Michael Bergin

Here is a biographical portrait of Michael Bergin (sometimes credited as Michael John Bergin):

Michael Bergin – Life, Career, and Notable Moments

Introduction

Michael John Bergin (born March 18, 1969) is an American former model and actor who later transitioned to a career in real estate. J.D. “Jack” Darius on Baywatch and Baywatch: Hawaii.

Early Life & Education

• Birthplace & upbringing: Bergin was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and grew up in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

• University: He attended the University of Connecticut, studying marketing.

• Entry into modeling: While in college, he was encouraged by friends to try modeling. He soon took up modeling in New York to help with tuition and expenses.

Modeling Career

• Bergin gained high visibility when he was chosen as Mark Wahlberg’s successor in Calvin Klein’s black-and-white underwear campaign.

• He walked in major fashion cities — New York, Paris, Milan — for top designers such as Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, and others.

• He was also an exclusive model for Claiborne for Men, a division of Liz Claiborne, for a period.

• In his modeling role, he appeared in print advertisements, commercials for various brands (e.g. Bacardi, L’Oréal), and billboards.

Acting Career

• Bergin’s most prominent role was as J.D. “Jack Darius” on Baywatch, appearing from about 1997 to 2001.

• He also continued that role in Baywatch: Hawaii and reprised it in the TV movie Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding in 2003.

• Other film & TV credits include:

  • The Proprietor (1996)

  • The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000)

  • Wolves of Wall Street (2002)

  • Fatal Reunion (2005)

  • Holiday / Christmas–themed films like A Husband for Christmas (2016)

  • Guest roles on shows like CSI: Miami

Later Career & Real Estate

• After decades in modeling and acting, Bergin shifted into real estate, particularly working in Beverly Hills, California.

• He maintains a presence through real estate and related business endeavors.

Personal Life & Relationships

• Bergin’s personal life has attracted public attention, particularly his past relationship with Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (before her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr.). He later published a book titled The Other Man, discussing aspects of that relationship.

• On September 24, 2004, he married makeup artist Joy Tilk.

• The couple have two children: Jesse (born October 8, 2000) and Alannah (Alana) Jade (born February 16, 2004).

• Bergin has also served as a national spokesperson for the anti-drug program D.A.R.E., and has supported AIDS charities.

Legacy & Impact

• Bergin’s transition from high-visibility modeling to acting and then to real estate shows adaptability and reinvention in his career.

• He was one of the relatively few men in the 1990s to gain wide recognition in fashion campaigns (especially underwear campaigns), following in the path of Mark Wahlberg, and solidifying a model-actor crossover image.

• His role on Baywatch, a globally popular TV series, gave him international exposure and a lasting association with the “lifeguard” image of that era.

• His personal narrative—including the controversies, his published memoir, and public relationships—has made him a figure of both fame and scrutiny.