Biography

Michael Bergin is perhaps best known as "Jack 'J.D.' Darius" on the internationally renowned hit series Baywatch (1989). An actor and model, Bergin has been featured in magazines and on billboards around the world. Growing up in the small town of Naugatuck, Connecticut, Bergin never considered modeling or acting. During his sophomore year at the University of Connecticut, a friend repeatedly urged him to try modeling. Although Bergin remained uninterested in modeling, he quickly learned that the industry's earning potential would greatly ease the financial burden of his college tuition. With the demands of work growing and the commute to New York becoming more frequent, Bergin decided to spend the summer after his junior year in Manhattan working full time. Although his career quickly took off, Bergin chose to complete his education at the University of Connecticut, graduating with a degree in business marketing. One month later he moved back to New York permanently. In search of a fresh face to replace Mark Wahlberg as his underwear model, Calvin Klein chose the relatively unknown Bergin to appear both solo, and with Kate Moss in jeans, underwear and suit advertisements. From that moment on, Bergin's career took off. Bergin has walked the runways of New York, Paris and Milan for Sonia Rykiel, Valentino, Calvin Klein, GianFranco Ferre, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent and Donna Karen 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'Oreal, Maybelline, Coty, Valentino, Perry Ellis, and Liz Claiborne. In addition, Michael has completed correspondent work for E! Entertainment Television, Entertainment Tonight (1981) and VH1. Movie and television credits include the Merchant Ivory film The Proprietor (1996) and a re- occurring role on Darren Starr's Central Park West (1995).

- IMDb Mini Biography By: DANIEL

Michael Bergin, a native of Connecticut (born in Waterbury, raised in Naugatuck), 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 enviable washboard abs (amongst other features) gained international exposure in print ads and, notably, on a 96' X 70' billboard in New York City's Times Square. Since stepping out of those very famous boxer briefs, he has begun an unusually diverse acting career.

While a student at the University of Connecticut, Michael began visiting modeling agencies in nearby New York and soon found himself signed professionally with the Click Agency. He became a regular on the runways of Valentino, Donna Karan, and Hugo Boss and was tapped by Calvin Klein as the 'face' (and stomach, legs, crotch, etc.) of Calvin Klein underwear. Michael soon found himself catapulted to the status of male supermodel.

In addition to his high profile work as a runway model, Calvin Klein 'spokesbody', Michael became a respected community activist, working closely with the anti-drug children's program D.A.R.E. as a national spokesperson, and lending his name, time, and image to numerous AIDS charities. He continued to model, appearing in commercials and print advertisements for Liz Claiborne, Coty, Bacardi Rum, L'Oreal, Kellogg's, Maybelline and Perry Ellis. Branching out into acting and television presenting, Michael was soon seen as a correspondent for the E! Entertainment channel, VH1 Latin America's House of Style, and as a recurring character on the prime-time soap opera Central Park West (1995). As a contracted 'star', Michael spent nearly 4 years on the syndicated Baywatch (1989) and "Baywatch Hawaii" and starred as the villainous "Nick Bozman", on the NBC supernatural soap opera Passions (1999). In unusual moves for a model-turned-actor, Michael has worked for art-house legends Merchant Ivory, in the film _Proprietor, The (1989)_ and played a gay, closeted action film star opposite Dean Cain in The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000).

Personally, Michael's life has had enough unique plot twists as the soap opera he stars on. While contracted to Calvin Klein, Michael met the late Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, a Calvin Klein publicist, whom he dated rather seriously. After that relationship fell apart due to career pressures, Carolyn went on to marry popular "first son," John Kennedy Jr., with whom she perished in a fatal plane crash.

Later, Michael was linked romantically to fashion designer Valentino in (untrue) industry scuttlebutt inflamed by a reportedly besotted former manager. A related rumor, this time true, is that the character of "The Bone" in both the book and television incarnations of Sex and the City (1998) was a thinly veiled jab at Michael and his close relationship with the famous designer. Michael's easy transition from model to actor can be primarily credited to the broad fan base his unusually diverse body of work has cultivated.

The underwear model/Merchant Ivory/Baywatch/Sundance/soap opera star can count fans ranging from the art house to teeny-bopper crowds. Additionally, Michael, who is straight, is considered somewhat of a hero in the gay community due to his willingness to take on gay roles, interact with the gay press, and work with AIDS charities. His professional willingness to not shy away from gay roles or the community led a tremendously loyal fan base in the gay community and to recent, favorable comparisons to the similar career fearlessness of actors Christopher Meloni, Jude Law, and Antonio Banderas. His work with the D.A.R.E. program has brought him equal acclaim from law enforcement, anti-drug, and child advocacy groups, further broadening his emerging appeal.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous