Michael Bergin
Encyclopedia
Michael John Bergin, 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
.
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, and starring as the same character in the made-for-TV Film
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding
in 2003.
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.
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. 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
.
, 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.
charities.
Supermodel
The term supermodel refers to a highly-paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s. Supermodels usually work for top fashion designers and labels...
status, previously reserved for women such as Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford
Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Crawford is an American model. Known for her trademark mole just above her lip, Crawford has adorned hundreds of magazine covers throughout her career. She was named #3 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90s...
, Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson is an Australian model, actress, and businesswoman nicknamed "The Body". She is perhaps best known for her record five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s...
, Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is a British model. Scouted at the age of 15, she established herself among the top three most recognisable and in-demand models of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and she was one of six models of her generation declared "supermodels" by the fashion world...
, and Iman
Iman (model)
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid , professionally known as Iman , is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A pioneer in the field of ethnic cosmetics, she is also noted for her charitable work. She is married to David Bowie.-Early life:Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iman is the daughter...
.
Bergin attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and is perhaps best known as Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
's successor in Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
's racy series of black and white underwear ads. His 6' 1" frame and washboard abs
Rectus abdominis muscle
The rectus abdominis muscle, also known as the "six pack", is a paired muscle running vertically on each side of the anterior wall of the human abdomen . There are two parallel muscles, separated by a midline band of connective tissue called the linea alba...
(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
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
.
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 MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
for Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel née Flis is a French fashion designer.Ethnically a Polish-Romanian Jew, Sonia Rykiel was born in Neuilly a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France, the eldest of five daughters of a Polish mother and a Romanian father. At the age of 17, she was employed to dress the window...
, Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
, Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Gianfranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a...
, Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent (brand)
Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
and Donna Karan
Donna Karan
Donna Karan is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels.-Early life:...
and was the exclusive model for Claiborne for Men, a division of Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Liz Claiborne
Anne Elisabeth Jane "Liz" Claiborne was a Belgian-born American fashion designer and entrepreneur. Claiborne is best known for founding Liz Claiborne Inc. which in 1986 became the first company founded by a woman to make the Fortune 500...
, for over three years. He has also appeared in commercials and print advertisements for Kellogg's, Bacardi Rum
Bacardi
Bacardi is a family-controlled spirits company, best known as a producer of rums, including Bacardi Superior and Bacardi 151. The company sells in excess of 200 million bottles per year in nearly 100 countries...
, L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
, Maybelline
Maybelline
Maybelline is an American makeup brand sold worldwide and owned by L'Oréal. Their motto is Maybe she's born with it. Maybe it's Maybelline.-History:...
, Coty
Coty, Inc.
Coty, Inc. is the world's largest fragrance company, founded in 1904. It is also a beauty products manufacturer whose main businesses are fragrances , followed by color cosmetics , toiletries and skin care...
, Valentino
Valentino SpA
Valentino SpA is a clothing company founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani. Nowadays it is a part of Valentino Fashion Group. New creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli will take Alessandra Facchinetti's seat as creative designer...
, Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis was an American fashion designer who founded a sportswear house in the mid-1970s.-The rise of Perry Ellis:...
, and Liz Claiborne
Liz Claiborne
Anne Elisabeth Jane "Liz" Claiborne was a Belgian-born American fashion designer and entrepreneur. Claiborne is best known for founding Liz Claiborne Inc. which in 1986 became the first company founded by a woman to make the Fortune 500...
. Bergin is signed to Wilhelmina Models
Wilhelmina Models
Wilhelmina Models is a modeling agency founded in 1967 by the model Wilhelmina Cooper and her husband Bruce Cooper in Manhattan Starting in 2010, Wilhelmina Models started a sub-brand called "Digital Empire Modeling" for new digital-era modeling talents....
in New York City, and New York Model Management
New York Model Management
New York Model Management is a modeling agency based in New York City. New York Models started when Heinz Holba started L.A. Models in 1985. After operating international agencies, he opened New York Models in 1997...
.
Apart from the fashion industry, Bergin also ventured into acting, playing the character J.D. Darius on Baywatch
Baywatch
Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...
and later Baywatch Hawaii
Baywatch
Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...
for 88 episodes from 1997 to 2001, and starring as the same character in the made-for-TV Film
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding is a 2003 made-for-TV Film which was a reunion movie for the series Baywatch.-Plot:Mitch Buchannon was believed to have died in a boating accident at the end of the 10th season of Baywatch. However, it turns out he only had amnesia and has been recovering in a Los...
in 2003.
In 2006, he appeared on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's sci-fi celeb reality show Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project
Celebrity Paranormal Project is a paranormal reality television series that originally aired from October 22, 2006 to November 1, 2007 on VH1. The show is currently on hiatus, so it is unknown if VH1 will re-air the show and begin with a second season...
. Recently, Bergin has launched his own brand of men's underwear.
Bergin, who is straight, is popular in the gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
community due to his willingness to take on gay roles, to interact with the gay press, and to work with AIDS charities. 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
Christopher Meloni
Christopher Peter Meloni is an American actor. He is best known for his television roles as NYPD Detective Elliot Stabler on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and as inmate Chris Keller on the HBO prison drama Oz.-Early life:Meloni was born the youngest of three children in...
, Jude Law
Jude Law
David Jude Heyworth Law , known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
, and Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
.
Personal life
While contracted to Calvin KleinCalvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
, Michael met the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Carolyn Jeanne Bessette-Kennedy was the wife of John F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.-Early life:...
, a Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
publicist, whom he dated seriously, despite her burgeoning relationship with John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. , often referred to as John F. Kennedy, Jr., JFK Jr., John Jr. or John-John, was an American socialite, magazine publisher, lawyer, and pilot. The elder son of U.S. President John F...
, with whom she later perished in a fatal plane crash
John F. Kennedy, Jr. airplane crash
On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr. died when the Piper Saratoga light aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. His wife, Carolyn Bessette, and sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette, were also killed. His flight departed from Essex...
. 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.
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 AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
charities.