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| Corbin Bernsen in his signature role as Arnie Becker in "L.A. Law". Source: https://br.pinterest.com/pin/678214025116909887/ (May be subject to copyright) |
But for anyone who watched TV drama in the 1980s, Corbin Bernsen was known for one character – sleazy, womanizing divorce lawyer Arnie Becker on “L.A. Law”.
Divorce lawyer
Arnie Becker could best be summed up in one episode where he is confronted by a client with a dilemna. She said there is no way she will get any money in a divorce because she signed a pre-nuptial agreement before they got married. Arnie shrugged and said, we’ll see about that. He then proceeds to push every button he can, including questioning the husband’s virility and manhood. He eventually wins a big settlement for his client.
Arnie Becker could best be summed up in one episode where he is confronted by a client with a dilemna. She said there is no way she will get any money in a divorce because she signed a pre-nuptial agreement before they got married. Arnie shrugged and said, we’ll see about that. He then proceeds to push every button he can, including questioning the husband’s virility and manhood. He eventually wins a big settlement for his client.
He was also a womanizer, constantly flirting and hitting on women, eventually marrying, but wrecking that. He also finally got together with Roz, his longtime assistant, and wrecked that too.
Yet, like all characters on the show, there was much more to Arnie Becker than sleaze and womanizing.
Friends for life
Arnie Becker’s sensitivity and heart are best seen in an episode in the second season called “Full Marital Jacket”. I watched it again the other night and once more it brought a tear to my eye.
Arnie Becker’s sensitivity and heart are best seen in an episode in the second season called “Full Marital Jacket”. I watched it again the other night and once more it brought a tear to my eye.
The law firm employs Benny Stulwicz, a man with special needs, in their mail room. The episode opens with Benny being hauled into a police station accused of rape.
Soon after, we see Roz burst into the daily staff meeting blurting out Benny is in jail and he’s asking for Arnie.
Arnie looks shocked and lost.
“I don’t know what to do,” he says, wondering if he should file a writ, or what.
Michael Kuzak, one of the firm’s top criminal attorneys, takes charge and says, “Let’s go.”
They go see Benny, who has withdrawn into himself, looking just destroyed, with his head buried in his chest.
“It’s us, your friends,” Arnie says.
Benny doesn’t talk much, but does indicate he did something bad.
Kuzak manages to get bail, but Benny must be supervised. He also has to get Benny to tell someone what happened. Kuzak tells Arnie that Benny won’t talk to anyone but him.
Arnie is not sure what to do. He also balks at taking Benny home with him to be supervised because he has a date – as always.
He finds Benny in a stairwell where he is still withdrawn. Arnie tells him they are friends, and he needs to tell him what happened.
Benny, still scared and unsure, admits he went to an adult bookstore where he saw a naked woman who touched him and she had him touch her. Arnie asks what he did after that. Benny tells him he was going to catch the bus home, when the police arrested him at the bus stop. He was sure it was because he thought they knew what he had done. Arnie said the police think he raped a woman. Bennie exclaims he didn’t, he just didn’t.
Arnie is completely taken aback. He stands up and mutters, “So you didn’t do it.” He just looks stunned, surprised – and relieved.
Arnie and Kuzak then go to the bookstore and find the stripper who gave Bennie the show. She remembered, joking she called him, “Ricky Retardo.” She provides an alibi for Benny, but will not testify. She jumped parole in Colorado, and is afraid of getting caught and sent back. She reluctantly agrees, but when the times come, she has skipped town again.
“Benny’s in trouble,” they say.
Now, Kuzak and Arnie don’t know what to do. Kuzak, thinking out loud, says they will have to attack the witness’ eye witness testimony.
The preliminary hearing starts soon after. Kuzak says this cannot go to trial because a jury will see Benny as a big man who can’t control himself. He also fears the stereotypes of the time, that the mentally challenged cannot control their libidos. Worst of all, jail will destroy Benny.
“I believed he did it,” Arnie admits.
The hearing starts with Kuzak and Arnie sitting at the defendant’s table with Benny, a united front.
The victim is on the witness stand and identifies Benny as the man who attacked her. Kuzak cross-examines her, asking how she possibly can identify Benny when she admitted she could not see her attacker's face.
She recognized his voice, she testified. Her attacker kept saying, “Enjoy it bitch” and other profanities.
So, Kuzak has Benny so those exact words over and over. The prosecutor objects that Kuzak is grandstanding, but Kuzak asserts the demonstration goes to voice recognition. They had practised this, so Benny says the exact words the attacker said, over and over. He obviously sounds mentally challenged.
Finally, the victim yells out that’s not her attacker. Kuzak says she identified Benny because the police told her he was the attacker.
“Can’t you see he’s retarded?” she screams. Worse, her attacker is still out there.
The charges are dropped, and Arnie gives Benny a big hug.
“Man, I owe you a beer or something,” he tells Kuzak.
It is a touching moment, showing the friendship between Arnie and Benny. You can see the relief in Arnie’s face, and the big sigh of relief, when the charges are dropped.
For a few minutes, the sleazy lawyer becomes a friend.
Bernsen would garner Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1987 and 1988 for his role as Arnie Becker, and would reprise the role in “L.A. Law: The Movie” a reunion aired in 2002.
Lawyers in space
Although Arnie Becker seemed spaced out at times on “L.A. Law”, he actually was in outer space for a memorable episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in its third season in 1989. He played a member of the “Q” Continuum who was tormenting “Q”, played by John DeLancie, who had lost his omniscient powers in the episode “Deja Q”.
Although Arnie Becker seemed spaced out at times on “L.A. Law”, he actually was in outer space for a memorable episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in its third season in 1989. He played a member of the “Q” Continuum who was tormenting “Q”, played by John DeLancie, who had lost his omniscient powers in the episode “Deja Q”.
On the diamond
As vain and self-absorbed as Arnie Becker was, he may not have been able to hold up a candle to Roger Dorn, third baseman of the Cleveland Indians, a role Bernsen played in the movie “Major League” in 1989, and later in two sequels. And, like Becker, he did have a softer, more sensitive side, which came through in the end.
As vain and self-absorbed as Arnie Becker was, he may not have been able to hold up a candle to Roger Dorn, third baseman of the Cleveland Indians, a role Bernsen played in the movie “Major League” in 1989, and later in two sequels. And, like Becker, he did have a softer, more sensitive side, which came through in the end.
The years after
Corbin Bernsen keeps on acting, appearing recently in the re-boot of “Magnum P.I.” and the new series, “Tommy”, in adition to much more.
Corbin Bernsen keeps on acting, appearing recently in the re-boot of “Magnum P.I.” and the new series, “Tommy”, in adition to much more.
He is also the son of actress Jeanne Cooper, who played Katherine Chancellor in the daytime soap opera “Young and the Restless” for years. In 2004 to 2017 he appeared in 22 episodes of “Young and the Restless” as Father Todd Williams, and was able to appear on the show the same time as his mother before her death in 2013.
Parting thoughts
It took a minute to recognize Corbin Bernsen in “Magnum P.I.”. He plays a career criminal named Icepick, someone Arnie Becker would consider beneath him to represent as a lawyer. Icepick is rough, unshaven, and looks like he has led a tough life. Plus, he’s in jail when we meet him, so maybe he should have had Michael Kuzak represent him.
It took a minute to recognize Corbin Bernsen in “Magnum P.I.”. He plays a career criminal named Icepick, someone Arnie Becker would consider beneath him to represent as a lawyer. Icepick is rough, unshaven, and looks like he has led a tough life. Plus, he’s in jail when we meet him, so maybe he should have had Michael Kuzak represent him.
Icepick is the antithesis of Arnie Becker, and that says a lot about the actor. He has avoided being typecast, and he has moved beyond a role that defined his career for close to a decade.
A lot has happened since he played Arnie Becker starting 34 years ago, but Corbin Bernsen created a memorable, multi-layered character who has held up well and stood the test of time.
As much as he was a louse, and would do anything to win a case, he still had a soft, sensitive side and that's what made Arnie Becker so compelling.
As much as he was a louse, and would do anything to win a case, he still had a soft, sensitive side and that's what made Arnie Becker so compelling.
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