Bernhard became a staple at The Comedy Store. As her popularity as a comedian grew she was cast as a supporting player on "The Richard Pryor Show" in 1977. Guest appearances on evening talk shows followed. Her big break came in 1983 when she was cast by Martin Scorsese to star as stalker and kidnapper Masha in the film "The King of Comedy" for which she won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. Bernhard was also a frequent guest on David Letterman's NBC program "Late Night with David Letterman", making 28 appearances starting in 1983.