Alexander Bernstein: Everything About Leonard Bernstein’s Son

Alexander Bernstein is the son of conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and actress and social activist Felicia Montealegre Bernstein. Alexander’s father Leonard is known as the first American-born conductor to lead a major American symphony orchestra. He was music director of the New York Philharmonic and conducted the world’s major orchestras, generating a significant legacy of audio and video recordings.

Alexander Bernstein: Bio Summary

How Old Is Alexander Bernstein?

Alexander Bernstein was born on July 7, 1955, in New York City, New York, USA. He is 68 years old as of 2023. He was born to a Costa Rican mother and an American father. He is the son of Leonard Bernstein born Louis Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre Bernstein born Felicia María Cohn Montealegre. Alexander is the only son and middle child of his parents.

Alexander Bernstein has an older sister Jamie Bernstein and a younger sister Nina Maria Felicia Bernstein. He has a great bond with both sisters. His mother was an actress and social activist while his father was a conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. His parents met in 1946 at a party.

Leonard and Felicia got married on September 9, 1951. The family lived in New York City and Fairfield, Connecticut. Alexander Bernstein’s grandparents from his mother’s side are Clemencia Cristina Montealegre Carazo, a Costa Rican, and Roy Elwood Cohn, an American who worked as a United States mining executive.

Alexander’s grandparents from his father’s side are Jennie (née Resnick) and Samuel Joseph Bernstein, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Rivne (now in Ukraine). His grandfather Samuel owned The Samuel Bernstein Hair and Beauty Supply Company. Alexander studied and graduated from Harvard University.

Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and went ahead to get a Master’s degree in English education from New York University. He was a second-grade teacher at the Packer-Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and later taught drama at the middle school. He has completed his Doctorate at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, Ireland under the tutelage of John O’Conor.

Alexander Bernstein serves as the president of Artful Learning, Inc., and Vice President and Treasurer of The Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc. He is said to be the president of The Bernstein Family Foundation. Unfortunately, Alexander has lost both parents. His mother Felicia Montealegre Bernstein died on June 16, 1978, at age 56, in East Hampton, New York, U.S. She died of lung cancer.

ALSO, READ: Jamie Bernstein: Inside The Life Of Leonard Bernstein’s Daughter

Alexander’s father Leonard Bernstein passed away on October 14, 1990, at age 72, in New York City, U.S. He died of a heart attack brought on by mesothelioma. He is buried at Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, next to his wife Felicia Montealegre. Bradley Cooper’s film Maestro (2023) chronicles the relationship between Leonard and his wife Felicia.

Alexander Bernstein Is An Actor

Alexander Bernstein chose to follow in his mother’s footsteps. He is an actor who has got some acting credits. He is said to have studied acting, performed professionally, and served as a production associate at the ABC News documentary unit. He played the role of CCNY Student in the film Daniel (1983). He was in the TV Movie Rage of Angels: The Story Continues.

Alexander Bernstein portrayed the role of Cortot Pianist in the TV Movie, Loving Miss Hatto. He appeared as himself in The Making of ‘West Side Story’, American Masters, Australian Story, BBC Proms, Leonard Bernstein: Larger Than Life, Leonard Bernstein – Das zerrissene Genie, and Kulturzeit. He also worked as a sound mixer for the short film Tinder and Grinder.

Alexander Bernstein Has Been Married Twice

Alexander Bernstein is currently a married man. He has been married two times to two different women. He used to be married to actress Kerry Armstrong but things didn’t work out between them. They were married from the year 1981 to 1986. The reason for their divorce is unknown. Alexander found love again after his divorce from Kerry.

ALSO, READ: Nina Maria Felicia Bernstein: Who Is Leonard Bernstein’s Daughter?

Alexander Bernstein met and married Elizabeth Velazquez. He has been married to Elizabeth since the year 1995. Alexander and his wife Elizabeth have been married for more than 25 years. They have kept their marriage away from the spotlight which is why much is unknown about their union. It is unknown if the couple has any children or not.