Patrick Connolly Bergin (born 4 February 1951) is an Irish actor and singer. In 1991, he starred opposite Julia Roberts in Sleeping with the Enemy and played the title character in Robin Hood. His other roles include terrorist Kevin O'Donnell in Patriot Games (1992) and the villainous Aidan Maguire in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2017–2018).
Early life Bergin was born in Dublin, where he grew up in Drimnagh. His father, Paddy Bergin, was a Labour Party politician who once studied to be a priest with the Holy Ghost Fathers in Blackrock, Ireland. Patrick was one of four sons and one daughter (Pearse, Emmet, Patrick, Allen and Siobhan Bergin). He left Dublin for London in 1973, and by the time he was 17 he was in London running a theatre company. He worked on building sites and at a library. He studied at night and completed an education degree from North London Polytechnic (later the University of North London). He was an English teacher for several years, then formed his own theatrical company because "no one else would have him". His brother Emmet Bergin also became an actor, best known for playing Dick Moran in the soap opera Glenroe for its full 1983–2001 run.
Career In 1980, Bergin decided to pursue acting full-time and found work in repertory theatre. He played the explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton in Mountains of the Moon (1990) and followed this with diverse acting roles, including a trilogy of Yeats plays; Morphine and Dolly Mixtures, for which he won a BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Actor; Durango, based on John B Keane's novel; hosting TnaG's Suilín Draíochta; and narrating Patrick Cassidy's Famine Remembrance. Bergin played the menacing husband of Julia Roberts' character in the thriller Sleeping with the Enemy (1991). In the same year he portrayed the title character in Robin Hood, opposite Uma Thurman as Maid Marian.
Bergin is also known for his role as Irish terrorist Kevin O'Donnell in the film adaptation of Tom Clancy's Patriot Games (1992). He described 1996 as the lowest point in his career, a time when he rarely received any calls for film roles. In 2013 he appeared in the Scottish film The Wee Man playing notorious Glasgow gangster Arthur 'The Godfather' Thompson. He joined the BBC soap opera EastEnders towards the end of 2017, departing in March 2018.
Music Bergin leads the band Patrick Bergin and the Spirit Merchants. They had a top 10 hit in Ireland with their song "The Knacker", released in 2003, which tells the story of a person who recycles horse carcasses and turns them into glue. As a singer, Bergin collaborated with Vlad DeBriansky and appeared on his album Jacks Last Dollar. He also appeared in the video of DJ Steve Mac's song "Paddy's Revenge".
Bergin was onstage singing the Leonard Cohen song "Anthem" as Pope Francis, on his visit to Ireland, arrived in Croke Park for the Festival of Families as part of the World Meeting of Families 2018.
Charity work In 1993, Bergin bought an old church in County Tipperary and converted it into a poetry centre. He explained: "I've recently come to feel I can encourage children and teenagers with their writing. I'm continually giving groups money to make videos, but I insist that they have a good script. I do it because it makes the difference between them doing a video or not. It doesn't cost a lot, and it gives kids an incredible boost of confidence." In 1998, in response to the murder of a 14-year-old Tallaght boy, Ben Smyth, Bergin helped to establish a special fund to sponsor young children from Tallaght.
Personal life At a wedding in the early 1980s, Bergin met his future wife, Paula Frazier. They married in Trinidad and Tobago in 1992. They have a daughter. After their divorce, Bergin began dating Helen Goldin.They subsequently married.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1988TaffinMo TaffinThe CourierChristy1990Mountains of the MoonRichard Burton1991Sleeping with the EnemyMartin BurneyRobin HoodSir Robert Hode / Robin Hood1992Highway to HellBeezleLove CrimesDavid HanoverMap of the Human HeartWalter RussellPatriot GamesKevin O'DonnellThe Hummingbird TreeStephen Holmes1993All Tied UpBartender (uncredited)Direct-to-Video1994Double CrossJack ConealySoft DeceitAdam Trent1996Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond CyberspaceDr. Benjamin TraceThe PropositionRhys WilliamsAngela MooneyOlder Malone1997The Island on Bird StreetStefanSuspicious MindsJack Ramsey1998The Lost WorldChallenger1999Treasure IslandBilly BonesPromise Her AnythingVernon FryOne Man's HeroGeneral Winfield ScottEye of the BeholderAlexander LeonardEscape VelocityCal "Captain of the Harbinger"AfricaJohn Young2000Press RunAlex DodgeWhen the Sky FallsMackeyMerlin: The ReturnKing Arthur2001Cause of DeathTaylor LewisThe Invisible CircusGeneHigh ExplosiveJack RandallDevil's PreyMinister SethSilent GracePeter, IRA manAmazons and GladiatorsCrassius2002Beneath Loch NessBlay2003BloomThe citizenThe Boys from County ClarePadjo2004Ella EnchantedSir PeterBerserkerThorssonHigh Art, Low LifeCameron's Driver2006Johnny WasFlynnFalse ProphetsKarl HawthornePlayedRileySecret of the CavePatrick WallaceThe Far Side of JerichoJake2007Casanova's Last StandCasanovaBabyfaceJohn RothThe Black PimpernelUS AmbassadorStrength and HonourPapa Boss2008Dick Dickman P.I.unknown roleGhostwoodFr Paul2010EvaOswald2011The McBrearty AffairNarratorShort FilmA Kiss and a PromiseDetective Anthony DolanBirthdayHugoPerfect DayRick's Father2012EldoradoRoyDirect-to-VideoAbsolute FearCaptain MorrowSongs for AmyPatrickShark WeekTiburonGallowwalkersMarshall GazaAngelSuccessful ManShort Film2013The Wee ManArthur ThompasonDance of the Steel BarsFrankThe Minnitts of AnabegLord Goode2014Margery Booth: The Spy in the Eagle's NestStandartenfuhrer Kummel2015Age of KillSir Alistair Montcrief2016Free FireHowieWe Still Steal the Old WayGeorge BriggsCagePeter Karl Bradley2017NativeIrish ManShort FilmRothJohn Roth2018Train SetMajor Julian Muir2019Odilo Fabian or (The Possibility of Impossible Dreams)The Mayor of DoubtShort Film2020The Last Days of American CrimeRossi Dumois2021Finding YouSeamusThe KindredFather Monroe2022God's Petting YouThe AmericanBlackbirdThe HeadThe Ulysses ProjectBuck Mulligan / Leopold BloomNutcracker MassacreDmitri / Toymaker2023One RangerDoc2025SunphlowersTony
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1983Those Glory Glory DaysSpurs Team MemberTV Movie1987BoonDS Beecher"Credit Where It's Due"Lapsed CatholicsPaul McNallyTV Movie1988Act of BetrayalMichael McGurkMiniseries (2 episodes)1990The Real CharlotteRoderick LambertMiniseries (3 episodes)1991Screen TwoTerence O'Farrell"Morphine and the Dolly Mixtures"1992FrankensteinDr. Victor FrankensteinTV Movie1993Children of the MistMark Samules1994Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsDr. Benjamin RamseyTV Movie (segment "Where the Dead Are")1995Triple CrossJimmy RayTV Movie1996The Witch's DaughterMr. Smith1997The Apocalypse WatchDrew LathamStolen Women, Captured HeartsDaniel MorganThe RipperInspector Jim Hansen1999DurangoFergus MullaneyExpedition JournalN/AAssistant Producer (1 episode)2000St. Patrick: The Irish LegendPatrickTV Movie2001JewelLeston Hilburn2002King of TexasMr. HighsmithDraculaVladislav Tepes / Dracula2 episodes2003Brush with FateHeadmasterTV MovieSmallvilleMorgan Edge"Shattered"2005IconIgor KomarovTV MovieCasanova's Love LettersCasanovaMiniseries (1 episode)2006DrivenGerald Workman"#1.1"2009HustleToby Baxter"Diamond Seeker"2011IceQuinnMiniseries (2 episodes)2016Fir BolgSean Seoige2 episodes2017No OffenseEarl Kennedy"#2.1"Red RockJim Tierneyrecurring role (7 episodes)2017–2018EastEndersAidan Maguireseries regular (32 episodes)2018QuanticoLiam Killoran"Who Are You?"2019Wild BillFrank McGill"Nothing Behind the Curtain"2020The South WesterliesBig Mikerecurring role (6 episodes)2024FBI: InternationalNiall Walsh"Touts"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1989 AACTA Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Mini Series Act of Betrayal 1992 BAFTA Cymru Best Actor (Yr Actor Gorau) Screen Two Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor Sleeping with the Enemy 2018 International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema Best Supporting Actor Train Set Madrid International Film Festival
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