Bernthal's career begins at the start of the 2000s. He is cast for a one-off role in Law & Order: Criminal Intent. This is followed by short appearances in, among others, the soap opera The Guiding Light and the drama series Without a Trace.
By the middle of that decade, casting directors in America are starting to notice him more. Bernthal appears in Dr. Vegas and Boston Legal, and also makes appearances in Boston Legal, Jonny Zero, and CSI: Miami. He eventually wraps up 2005 with appearances in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and, as a detour, the comedy series How I Met Your Mother.
In 2006, his first regular role follows. Bernthal lands a part in the series The Class. The comedy tells the story of a young adult who reencounters some of his childhood friends. The series eventually gets a full season and decent reviews. However, it's not enough for further enjoyment.
For Bernthal, this means it's time for the next project. He takes to the big screen, appearing in the Night at the Museum sequel 'Battle of the Smithsonian'. He later secures a recurring role in Eastwick, an ABC series that is not destined for a long life.
This proves no problem for Bernthal. Short appearances in popular series like Numb3rs and The Pacific are the prelude to a whole lot of excitement. We get this with The Walking Dead. In the first two strong seasons, it's his Shane Walsh, among others, who creates conflict in the group of survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Bernthal plays Walsh with such intensity and layers that even a zombie would be scared. Ultimately (spoiler), he meets his end.
In the period that follows, Bernthal focuses mainly on film work, although we briefly see him return in Harry's Law and Mob City—a six-part crime series where Bernthal plays the lead role. After the miniseries Show Me A Hero, Bernthal steps into the Marvel universe. He does this in the Netflix series Marvel's Daredevil, where he takes on the role of Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher. Netflix likes it so much that he quickly gets his own series. In between, Bernthal also lends his voice to series like Robot Chicken and SuperMansion.
A short appearance as a mysterious man in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt follows before Bernthal takes it easy for a while. Eventually, he returns to the small screen via The Premise. With a recurring role in The Bear, he lands a part in the next gem of a series, while also starring in the police miniseries We Own This City during that period. He also plays the lead in the somewhat flopped American Gigolo.
In 2025, Bernthal reprises his role as Frank Castle/The Punisher in the sequel series Daredevil: Born Again. For the new year, His & Hers is on the agenda. In this crime series, he plays the role of detective Jack Harper, who must solve a murder while being countered by the formerly burnt-out journalist Anna Andrews. The Netflix production promises us an exciting story. So, stay on your couch for a while, those good resolutions can wait...
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