Bernie Casey Passes On

Bernie Casey, the former NFL player who became an actor and appeared in films from ...tick... tick... tick... (1970) to Vegas Vampires (2007), died at age 78 on September 19 2017. The cause was complications from a stroke.

Bernie Casey was born on June 8 1939 in Wyco, West Virginia. At  Bowling Green State University. he played on the football team and also participated in track and field. He made the finals in track and field  at the 1960 United States Olympic Trials, where he finished sixth (just short of making the team). He earned both a bachelor's degree and a master degree in Fine Arts at Bowling Green.

In 1961 Mr. Casey was drafted by the San Francisco '49ers, beginning his NFL career. He ultimately played for eight seasons, first with the '49s and then with the Rams. Bernie Casey made his film debut in Guns of the Magnificent Seven in 1969. The following year he appeared in ...tick... tick... tick... (1970).

In the Seventies Bernie Casey appeared in such films as Boxcar Bertha (1972), Black Gunn (1972), Hit Man (1972), Cleopatra Jones (1973), Maurie (1973), Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975), Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), and Brothers (1977). On television he appeared in such TV movies as Brian's Song (1971), Gargoyles (1972), and Ants! (1977). He guest starred on the TV shows Cade's County, Longstreet, The Snoop Sisters, Joe Forrester, and Police Story. He starred on the short-lived show Harris and Company and appeared in the mini-series The Martian Chronicles..

In the Eighties Mr. Casey starred in the TV mini-series The Sophisticated Gents.He was a regular on the short-lived series Bay City Blues. He guest starred on the shows Trapper John M.D.; Alfred Hitchcock Presents; L. A. Law; Murder, She Wrote; and Hunter. He appeared in such films as Sharkey's Machine (1981),  Never Say Never Again (1983), Revenge of the Nerds (1984), Spies Like Us (1985), Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), and Another 48 Hrs. (1990).

In the Nineties he appeared in such films as Chains of Gold (1991), Under Siege (1992), The Cemetery Club (1993), The Glass Shield (1994), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored (1995), and The Dinner (1997). He guest starred on such TV shows as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, SeaQuest 2032, Babylon 5, and For Your Love. He was a guest voice on the animated series Batman Beyond.

In the Naughts he appeared in such films as Tomcats (2001), On the Edge (2002), When I Find the Ocean (2006) , and Vegas Vampires (2007). He guest starred on Girlfriends and and in the TV movie The Lasta Brickmaker in America (2001).

Mr. Casey directed, wrote, and produced the movie The Dinner, in which he also acted. He was also a talented painter and poet, with books of both his paintings and poems published.

It is often the case that popular, skilled athletes do not make for talented actors. That having been said, there have been some notable exceptions, including C. Aubrey Smith and Woody Strode. Bernie Casey certainly numbered among those exceptions. An athlete with a good deal of ability on the field. he also proved to have considerable talent as an actor. While a few of his films might not have been particularly good, Mr. Casey usually delivered a fine performance. Over the years he played a number of military officers and law enforcement officials. At the same time, however, he could be convincing as an accomplished physician who develops a potion that brings out one's dark side (Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde), Felix Leiter in Never Say Never Again, and an ageing action star in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. Mr. Casey had a gift for comedy and played in several besides I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. He was the president of a fraternity in Revenge of the Nerds and the history teacher Mr. Ryan in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. He did some of his best work on television. On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine he played Commander Sisko's old friend Cal Hudson, a Starfleet officer turned rogue. Bernie Casey had a good deal of talent that allowed him to play comedy and drama equally well, and to play a wide variety of roles as well.