Daniel Bernhardt

Daniel Bernhardt (born 31 August 1965) is a multi-talented individual of Swiss origin who excels as an actor, stuntman, martial artist, and also put his time in as a model. Regardless of his varied skills, Bernhardt is especially known for his impressive work in a range of action movies. He embarked on his acting career by landing the leading role in his first movie, the martial arts-themed Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite in 1996, and then later went ahead to act in its sequel films —Bloodsport III 1997 and Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite in 1999. As a adaptable performer, he has portrayed a variety of roles including villainous characters in films opposite acclaimed actors such as Chuck Norris in the film The Cutter (2005), Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kill 'Em All (2017), Sylvester Stallone in Escape Plan: The Extractors (2019), and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix Reloaded. In addition to acting, he has worked as a stunt performer and fight choreographer on various productions, including Creed II (2018) and Nobody (2021).

Bernhardt was born in Ittigen, Canton of Bern, in 1965, to parents Heidi and Horst Bernhardt. At the age of 15, he began learning martial arts which, according to him, was "cobbled together out of kung fu and kickboxing." With time, he earned black belts in Taekwondo and Kyokushin Karate. Before transitioning into an acting career, Bernhardt worked in an architecture firm and then found himself immersed in the world of modeling in Paris and New York, working for iconic brands including Claude Montana, Thierry Mugler, Hugo Boss, and Versace. Following his introduction to the film industry in 1992 through a martial arts-themed Versace campaign, Bernhardt moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film. In his personal life, Bernhardt is married to actress Lisa Stothard, whom he met on the set of Bloodsport: The Dark Kumite and with whom he shares a daughter.