Portraying John F. Kennedy Jr’s cousin and best friend, Anthony Radziwill, in “Love Story” felt close to home for Erich Bergen.
Bergen emceed Gateway for Cancer Research’s annual Celebrity Fight Night in Scottsdale, AZ, on Saturday and shared a personal story about being diagnosed with testicular cancer at 27.
Radziwill was diagnosed with the same disease, but died ten years later from a different, rare form of the cancer.
“It’s not lost on me that I’m here at 40 years old, survivor of this disease, portraying someone who lost their battle with the same disease at the same age,” Bergen said.
Bergen revealed his diagnosis a week ago in an Instagram post, writing: “I’m very grateful to be here today to tell my story and a little bit of Anthony’s,” he wrote.
Radziwill’s widow, “The Real Housewives of New York City” star, Carole Radziwill, commented on the post with statistics. “Testicular cancer affects nearly 10,000 men aged 17 – 40 a year. It is highly curable which is why my husband Anthony did not die from it,” she wrote.
“Monthly self exams and yearly doctor checks can save your life,” she added.
He said his father is especially proud of him for coming forward, and that when he told his dad about the plans, he replied, “That’s very brave son. It really takes a lot of balls.”
Meanwhile, the gala brought out jazz singer Brenna Whitaker, Sheléa, Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson, Richard J. Stephenson, David Foster and rock legend Bryan Adams, who flew in after performing in Bogotá.
