Westland Row CBS past pupil Emmet Bergin died unexpectedly at the age of 79 on Friday March 15th. Past pupils of the 1962 Leaving Cert Class remember well him as a classmate even though the Irish Independent Obituary said that he left school at the age of 15 “prompted by his questioning mind and difficulty with authority”
Emmet took acting lessons at the Brendan Smith Academy, delivered newspapers and read voraciously ranging from the great playwrights to the Stanislavsky method of acting. His first job in theatre was as an assistant stage manager in the Eblana, located below Busaras in Store Street.
The role involved providing prompts from the wings, and he told his daughter, poet Tara Bergin, that observing the cast was as good as “acting school” – he enjoyed the craft and the collaborative aspect of the theatre. Possessing an excellent memory, he invariably knew everyone’s lines as well as his own.
He toured with the Irish Theatre Company and later signed up to the Abbey School of Acting. He was cast in the first production of Brian Friel’s, PHILADELPHIA HERE, I COME in the Gaiety as part of the 1964 Dublin Theatre Festival.
His many stage roles in the following years included parts in Sam Shephard’s, TRUE WEST,Sean O’Casey’s, THE SILVER TASSIE, and Hendrix Ibsen’s, HEDDA GABLER.
He had an early taste of film with a small part in David Lean’s, RYAN’S DAUGHTER, shot in Kerry in 1969. That same year he married Sarah – their 55th wedding anniversary would have been on March 25th.
Emmet’s younger brother Patrick (a Row Man as well) also pursued an acting career and is a celebrated film actor.
Emmet played Sir Ulfius in John Boorman’s, EXCALIBUR, in 1981. Two years later he became a household name, and flame, as philandering solicitor Dick Moran in the Wesley Burrow’s scripted RTE soap. GLENROE.
“He wasn’t remotely like Dick Moran” Geraldine Plunkett, who played opposite him as Mary McDermott, recalls. “In fact, Emmett was kind, serious, well read and very well liked among the cast” He was cast as Sunday Independent editor, Aengus Fanning in Joel Schumacher’s 2003 film Veronica GUERIN,but never expressed an interest in moving to Hollywood as he and Sarah were well settled in Ireland.
He Continued on theatre and radio and his work for RTE Drama on One included John Boorman’s THE HIT LIST. He also performed in Maeve Binchy’ comedy about aging, GOLDEN MY ARSE.
Producer Aidan Mathew’s described Emmet as “a wonderful actor, with presence and aplomb” he was also described as “a sweet, smart, funny and generous artist”
Emmet is survived by his wife Sarah, son Gavan, daughter Tara, grandson Jack and extended family.
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