Susan Bernard

Susan Bernard, though often recognized by her association with the iconic imagery of Hollywood's more risqué past, carved out a multifaceted identity in the entertainment landscape. Born on February 11, 1948, in Los Angeles, California, she was destined to navigate the complex corridors of the entertainment world from an early age. Her father, Bruno Bernard, was a noted glamour photographer whose lens had immortalized some of the most luminous stars of the era, including Marilyn Monroe. Susan's own leap into the limelight came with her role in a film that would become a cult classic—Russ Meyer's "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (1965). She was just 17 at the time, and her performance as "Linda" painted her as a kittenish, innocent character ensnared in the film's violent and pulpy universe. Despite the film's limited commercial success at the time, it gained traction over the decades as a seminal work that blended the provocative and the avant-garde. This debut laid a foundation for Susan's indelible mark on the screen, though her trajectory was not solely defined by this maiden voyage. Beyond the screen, Bernard's allure found its place within the pages of Playboy magazine at just the tender age of 18. Her December 1966 centerfold not only showcased her ethereal beauty but also marked a significant cultural moment—the first Jewish Playmate of the Month. This moment crystallized her as an icon of the era, a juxtaposition of both progressive representation and the objectification inherent in the magazine's appeal. As she navigated through the evolving landscapes of film and photography, Bernard's later career took on a diversified hue. Her talent spread across various platforms, from television appearances in shows like "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Room 222" to roles in films emblazoned with the signatures of their times, such as "That Tender Touch" (1969), where the burgeoning conversation on alternative lifestyles was tactfully handled amidst the melodrama. However, the true depth of Susan's influence reached beyond her onscreen and modeling personas. Perhaps the most telling chapters of her life are scribbled in her dedication to preserving and propagating her father's legacy. Bruno Bernard, better known as "Bernard of Hollywood," had left behind a treasury of work that documented the golden age of Hollywood. His images of the legendary Marilyn Monroe, a cultural touchstone immortalized in the annals of American artistry, were among his most celebrated achievements. Susan, exhibiting a sense of reverence and duty, championed these works, assuming stewardship of this precious archive after her father's death in 1987. Under her care, the collection found a new avenue of appreciation. She not only safeguarded these images but ensured their dissemination to newer generations. One of her seminal works, "Marilyn: Intimate Exposures," a book published in 2011, blended intimate anecdotes with the visual grandeur of her father's work—a tribute that was both personal and historical. Her efforts kept Bernard of Hollywood's work in the public eye, merging the visual majesty of the past with the interpretative prism of the present. While Susan Bernard’s presence in films may have tapered over the years, her imprint on arts and culture remains palpable. Her intersectional identity—as an actress, a model, and a custodian of one of Hollywood's prized visual narratives—paints a portrait of a woman who transcended mere acting. She engaged with her roles, her legacy, and her heritages, whether by choice or by circumstance, with a commitment that resonated across multiple domains. Her personal life, marked by her marriage to playwright and producer Jason Sinay and their son, Nicholas, who pursued his own path in the artistic aisles of music, reflects yet another layer of her deeply interwoven narrative. Her ability to navigate both the artistic and the commercial worlds underscored a complexity that many in the entertainment sphere strive for but seldom achieve. Susan Bernard passed away on June 21, 2019, leaving behind not just memories on screen but a much broader cultural legacy. Her life, woven through the cinematic, the photographic, and the familial, tells the story of resilience and adaptation—a testament to the myriad ways one could navigate and influence the rapidly changing world of 20th and 21st-century entertainment. Ultimately, Susan Bernard’s journey through Hollywood illuminated a path that blended beauty, intellect, and custodianship of history, a narrative befitting a true Hollywood legacy.