David Birney

David Birney was an American actor and director.

Birney's first big television hit was as the star of Bridget Loves Bernie in 1972, with his soon-to-be-wife, Meredith Baxter.

Birney portrayed Bernie Steinberg, a Jewish cab driver and struggling playwright, and Baxter played Bridget Fitzgerald, a Catholic grade school teacher from a wealthy family. Their characters wed during the third episode and lived in an apartment above a deli owned by Bernie’s folks.

Aside from his title role in Bridget Loves Bernie, Birney appeared frequently on television, building a career in TV-movies, regular series and miniseries. He starred in such series as Live Shot, Cannon, St. Elsewhere, The Adams Chronicles, Glitter, Serpico, Fantasy Island, Hawaii Five-O, McMillan & Wife,The F.B.I., and Murder, She Wrote, in the episode "The Nomads" from the 1977 series Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected. Miniseries credits include Valley of the Dolls, Night of the Fox, and Master of the Game.

Birney died April 29, 2022, in Santa Monica, California. He was 83.