Bernstein is the author of the award-winning book from which the stage musical Mr. Confidential has been adapted. He grew up all over the world, living in Cairo, Honolulu, Austin, Phoenix, Albuquerque, New York, Los Angeles, and Ft. Collins, Colorado, while his family also traveled through Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean. His writing life has branched out, by both necessity and design, into a writing, producing, and directing career, including the formation of Babyhead Productions with Ronald Shore.

He dove into show business immediately upon graduating high school, moving to New York from Texas at the age of seventeen. After studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts he began to work as an actor and singer, most notably playing the role of “Magaldi” in various productions of “Evita.” In the early 90s he started writing, and his first play, The Liquidation of Granny Peterman, was produced in Hollywood. The Los Angeles Times said, "Samuel Bernstein's insights into what keeps families together are as rich as a holiday pudding."

While writing and rewriting the script that would become his first film, Silent Lies he worked on his first book, a photo-anthology called Uncommon Heroes that won a Stonewall Book Award from the American Library Association.

Silent Lies, his dark, violent film about incest, caused a stir, and was banned in England until cuts were made. Though press materials for the film said otherwise, Bernstein was referred to in newspaper articles as an “incest survivor,” which he found rather funny.

His Paramount/Showtime film Bobbie's Girl starred Bernadette Peters, Rachel Ward, and Jonathan Silverman. Ms. Peters received an Emmy nomination while the film received a G.L.A.A.D. nomination and a citation from The Advocate as one of the top ten television events of the year.

His book Mr. Confidential was named a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year finalist and won an Hermes Creative Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction. It is currently in development as a stage musical. Other new projects include, Kill Your Inner Child based on his chaotic childhood, and Lulu, a non-fiction novel based on an interlude in the life of Louise Brooks in 1920s Berlin. He lives in West Hollywood with his husband of 15 years, Ronald Shore and their three incorrigible dachshunds.

AWARDS
Houston International Film Festival Gold Award Silent Lies
Charleston International Film Festival Silver Award Silent Lies
The American Library Association’s Stonewall Book of the Year Award Uncommon Heroes
Hermes Award Best Non-Fiction Mr. Confidential
Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist Mr. Confidential
G.L.A.A.D. Nominee Bobbie's Girl
Emmy Nomination Bernadette Peters Bobbie's Girl
Telly Award Writing Kill Your Inner Child
Accolade Award Best Writing Kill Your Inner Child
MarCom Gold Award Writing Kill Your Inner Child
Ava Gold Award Writing Kill Your Inner Child
Communicator Gold Award Writing Kill Your Inner Child
Indie Book Awards Lulu
International Book Awards Lulu