Sandra Bernhard
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1955-06-06
    • Born Place: Flint, Michigan, USA

Sandra Bernhard

Sandra Bernhard is a multifaceted American actress, comedian, singer, and writer, recognized for her provocative, satirical, and often confrontational style. Born on June 6, 1955, in Flint, Michigan, she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, before eventually settling in Los Angeles at 19 to pursue a career in entertainment. She quickly became a fixture at The Comedy Store, making a name for herself with her unique brand of stand-up comedy that often blended social commentary, celebrity critique, and personal anecdotes.Bernhard's breakthrough came with her intense performance as Masha, a fanatical stalker, opposite Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's 1983 film The King of Comedy, for which she earned the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. She solidified her status as a cult icon with her one-woman stage show, "Without You I'm Nothing" (1988), which was later adapted into a film in 1990. This show exemplified her distinctive blend of stand-up, music, and performance art.On television, she is widely known for her recurring role as Nancy Bartlett on the hit sitcom Roseanne (1991–1997), one of the first openly lesbian recurring characters on American television. More recently, she gained significant acclaim for her role as Nurse Judy Kubrak in the FX drama series Pose (2018–2021), set in the ballroom culture of New York City, and has appeared in American Horror Story: NYC (2022) and Severance (2025).In addition to her acting and stand-up, Bernhard is a recording artist with several albums, including "Excuses for Bad Behavior (Part One)" and "Whatever It Takes." She has also authored books like "Confessions of a Pretty Lady" and "May I Kiss You on the Lips, Miss Sandra?". Known for her unapologetically open bisexuality and sharp wit, Sandra Bernhard has carved out a unique and enduring career, consistently challenging norms and remaining a distinctive voice in comedy and entertainment. Her most recent film appearance was in the 2024 comedy Babes, where she played Dr. Shirley.

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