Daniel Bernhardt (born 31 August 1965) is a Swiss actor, stuntman, martial artist, and former model.[1] He is known for his work on various action films. He made his acting debut in the leading role in the martial arts film Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996), and appeared in two of its sequels, Bloodsport III (1997) and Bloodsport 4: The Dark Kumite (1999).
Bernhardt is a black belt in Taekwondo under Black Belt Hall of Fame member Hee-il Cho (the two also starred together in Bloodsport II). He also studied Kyokushin karate under South Korean master Mas Oyama.[1]
Prior to his acting career, Bernhardt worked at an architecture firm, and was a top model in Paris and New York, working for the likes of Claude Montana, Thierry Mugler, Hugo Boss, and Versace.[2] His first exposure to the film world was in 1992, when he was featured in a martial arts-themed Versace ad campaign, featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme.[4] He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.[4]
He also appeared in two of its sequels and starred in Future War (1997), True Vengeance (1997), Perfect Target (1997), G2 – Mortal Conquest (1999), Black Sea Raid (2000) and Global Effect (2002). From 1998 to 1999, he starred in the TV series Mortal Kombat: Conquest.
In 2013, he returned to acting with Jason Statham in Parker (2013) and in a cameo in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) as the male tribute from District 9. He trained with the 87Eleven Stunt Team and played Russian henchman Kirill in John Wick and the following year, he made his Bollywood debut as mixed martial arts fighter Max Potter in the remake of Warrior, titled Brothers. He co-starred in a particularly acclaimed episode of HBO's Barry as Ronny Proxin.[6]
In September 2020, it was announced that Bernhardt was reprising his Matrix role as Agent Johnson in The Matrix Resurrections;[7] however, his scenes were cut from the final film.[citation needed]
Bernhardt has two brothers, Cliff and Dirk. He is married to actress Lisa Stothard, whom he met on the set of Bloodsport: The Dark Kumite.[9] They have a daughter together.[9]