Growing up in New York City’s Chinatown gave Bern an urban and multicultural background before going to suburban Long Island’s Valley Stream South High School where he was introduced to acting. Bern later double-majored in Theater and Education at Adelphi University, subsequently earning graduate degrees from Columbia University and New York City College.
Bern’s earliest acting included work with Mercedes Reuhl, Samuel L. Jackson, Rupert Holmes, SESAME STREET and
ZOOM before he left his career in Theatre and went into Education to be more of a parent than a young actor's schedule allowed. He promised himself he’d return to acting at a later date.
Years of experience in public education and the private sector gave Bern a mature, evolved edge when he resumed his acting career in 2005. He furthered his study of Camera Acting with Penny Templeton and Ruth Nerkin and has since had starring and principal roles in more than 50 movies, including
DOCTOR BELLO with Isaiah Washington and Vivica A. Fox, FRANK VS. GOD with Henry Ian Cusick, DEVIL YOU KNOW with Lena Olin, HOLY ROLLERS with Jesse Eisenberg, and 27 DRESSES with Katherine Heigl.
Most recently, Bern wrapped: JON GLASER LOVES GEAR
as Jon Glaser's Father, SUPER DARK TIMES as
Dr. Arnold, SHOOTING CLERKS as Thomas Burke the Roofer, SALACH as the lead role, and OPPENHEIMER STRATEGIES as Board President.
Last theater season, Bern starred in Richard Abron’s EVERY DAY A VISITOR at NYC’s Clurman Theater. During prior theater seasons, he starred as Abbie Hoffman in the one-man show, ABBIE at New York City's West End Theater and in
THE ASSISTANT at the Turtle Shell Theater.