec sov…

Bernard Lavalette — French actor, singer and comedian Bernard Lavalette Bernard Lavalette (1926–2019) was a French actor, singer and comedian known for film, stage and cabaret performances across the mid-20th century.

Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757) — French writer and popularizer of science Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle French author and early science popularizer who explained astronomy and natural philosophy in clear conversational prose; wrote Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds and influen…

Bernard Lewis: historian of the Middle East and public intellectual Bernard Lewis Bernard Lewis (1916–2018) was a British‑American historian of the Middle East, a scholar of Ottoman and Islamic history, and a widely read — sometimes controversial — public commen…

Bernard M. Judge — Chicago journalist and publisher Bernard M. Judge Overview of Bernard M. Judge (1940–2019), a Chicago reporter and editor who held leadership roles at major newspapers and served as publisher of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

Bernard Marcus American businessman and philanthropist; co-founder and first chief executive of Home Depot, influential in creating the big-box home improvement retail model and noted for extensi…

Bernard Maris French economist, writer and journalist Bernard Maris (1946–2015) was a public intellectual and Charlie Hebdo shareholder known for accessible critiques of mainstream economics.

Bernard Gay Marshall — American author of historical fiction for young readers Bernard Marshall Bernard Gay Marshall (1875–1945) wrote historical novels for children and young adults. His best-known work, Cedric the Forester, received a Newbery Honor in 1922 and exemplifies e…

Bernard Mayes (1929–2014) — Broadcaster and suicide prevention pioneer Bernard Mayes British-born American broadcaster, university dean and author who founded the United States' first suicide prevention hotline and advocated for mental health and LGBTQ rights.

Bernard Mendy French professional footballer (born 1981), best known as an attacking right‑back who played for Paris Saint‑Germain and made appearances for the France national team.

Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein Bernard Montgomery British Army officer (1887–1976) who commanded Allied forces at El Alamein, held senior commands in Italy and north‑west Europe during WWII, and later served as a senior postwar co…

Bernard N. Nathanson (1926–2011) — physician and prominent abortion debate figure Bernard Nathanson American physician who co-founded NARAL, later became a vocal opponent of legal abortion; known for the film The Silent Scream, books on abortion, and a public conversion to the pr…

Bernard of Clairvaux: life, writings, and influence Bernard of Clairvaux Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) was a French Cistercian abbot, influential theologian and mystic whose sermons, letters and counsel shaped medieval monasticism, papal policy and d…

Bernard Panafieu — French Cardinal and Archbishop of Marseille Bernard Panafieu Overview of Bernard Panafieu (1931–2017), a French Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Marseille (1995–2006) and was created cardinal in 2003; summary of life, ministry, a…

Bernard Sahlins: Co-founder and Architect of The Second City Bernard Sahlins Biography of Bernard Sahlins (1922–2013), co‑founder of The Second City, his role in improv theatre, career highlights, influence on comedy, and personal background.

Bernard "Barry" Sherman: Apotex founder, businessman and philanthropist Bernard Sherman Bernard 'Barry' Sherman (1942–2017), founder of Apotex, was a leading Canadian pharmaceutical entrepreneur, noted philanthropist, and the subject of a high-profile death investigat…

Bernard Slade: playwright and television writer Bernard Slade Canadian-American playwright and screenwriter best known for the play Same Time, Next Year and for creating the television series The Partridge Family and The Flying Nun.

Bernard Stalter — French entrepreneur and regional politician (1957–2020) Bernard Stalter Overview of Bernard Stalter, a French craftsman-entrepreneur and regional councillor who represented artisan interests and served on national advisory councils until his death from…

Bernard Sumner: Musician, Singer and Innovator of Post‑Punk and Electronic Rock Bernard Sumner Profile of Bernard Sumner, English singer, songwriter and instrumentalist best known for Joy Division and New Order; his career, style, projects and influence on electronic and alt…

Bernard Tchoullouyan — French judoka and 1981 world champion Bernard Tchoullouyan French judoka Bernard Tchoullouyan (1953–2019), Olympic bronze medallist (1980) and world champion (1981), noted for his competitive achievements and lasting influence on French ju…

Bernard Tomic Australian professional tennis player Bernard Tomic, junior Grand Slam champion and former world No. 17, known for early promise, distinctive playing style and a controversial publ…

Bernardino de Sahagún: compiler of the Florentine Codex and Nahua ethnographer Bernardino de Sahagún 16th‑century Franciscan missionary and scholar who recorded Aztec (Nahua) language, beliefs and customs in the Florentine Codex, a foundational source for Mesoamerican studies.

Bernardita Catalla — Filipino career diplomat and ambassador Bernardita Catalla Bernardita “Bernie” Catalla (1958–2020) was a Philippine career diplomat who served in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and as ambassador to Lebanon; she died of COVID-19 while on po…

Bernardo Bellotto (Italian vedutista, c.1721–1780) Bernardo Bellotto Bernardo Bellotto was an Italian painter and etcher known for precise urban views (vedute) of European cities such as Dresden, Vienna, Turin and Warsaw; he was a nephew and pupil o…

Bernardo Bertolucci: life, films, style, and legacy Bernardo Bertolucci Italian film director and screenwriter Bernardo Bertolucci (1940–2018), noted for The Conformist, Last Tango in Paris and The Last Emperor; known for lush visuals, political themes…

Bernardo Houssay: Argentine physiologist who mapped hormonal control of sugar Bernardo Houssay Bernardo Houssay (1887–1971) was an Argentine physician and physiologist who demonstrated the role of pituitary hormones in carbohydrate metabolism and shared the 1947 Nobel Prize…

Bernardo O'Higgins: Leader of Chilean Independence and Early Head of State Bernardo O'Higgins Bernardo O'Higgins (1778–1842) was a principal leader of Chilean independence, the country's Supreme Director (1817–1823), and a central figure in the foundation of the modern Chil…

Bernardo Provenzano: Sicilian Mafia leader and long-term fugitive Bernardo Provenzano Bernardo Provenzano (1933–2016) was a leading figure in the Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra), alleged head of the Corleonesi faction and a fugitive until his 2006 arrest; he died in pr…