David Max Eigenberg
Class of 1982Alumni Recognition Award, 2002
David Max Eigenberg, or "Steve Brady" to all Sex and the City fans, graduated from Naperville Central High School in 1982. Born May 17, 1964, on Long Island, New York, he grew up in Naperville.
He was class president at Lincoln Junior High and a good student, but the social aspect of high school was a distraction. However, he really enjoyed his shop class, which would later give him the skills and knowledge to pursue construction. Elected class clown, at NCHS he wrestled, played football and made friends with the Naperville Police Department.
After high school he attended University of Iowa for five weeks before dropping out. Eigenberg planned on a career in carpentry and attended Chicago’s Washburn Trade School, but his confidence allowed him to be an actor. In 1983, he landed a play in Chicago and then traveled to New York. He attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and received his Associates Degree. While he was attending school he was trying to get involved in acting, however, he was more involved in the construction business.
He has been in various Broadway, Off-Broadway, and off Off-Broadway theater. He has also been a carpenter for twenty years. His television highlights include: "Sex and the City" (1999, 2000, 2001), "The Beat" (2000), "Special Ops Force" (1998), "The Practice" (1997), and "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1996), among others. His film highlights include "A Perfect Murder" (1998), "Charlie Hoboken" (1997), "Daybreak" (1993), "Rude Wakening" (1989) and "The Mothman Prophesies". He has also produced his own films including "Fish" (1994). At Central, he won special citation for short film. Before "Sex and the City," Eigenberg says he played lots of psychos and evil villains, so being a ‘lover boy’ is a nice change. He feels that television is the medium he feels accepted in and he enjoys it tremendously.
Furthermore, he has expended great efforts for the September 11 relief fund. Brooklyn’s Red Hook Firehouse crews, less than 2 miles from the World Trade Center, were among the first to arrive at WTC when the planes struck. His best friend, Al Nocella was off-duty that day, but Nocella and Eigenberg were quick to help out. Eigenberg borrowed a firefighter’s uniform and saw ground zero first hand, sifting through the rubble. Nocella wasn’t surprised when Eigenberg volunteered to help raise relief funds for his fellow firefighters who perished leaving six widows and 11 children. On Oct. 15, at North Central College, Eigenberg told a crowd of more then 100 people the story of the firefighters. On hand for his speech, which lasted more than an hour, were members of the Naperville City Council, Mayor George Pradel, and Fire Chief Alan Rohlfs. The "Red Hook Raiders" fund brought in more than $75,000. Eigenberg continues to be actively involved in the relief funds effort.
MR. EIGENBERG'S MESSAGE TO STUDENTS: I have tried to do and be my best in all I do and I have found whether things work out or not, I cannot fail. Ethics and Accountability.
