Daniel Bernhardt (born 31 August 1965) is a Swiss actor, stuntman, martial artist, and former model. 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).

Also known for playing villainous characters, he appeared opposite Chuck Norris in 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 (2003), John Wick (2014) and Ballerina (2025). He also starred as Siro in the television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1998–1999). As a stunt performer and fight choreographer, his work includes Creed II (2018) and Nobody (2021).

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.

Early life Bernhardt was born in Ittigen, Canton of Bern, in 1965, to Heidi and Horst Bernhardt. He began studying martial arts at the age of 15, learning what called “something cobbled together out of kung fu and kickboxing." He later earned black belts in Taekwondo under Hee-il Cho and Kyokushin Karate under Mas Oyama. In Paris, he was a pupil of Dominique Valera. He has also studied boxing, judo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Prior to his acting career, Bernhardt worked at an architecture firm and was a top model in Paris and New York City, working for the likes of Claude Montana, Thierry Mugler, Hugo Boss, and Versace. 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. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career.

Career

Acting Bernhardt made his acting debut in the leading role in Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996), a sequel to the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme film.

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 2003, he appeared as Agent Johnson in The Matrix Reloaded (2003), and in 2005 he appeared with Chuck Norris in The Cutter.

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 henchmen in John Wick and Atomic Blonde. In 2015, 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.

In September 2020, it was announced that Bernhardt would be reprising his Matrix role as Agent Johnson in The Matrix Resurrections; however, his scenes were cut from the final film.

Bernhardt played the title character in Deathstalker, a remake of the 1983 cult film of the same.

Stunts Bernhardt's credits as a stunt performer include A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), Alita: Battle Angel (2019), Hobbs & Shaw (also 2019), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). He was the principal fight trainer and fight choreographer for Creed II (2018) and Nobody (2021), for which he trained Bob Odenkirk in fighting for two years, and The Equalizer television series.

Personal life 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. They have a daughter together.

Filmography Film Year Title Role1996Bloodsport II: The Next KumiteAlex Cardo1997Bloodsport IIIFuture WarThe RunawayTrue VengeanceAllen GriffinPerfect TargetDavid BensonBloodsport 4: The Dark KumiteJohn Keller1999G2 – Mortal ConquestSteven ConlinBlack Sea RaidRick Halsey2002Global EffectLieutenant Marcus Poynt2003The Matrix ReloadedAgent JohnsonThe LibrariansToshko2005Confessions of an Action StarJason EverstrongTornado – Rain to KillThe CutterDirk Cross2007Children of WaxMurat2010Supreme ChampionLucien Gallows2011CreatureLockjaw / Grimley2012Foodfight!Additional Voices (voice)Santa's Summer HouseBryan2013ParkerKrollThe Hunger Games: Catching FireDistrict 9 Male TributeZombeo & JuliéculaVladimir2014Knock 'em DeadVictor The ButlerJohn WickKirill2015The Vatican TapesPsych Ward Security (uncredited)BrothersMax Potter2016Precious CargoSimonTerm LifeDetective Rick DiNardi (uncredited)2017Logan'Bone Breaker'Atomic BlondeSoldierKill 'Em AllRadovan Brokowski2019Escape Plan: The ExtractorsSilvaHobbs & ShawHenchman (uncredited)2020Birds of PreySionis' ChauffeurSkylinesOwens2021Hell Hath No FuryVon BrucknerNobodyBus GoonRed NoticeDrago Grande (cameo role)The Matrix ResurrectionsAgent Johnson2023Extraction 2Konstantine2024The Killer's GameMaxUtopiaWilliam SallowChief of StationKharon2025BallerinaScarred Eye AssassinNobody 2KartoushAfterburnGorynychDeathstalkerDeathstalker2026Man of WarKonievMatchbox: The MovieFalkoTBAPainterTBA

Television Year(s) Title Role Notes1998–1999Mortal Kombat: ConquestSiro22 episodes2006DesireVincent4 episodes2016CastleVincentEpisode: "XX"2018Altered CarbonJaeger5 episodes2019BarryRonny ProxinEpisode: "ronny/lily"

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