Having just wrapped up their series finale six seasons and 120 episodes later, Madam Secretary is still a show that people are continuing to love. With five out of six seasons available on Netflix, political drama audiences everywhere can't help but root for the amazing cast that the show centers.
One of the most intriguing and likable characters on the show is the Secretary's personal aide, Blake Moran, played by stage and screen actor Erich Bergen. From his fast-thinking, highly organized, and hilariously blunt way of approaching his work in Washington, Moran has quickly become a fan favorite. Here are 10 things you didn't know about the Secretary's personal aide!
Bergen Is No Stranger To Entertainment
Born and raised in New York, Erich Bergen was surrounded by many methods of entertainment and performing from an early age. From participating in theater since the early days of his childhood to later starring on Broadway, Bergen's talent and dedication to acting go way beyond the screen.
He attended Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Center in New York for seven years while gaining acting experience to add to his resume. Starring on hit TV shows like Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, Person of Interest, and Franklin & Bash, Bergen's role as Blake Moran on Madam Secretary is his longest-running TV appearance to date.
Singing Is His Number 1 Passion
If you've been following Madam Secretary regularly, then you know that Blake shows up multiple times to sing a tune or two. Whether it's for a White House party or singing karaoke as they're trapped in the airport to pass the time, Blake is constantly singing. What fans of the show may not realize is that it's Bergen's real voice.
With years of experience playing the part of Bob Gaudio in the musical Jersey Boys on Broadway, and more recently, the role of Dr. Pommater in the Tony-nominated musical Waitress, it's no surprise that singing comes so easy for Bergen on screen.
Bergen's Take On Acting Vs. Music
Singing is always something Bergen has been passionate about. Spending his time off from Madam Secretary focused on releasing some of his own original music, both acting and singing is something that Bergen has been balancing simultaneously.
With singles like "Running Through The Night" and "Better In the Dark" available for streaming, Bergen takes his music just as seriously as he does his acting. Whether you're watching him on stage or on television, it's clear his talent is present in any capacity, and now that Madam Secretary has finally wrapped, we think Bergen's going to spend a little more time on his music and performing songs for live audiences!
He Speaks Out About Arts Education
Taking his role as someone who works in politics off-screen, Bergen has dedicated a lot of his time to lobbying and advocating for the importance of arts education across the country.
In 2018, Bergen even pushed aside time he was supposed to spending in rehearsals for his upcoming Broadway appearance to appear in Washington D.C. to speak to Congress about keeping funding for arts education organizations. In these talks, Bergen shared his stories about how music saved him in his younger days and how important it is to keep the arts alive. "We are teaching kids how to better apply and fundamentally understand everything they’re being taught in school.” Bergen implies that the arts would help achieve this.
He's A Native New Yorker
In an episode where Blake follows the Secretary to her family's ranch in the countryside, he is somewhat floored and shocked at the natural state of the place. When he asks to use the bathroom, Henry McCord playfully suggests that he's just going to have to go "behind the barn." After a pause, everyone laughs, and Blake responds, "Make fun of the city mouse."
To a degree, Bergen has always been a part of the big city. From being born and raised in New York and working in entertainment capitals like LA and NYC, it's no surprise he'd carry a bit of this to Blake's character too.
Blake's Been With Elizabeth Since Day One
Before Elizabeth McCord was approached by Conrad Dalton to become Secretary of State on the show, she was teaching classes at Harvard University. It is here that Blake runs into Elizabeth for the first time. Having had her as a professor during his undergrad years and later as a grad student, Blake and Elizabeth developed a loyalty to each other.
When it came time for her to step into the role of Secretary of State, she brings Blake on as her personal aide - the only person on her staff that she chose personally. One of the best things about the series is the trustworthy relationship Blake and Elizabeth have with each other.
Bergen Calls Madam Secretary "non-cynical."
Like many of the show's cast and creatives say, Madam Secretary is a show that they hope inspires people. Whether they're portraying politics as truthfully as possible, or sometimes dramatizing situations, the idea of a strong female leader working with a team to get good things done for the improvement of the world still enacts hope and inspiration for its audiences.
Bergen notes this about the show and says it's not as dark or as absurd as the vibes of other political dramas like House of Cards or Veep. "I think that’s maybe what people either think real politics is, or they want to think it is [...] but I think our show just embraces this non-cynical approach to life and country and patriotism.”
Blake's Coming Out On The Show Has Helped Others To Do The Same
The show's episode titled "Revelation" follows Blake on a day where he's dedicated to serving Elizabeth, just another normal day for him. But what made this episode special is that Blake revealed to Elizabeth that he was bisexual. Bergen described Blake as being "married to his work, like so many people I meet in DC." What this reveal did on the show was show Elizabeth that she was someone Blake trusted and wanted to share that part of his life with, in hopes that it wouldn't affect his work. Elizabeth responds with a wholesome hug.
Not only was this scene incredibly moving, but Bergen has revealed that it's actually helped many viewers share their identities more publicly with their loved ones too. “I was getting all these messages on Instagram, direct messages on Twitter, from people saying how much that scene helped them to come out or it gave them to courage to even think about coming out." An inspiring show, indeed.
Blake and Stevie's Relationship Evolved
Part of Blake's role as a personal aide to the secretary is to make sure that whenever a crisis or a dangerous situation arises that the McCord family is always safe and accounted for. Knowing the McCord children from an early stage in the secretary's career developed a closeness between Blake and the family.
In one Madam Secretary episode, Blake and the McCord's eldest daughter, Stevie, share a kiss, leaving fans to wonder if they were going to end up together. Contrary to the audience's wishes, they don't. However, what does come of it is a trustworthy friendship that has Blake and Stevie relying on having each other's backs in both their personal and work lives.
Like Blake, Bergen Needs His Coffee
Blake has become known as the extremely organized and highly-strategic person on the show. From organizing the staff kitchen to waking up at the same time every single morning, Blake is the kind of person who feels comfortable in a routine. Bergen is somewhat similar in the same way - he needs a coffee to get through work every day.
Revealing that one of the things he cherishes most in life is his Nespresso machine, Bergen, along with the rest of the cast, get up at three in the morning to start filming for the show! "No “No matter how many seasons of ‘Madam Secretary’ I’ve filmed, the idea of waking up at three in the morning to film will always be a foreign, out-of-body experience," he says. Thank goodness for coffee!