- Bruce was at the controls of his small-craft private plane when it crashed into the Santa Monica Mountains shortly after taking off from LAX. He was on his way to perform at the San Francisco Opera Company. Both Bruce and two passengers, David and Teri Wirsching, were killed.
- Sang baritone roles at the San Francisco Opera from 1971 until his death.
- Debuting on Broadway in the musical "The Happiest Girl in the World,", ruggedly handsome Bruce later played a number of the big, brawny, popular baritone singing roles on stage: Curly in "Oklahoma!," Billy Bigelow in "Carousel," Petruchio in "Kiss Me Kate" and Frank Butler in a Broadway revival of "Annie Get Your Gun" starring Ethel Merman.
- Brother of Lorene Yarnell Jansson and Richard Yarnell.
- His widow, singer/voice teacher Joan Patenaude Yarnell, began the Bruce Yarnell Scholarship in his name, to award young baritones, and presides as one of the judges.
- Once was a regular featured vocalist for the Earl Carroll's Theater nightclub on Sunset and Vine in L.A.
- Graduate of Hollywood High School.
- Ex-brother-in-law of Robert Shields.
- Father: Harold Earl Yarnell; Mother: Marie Frances Altomari.
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