Bernard Leo Burmester (February 1, 1945 – June 28, 2007) was an American actor. Burmester worked for director John Sayles several times, including in Passion Fish (1992) and Lone Star (1996), and also for directors such as John Schlesinger and Sidney Lumet, and as the Apostle Nathaniel in Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988). He also starred in the CBS sitcom Flo as Randy Stumphill, the mechanic who frequented the bar.
Life and career
Burmester was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and studied at Western Kentucky University as a biology major before switching to drama. He worked summer stock at Shawnee Summer Theatre of Greene County, Indiana. After receiving an MFA from the University of Denver, he taught college for a year before becoming a working actor.
Burmester appeared with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, originating roles in the plays Getting Out and Lone Star, and eventually recreating them in his Off-Broadway and Broadway debuts, respectively. He made his feature film debut in a big budget project with Cruising (1980), and had a featured role as the mortuary director in Honky Tonk Freeway (1981). Burmester played one of the FBI agents hounding the faux Rosenberg couple in Daniel (1983). In 1986 he played the booming villain General D. in Broadway's Raggedy Ann: The Musical Adventure. He played the role of Thénardier in the Original Broadway production of Les Misérables and the Police Sergeant in Harry Connick, Jr.'s musical Thou Shalt not.
He played Holly Hunter's character's father in the prologue of Broadcast News (1987), and the bum in front of The Plaza in Big Business (1988). Roles started to get larger with James Cameron's The Abyss (1989), as Catfish DeVries, decompression expert.
He died at age 62 on June 28, 2007, in New York City, from complications from a tick bite and leukemia. His ashes were scattered in Kentucky.
Filmography
Cruising (1980) – Water Sport
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981) – Mortuary Director
Daniel (1983) – FBI Agent #1
The House of God (1984) – Dr. Gath
Odd Jobs (1986) – Wylie D. Daiken
Sweet Liberty (1986) – Hank
Broadcast News (1987) – Jane's Dad
Big Business (1988) – Bum
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) – Nathaniel, Apostle
The Abyss (1989) – 'Catfish' De Vries
Article 99 (1992) – 'Shooter' Polaski
Passion Fish (1992) – Reeves
Innocent Blood (1992) – Dave Flinton
(1992) – Rickey Tick
A Perfect World (1993) - Deputy Tom Adler
The Neon Bible (1995) – Bobbie Lee Taylor
Lone Star (1996) – Cody
The Devil's Advocate (1997) – Florida Prosecutor
Switchback (1997) – Clyde 'Shorty' Callahan
The Secret of Mulan (1998) – (voice) River Red (1998) – Judge Perkins The Farmhouse (1998) – Dallas Miller Getting to Know You (1999) – Lamar Pike, Sr. Saturn (1999) – Dad Limbo (1999) – Harmon King Dumbarton Bridge (1999) – Jack The End of the Bar (2002) – Boxing Trainer City by the Sea (2002) – Lieutenant Katt Out of These Rooms (2002) – Kit's Dad Gangs of New York (2002) – Telegraph Operator No. 1 (voice) The Red Betsy (2003) – Emmet Rounds America Brown (2004) – Bo Williams Patch (2005) – Mr. Moynahan The Legend of Zorro (2005) – Colonel Beauregard Aftermath (2013) – Sheriff (final film role)
Broadway appearances
The Fantasticks (2006) – Hucklebee
Lone Star (1979) Big River (1985) Raggedy Ann (1986) Les Misérables (1987) – Thenardier Buried Child (1996) Ah, Wilderness (1998) The Civil War (1999) Thou Shalt Not (2001) – The Police Officer Urban Cowboy (2003)
TV appearances
Partial list
Rattlesnake In A Cooler (1982) - The doctor/prisoner
Young Riders,episode The Initiation
Walker, Texas Ranger – "An Innocent Man" (1993) – Woodrow Jonathan Wilton
Alex Haley's Queen (1993) – Henderson
Law & Order – "Snatched" (1994) – Lester Hastings
Law & Order – "Charm City: Part 1" (1996) – Mr. Le Clair
Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1999) – Corby Judd (Part 1) Law & Order: Criminal Intent – "The Third Horseman" (2002) – Lorne Cutler Law & Order – "Patriot" (2002) – Lester Hastings Carry Me Home – "Grizzle" (2004) – Grizzle
References
External links
1945 births
2007 deaths
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Deaths from leukemia Male actors from Louisville, Kentucky Western Kentucky University alumni 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors