Gilles Marini (; born 26 January 1976) is a French actor known for his roles in the film Sex and the City, and in the American television shows Brothers & Sisters, Switched at Birth and Devious Maids. He was also the runner-up in season 8 of Dancing with the Stars, and was one of the returning celebrities in season 15. He was also a French co-host on the Netflix show Ultimate Beastmaster.
Early life
Marini was born in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France, to a Greek mother and Italian father. He worked as a baker in his father's bakery from the age of eight. After completing high school, he joined the French army and was stationed in Paris, where he served as a fireman in the Paris Fire Brigade. There, Marini met Fred Goudon, a photographer who introduced him to the world of modeling. After fulfilling his military duties in his early twenties, he went to the United States to learn English while working as a model. One of his first jobs was a television commercial for Bud Light beer. He made his acting debut at the age of 29, in the 2005 horror film Screech of the Decapitated.
Career Marini played Dante in Sex and the City: The Movie, and has appeared on Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, Dirty Sexy Money, Criminal Minds, Nip/Tuck, The Bold and the Beautiful, Passions, and 2 Broke Girls. His film credits include One and the Other (L'Une et L'Autre) and The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down. On February 8, 2009, it was announced that Marini would participate in the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. His professional partner was Cheryl Burke.Marini appears on Dancing with the Stars He also took part in the fifteenth season of Dancing with the Stars for another chance to win the mirrorball trophy. He danced with season fourteen winner, Peta Murgatroyd. They were the eighth couple eliminated from the competition, alongside Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, on November 13, 2012.
In 2009, Marini was introduced as a recurring character on ABC's family drama Brothers & Sisters. He played Luc Laurent, the French love interest of Rachel Griffiths' character Sarah Walker, in what was slated to be a five-episode arc, but was promoted to series regular in 2010.Exclusive: "Brothers & Sisters" Promotes Luc, Drops Ryan, Entertainment Weekly, April 27, 2010 Brothers & Sisters was cancelled by ABC in May 2011, after the fifth season ended. He also appeared as Bay Kennish's biological father, Angelo Sorrento, in Switched at Birth. On September 18, 2012, it was announced that he would become a series regular for the second season.
Dancing with the Stars Marini and his professional partner Cheryl Burke came in as the runners-up of the eighth season of the American televised ballroom dancing competition Dancing with the Stars. On May 19, 2009, then-seventeen-year-old gymnast Shawn Johnson and her partner Mark Ballas were crowned champions of that season, defeating Marini and Burke by 1%. Marini returned alongside professional partner Peta Murgatroyd for the fifteenth season of Dancing with the Stars; the pair finished in sixth place.
Marini reunites with former ‘’Dancing with the Stars’’ alum Kym Herjavec in the 2025 Amazon Prime movie ‘’Christmas in the Ballroom’’ .
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2005Screech of the Decapitated Henri Direct-to-video 2006 Attractive man in club 2007Stand Up PhotographerL'Une et L'Autre Gilles Short film 2008Sex and the City Dante 2012Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos Captain of the Guard, Paolo the Squire Voice; short filmScruples Renee Dufaux Television film 2014 Dr. Antonio RosenblattThe Last Rescue Bruno Travert 2017All I Wish Jean-Michel 2020 Waiting for Anya Jo's father 2021 Venus as a Boy Pierre 2021 Burning at Both Ends Inspector Gerald Rousseau Entitled Resistance: 1942 in some territories 2024 Murder Company Daquin, French Resistance 2025 Christmas In The Ballroom Will Amazon Prime film TBA TBA Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 2004The O.C. Lawyer 1 episode 2005, 2017 French waiter (2005)/Doctor (2017) 4 episodes 2006Passions Italian bicycle rider Season 7, episode 213Criminal Minds Curt Episode: "The Fisher King: Part 1"Windfall French man Episode: "The Getaway"Ugly Betty Jean-Luc Episode: "Queens for a Day" 2007 Jean Claude Season 21, episode 88Dirty Sexy Money Italian designer Episode: "The Lions" 2009–2011Brothers & SistersLuc Laurent Guest star: season 4; main cast: season 5; 30 episodes 2009Nip/Tuck Renaldo Panettiere 2 episodes 2011Castle Tobias Strange Episode: "Poof! You're Dead"Royal Pains Niko Episode: "Listen to the Music" 2011–2017Switched at BirthAngelo Sorrento Recurring: season 1; main cast: seasons 2–3; guest: s5; 54 episodes 2011Modern Family Julian Episode: "Go Bullfrogs!" 2011–2012Hot in Cleveland Captain Lebeau 2 episodes 2012Are You There, Chelsea? Robert Episode: "The Foodie" 2013–20142 Broke Girls Nicolas Saintcroix 7 episodes 2013Kirstie Michel Episode: "Pilot" 2014–2015Devious Maids Sebastien Dussault Guest star: season 2; main cast: season 3; 12 episodes 2014The McCarthys Maurice Episode: "Red Sox Swap"The Mysteries of Laura Tom Birk Episode: "The Mystery of the Red Runway" 2016Teen Wolf Sebastien Valet Guest star; 3 episodesDaredevil Jacques Duchamps Episode: "The Man in The Box"Bones The Marquis de Chaussin Episode: "The Jewel in the Crown" 2017The Bold and the Beautiful Dr. Ghode Guest star; 2 episodes 2018Another Period Juan Pablo del Castillo Guest star; 1 episode 2018–2019Days of Our Lives Ted Laurent 42 episodes 2022 Dollface Richard Episode: "Space Cadet" 2022 The Rookie Detective Olivier Marseille Episode: "Real Crime" Season 4 Episode 16 2022 Uncoupled Paolo Episode: "Chapter 3" 2023 Grey's Anatomy Michael Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues" 2024 Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch Andre Dubreuil TV movie 2024 S.W.A.T. Gus Dupont Episode: "Vanished" 2024 Beyond Black Beauty Cédric Dumont 2025 Night Court Rodrigo season 3 episode 6 "The Jakeout"
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