Bernie Kopell revealed the funny story behind the name of The Love Boat‘s Dr. Bricker.
Bernie Kopell broke the silence
Did you ever imagine that The Love Boat‘s* favorite doctor would have a name that would be difficult to even pronounce on TV?
92-year-old Bernie Kopell recently broke his silence and revealed how his character came to be named “Bricker.”
The Hilarious Story Behind the Name
Bernie Kopell refreshed old memories and revealed that deciding on the name of Dr. Adam Bricker was no easy task.
I was having a late-night meeting with director Hy Averback.
Since the doctor character on the show was a bit flirty and chased girls, the director jokingly said, “He’s a bit of a picker, isn’t he?” Bernie immediately replied, “Brother, we can’t keep that name!
We’ll have to change the ‘P’ to a ‘B’.” And then, that small spelling change made TV history, and he became Dr. Bricker.
A 10-Year Journey and a Real Ship
This show, which ran from 1977 to 1986, wasn’t just about acting; it was a real adventure.
A real Princess Cruises ship was used for filming. Bernie Kopell, along with Gavin MacLeod and Ted Lange, played the roles of crew members who solved passengers’ problems.
Dr. Bricker not only dispensed prescriptions but also provided valuable advice. The show became one of the biggest hits of its time.
When Legends Arrive on the Set
A highlight of the show was the arrival of new guest stars in each episode.
Bernie says that every day on set was like a holiday because legendary actors like Debbie Reynolds, Eva Marie Saint, and Shirley Jones would visit.
He says, “I had so much fun with them and got to see their talent up close.” Meeting new people every day kept his work from becoming boring.
The Joy of Getting Work
Finding stability in actors’ lives is very difficult, and Bernie understands this very well. He once said that he considers himself very “blessed” to have had such a long career.
He says, “You have no idea how many actors are out there looking for work.”
For him, The Love Boat proved to be not just a show, but a “pension program” that brought him love all over the world.
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