[4] Bearse studied acting at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse under instructor Sanford Meisner.

[5] Bearse made her television debut playing the role of Amanda Cousins in the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children from 1982 to 1983.

In 1985, Bearse played the female leading role in the supernatural horror film Fright Night.

She also directed episodes of Reba, Mad TV, Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, Malcolm & Eddie, Pauly, The Tom Show, The Jamie Foxx Show, Dharma & Greg, Veronica's Closet, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Jesse (1999; starring her Married...with Children costar Christina Applegate), Jessie (2011), and Ladies Man.

In 2006, Bearse teamed with Rosie O'Donnell to produce and direct The Big Gay Sketch Show, which debuted on Logo on April 24, 2007.