Actor.  A stocky,  comic character player,  he is probably best known as one of  Laurel and  Hardy’s most reliable foils.  He appeared in 26 of their films,  from “Two Tars” (1928) to “Saps at Sea” (1940),  often as a bemused cop.  Fans of “Our Gang” will also remember him as the burglar who tells Spanky he’s Santa Claus in “Bedtime Worries” (1933).  Bernard was born in San Francisco.  Although he made a handful of Mack Sennett comedies between 1913 and 1916,  he was primarily active on the vaudeville stage until the late 1920s,  when he moved to Hollywood.  Between slapstick sojourns at the Hal Roach studio,  he worked for Paramount and RKO and tackled occasional straight supporting roles in crime dramas.  His 142 credits include “Perfect Day” (1929),  “Another Fine Mess” (1930),  “Pardon Us” (1931),  “Dogs Is Dogs” (1931),  “Sons of the Desert” (1933),  “Our Daily Bread” (1934),  “Ruggles of Red Gap” (1935),  “Swing Time” (1936),  “Way Out West” (1937),  and “A Chump at Oxford” (1940). (bio by: Bobb Edwards)  Family links:  Spouse:  Jere Gerard Bernard (1886 – 1970)*  Children:  Patricia E Pickard (1915 – 1996)* *Calculated relationshipCause of death: Cancer