Bernie Kopell reflects on Debbie Reynolds stealing the spotlight on The Love Boat

Bernie Kopell, best known for his role as Dr. Adam Bricker on The Love Boat, shared a memorable story about one of the show’s many guest stars during The Love Boat: Behind the Scenes Stories panel on the Enchanted Princess on Friday, September 6. According to the 91-year-old actor, the late Debbie Reynolds, who appeared in multiple episodes of the show, always had to be the center of attention.
"Debbie Reynolds always had to be the center of attention," Kopell revealed, referring to her appearances during seasons 4 and 6. Recalling a specific moment, Kopell said, “No magician was ever safe around her. She didn’t care for them.” He explained how Reynolds took charge during a scene by whispering instructions to the band leader. "She told him to play a Fandango and said to me, ‘Bernie, you don’t do anything. I’ll do everything.’"
Reynolds then performed an impromptu routine, spinning around the stage and ultimately jumping onto Kopell's shoulder, much to the audience’s delight. Kopell described the scene as "Debbie Reynolds and the Disappearing Magician," a performance that left the audience in awe.
During Princess Cruises’ The Love Boat Celebration at Sea, he reminisced about his experiences with the show's many guest stars, including icons like Eva Marie Saint and Shirley Jones. He also fondly remembered Jeraldine Saunders, whose 1974 book The Love Boats inspired the series. "She was just a beautiful woman, a true light," Kopell said. He spoke at her memorial after her passing in 2019 at age 95. The Love Boat remains popular, and another Love Boat Celebration at Sea is set to sail in November 2025, continuing Saunders' legacy.