Michael Bergin

Michael Bergin
Born	Michael John Bergin March 18, 1969 (1969-03-18) (age 42) Waterbury, Connecticut, United States

Michael John Bergin, (born March 18, 1969 in Waterbury, Connecticut), is considered to have been one of the first males to have achieved supermodel status, previously reserved for women such as Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Naomi Campbell, and Iman.

Bergin attended the University of Connecticut and is perhaps best known as Mark Wahlberg's successor in Calvin Klein's racy series of black and white underwear ads. His 6' 1" frame and washboard abs (widely cited as his professional signature) gained international exposure in print ads and, notably, on a 96' X 70' billboard in New York City's Times Square.

Career

In addition to his high-profile role as the "spokesbody" for Calvin Klein, Bergin has walked the runways of New York City, Paris and Milan for Sonia Rykiel, Valentino, Calvin Klein, Gianfranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Donna Karan and was the exclusive model for Claiborne for Men, a division of Liz Claiborne, Inc., for over three years. He has also appeared in commercials and print advertisements for Kellogg's, Bacardi Rum, L'Oréal, Maybelline, Coty, Valentino, Perry Ellis, and Liz Claiborne. Bergin is signed to Wilhelmina Models in New York City, and New York Model Management.

Apart from the fashion industry, Bergin also ventured into acting, playing the character J.D. Darius on Baywatch and later Baywatch Hawaii for 88 episodes from 1997 to 2001^[1], and starring as the same character in the made-for-TV Film Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding in 2003^[2].

In 2006, he appeared on VH1's sci-fi celeb reality show Celebrity Paranormal Project. Recently, Bergin has launched his own brand of men's underwear.^{[citation needed]}

Bergin, who is straight, is popular in the gay community due to his willingness to take on gay roles, to interact with the gay press, and to work with AIDS charities.^{[citation needed]} His willingness to not shy away from the gay community has led to a loyal fan base in the gay community and to comparisons with the similar career fearlessness of actors Christopher Meloni, Jude Law, and Antonio Banderas.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

While contracted to Calvin Klein, Michael met the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a Calvin Klein publicist, whom he dated seriously, despite her burgeoning relationship with John F. Kennedy, Jr., with whom she later perished in a fatal plane crash. Even after her engagement with Kennedy, Bessette continued to pursue Bergin to the point that Bergin ordered his apartment building's doorman to not allow her into the building. To that end, Bessette was later seen climbing the fire escape outside of Bergin's apartment, in an attempt to gain access to Bergin's apartment. However, the paparazzi who witnessed the event did not publish their photos of Bessette's actions. In early 2004, Bergin published a book about his relationship with Bessette, The Other Man, claiming that they continued a sexual affair during the time Bessette was dating Kennedy and during their marriage. He was arrested for drunk driving in 2004, on the 5th anniversary of Bessette-Kennedy's death.^[3]

Philanthropy

Bergin has worked closely with the anti-drug children's program D.A.R.E. as a national spokesperson, and has lent his name, time, and image to numerous AIDS charities.

Notes

1. ^ "IMDB.com: Baywatch"
2. ^ "IMDB.com: Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding"
3. ^ Michael Bergin In Felony DUI Bust

External links

• Michael Bergin at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Bergin, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 18, 1969
Place of birth	Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Date of death
Place of death