Tijs Bergling

Tijs Michiel Bergling
Overview
Features	The After Dark Scene Light & Shadow Gangland
Full Name	Tijs Michiel Bergling
Nicknames	Tace Tacer TJ Muscles
Born	December 16, 1989 in Ledlle, Netherlands
Citizenship	American-Dutch
Friends	Armin van de Corput Albert Meursault Jackie Hiroyuki Brucie Kibbutz
Career
Occupation	Television personality Pornstar
Appearance
Actor	Mike Sorrentino
Gender	Male
Height	5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
Weight	176lbs (80 kg)
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Hazel

Tijs Bergling (Dutch pronunciation:Tɛi̯s Bərˈʋɛn, Tace Berlin) is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as one of the four main protagonists along with Armin Van de Corput, Albert Meursault and Jackie Hiroyuki in The After Dark Scene. He also features in Light & Shadow and Gangland.

Tacer is a washed-up narcissistic television personality desperately clinging to the remnants of his former glory. Once the golden boy of adult entertainment, his career took a nosedive after a series of explosive scandals and multiple arrests in Las Venturas.

History

Background

Tijs Bergling was born in Ledlle, in the southern part of the Netherlands, to a Dutch father and American mother. He is the youngest son of Martijn Bergling, a fitness guru, and Annie Bergling, a dietitian. He had one older brother, Lars Bergling, once known in the fitness community as "The Machine." In 2005 at 16, Tijs and his family moved to San Andreas, settling in the glamorous city of Los Santos. Tijs attended a prestigious private school where he excelled academically, achieving top honors. In 2012, he graduated from the University of San Andreas with a degree in Business and Media Studies.

Before becoming the flamboyant internet personality he is today, Tijs was described as a "scrawny kid" and was bullied constantly. Inspired by his older brother’s success in competitive bodybuilding, Tijs joined a local gym after high school and began an intense transformation. With a newfound obsession for fitness, he dedicated four to six hours daily to training and meticulously studied nutrition and exercise science. Over time, his hard work—and illicit use of supplements—transformed him into a muscular icon.

Tijs first gained fame in the early days of social media, particularly on platforms like Bleeter and My Room Online, where he regularly posted content showcasing his muscular physique. His videos featured intense workout routines, freestyle dancing sessions, and rants about health and fitness. His outspoken opinions often sparked controversy, as he frequently criticized what he perceived as laziness and unhealthy lifestyles as well as how "women belong in the kitchen".

The After Dark Scene (2013)

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Light & Shadow (2017-2018)

Using his Las Venturas heist earnings, Tijs went legit and funded a chain of gyms called Make-It-Brah, or the MIB, further boosting his popularity as a fitness internet personality. By 2017, he had opened 11 Make-It-Brah gyms around major cities of the United States, including in Gleason Beach, the heart of Vice City's tourism scene. Despite being the most popular branch of the franchise, attracting bodybuilders from around the globe, Make-It-Brah: Gleason Beach was infiltrated by ex-con patrons who made use of their intimidating muscles to extort money from wealthy beachgoers. In an effort to keep his business' clean reputation, Tijs actively visited Vice City to check the "gym gang" himself.

The MIB gym was visited by Maria Vinogradova and Cesar Álvarez on two separate occasions. Tijs, who was working out during their visits, criticized Maria for her distracting workout attire and challenged Cesar to a planche push-up contest.

Tijs' subsequent encounters with them revolved around his solo investigation of the gym gang, which he conducted amateurishly. He refused to hire a professional private detective to protect his brand image, so he sought assistance from Maria and Cesar. They tailed the gang members and helped the victims of their crimes. Eventually, they confronted and defeated the gang leader, effectively disbanding the gang. In gratitude, Tijs rewarded them with a premium gym membership card.

Personality

“I see you admiring this physique, bro. You recognize me don't you? Ninjas 2: Shogun's Revenge? Yeah bro that was me as Ninja Japaneseman. Bro, its a best selling DVD! I got one in my car for like 20 buckaroos.”

A self-proclaimed "god of gains," Tijs is a devout believer in the mantra of ‘brawn over brains.’ He spends his days flexing his muscles, shooting steroids and horse stimulants, and trying to sell off his workout routines at a beachside gym near Excelsa Coast, where his over-the-top persona and relentless ego dominate the scene.

Quotes

❝Cardio? No speaka di Spanish bro.❞

— Said after entering WorldVigour

❝I think drunk drivers should stop hittin' shit; 'cause they messing it up for us good drunk drivers.❞

— Said after entering a car intoxicated

Trivia

• Tijs is inspired by narcissistic bodybuilder Zyzz (2011), and Paulie Carbone and the male cast of Jersey Shore, combining their values and characteristics into a finalized persona.