The 2006 film Bernard and Doris, directed by Bob Balaban, is a dramatic biopic about the complex relationship between heiress/philanthropist Doris Duke and her butler Bernard Lafferty. The film premiered at Long Island's Hamptons International Film Festival on October 17, 2007, and was later broadcast by HBO Films on February 9, 2008.
Though the story is set in part in New Jersey (Duke’s “Duke Farms”), estate scenes were actually filmed on Long Island — specifically at the historic Old Westbury Gardens. The film was nominated for multiple awards.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on November 26, 2025.