Wally Berns; Actor, Community Activist
Wally Berns, an actor and a leading opponent of Burbank Airport, has died at a Burbank hospital. He was 61.
A longtime Burbank resident, Berns died Sunday of heart failure, said his wife, Carla Berns.
Born in Detroit, Berns grew up in Florida and earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. He worked as an artist in Florida, painting pictures on black velvet. Berns also worked at a sea zoo, wrestling alligators for spectator shows. In 1960, he came to California to work in the entertainment industry. Berns, a member of Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, had small parts in dozens of films and television shows including “The Apple Dumpling Gang.” Berns also worked as an art director on film projects.
Berns, whose home is beneath the airport flight path, was a protester at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority meetings, lashing out against noise and airport expansion. In 1988, he founded the Burbank Flatlanders Home Protection League.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years; son, Clifford Berns of North Hollywood and daughter Yvonne Berns of Sepulveda.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be handled by Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Mortuary. Donations can be made to Wildlife Waystation.
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