Background
The son of Walter Bergman, a United States Navy officer, he was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The son of Walter Bergman, a United States Navy officer, he was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Bergman was married to actress Christine Ebersole from 1976 to 1981. Bergman originally auditioned for the All My Children role of Doctor Jeff Martin. His first notable role was his portrayal of Doctor Cliff Warner on All My Children, which he played from 1979 to 1987 and again from 1988-1989.
In a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup advertising campaign in 1986, Bergman told the viewing audience, "I’m not a doctor, but I play one on television" Chris Robinson, who played Doctor Rick Webber on American Broadcasting Company"s General Hospital, was the original spokesperson in the ad campaign, which started in 1984.
Bergman replaced Robinson after the latter experienced some legal difficulties. The writer of the commercial used this opening line as a disclaimer, because the then-existing "white coat rule" prohibited people from portraying doctors in commercials without some sort of clarification/disclaimer.
The original commercial with Chris Robinson became the most-recalled television commercial in the history of the Vicks brand. Since 1989, Bergman has played the role of Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless.
In 1997, Bergman portrayed Jack Abbott in an episode "The Heather Biblow story" on The Nanny, where he shared an on-screen kiss with Pamela Anderson.
In 2001, he guest starred as Jack on The King of Queens in an episode of Season 3.