Michael Bergin
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| Michael Bergin | |
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| Born | Michael John Bergin March 18, 1969 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.
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[edit] 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.
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. His willingness to not shy away from the gay community has led 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.
[edit] Personal life
While contracted to Calvin Klein, Michael met the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, a Calvin Klein publicist, whom he dated seriously. After that relationship fell apart due to career pressures, she went on to marry John F. Kennedy, Jr., with whom she later perished in a fatal plane crash. 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.[1]
[edit] Philanthropy
Bergin has worked 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.
