Bernard Lafferty

Lafferty was born in Creeslough, County Donegal, Ireland and orphaned in 1962 at the age of seventeen. Lafferty emigrated to the United States to live with his aunt in Philadelphia in about 1980. Lafferty became the Maître d' at The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. He befriended many famous and influential people during his tenure, including Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Peggy Lee.

In 1987, at the age of 42, Lafferty was hired by tobacco heiress and philanthropist, Doris Duke. Lafferty became Duke's personal butler at "Duke Farms", her home in Hillsborough, NJ, established by her father, James Buchanan Duke. Lafferty soon endeared himself to Duke, becoming her closest confidant and travelling with her worldwide during his seven years as her employee. Duke made Lafferty the executor of her estate six months before she died in 1993.

Although Duke was a public figure, she spent her twilight years privately and mostly with Lafferty. Much of what actually transpired between must be left to speculation, but the consensus is they maintained a relatively healthy friendship. In 2007, HBO Films produced a semi-fictional film about the couple in a movie titled: "Bernard and Doris", starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes.

After Duke's death, Lafferty managed Duke's many philanthropic endeavors as directed in her will. Lafferty relinquished control as co-executor of the Duke estate in a 1995 settlement with Duke's disinherited adopted daughter. Lafferty lived at "Falcon Lair", Duke's Bel Air estate until he died of illnesses related to alcohol and drug abuse in 1996.