Gilles Marini

Gilles Marini was born on January 26, 1976, in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He is of Greek (mother) and Italian (father) descent. From the age of eight, he worked in his father’s bakery. After completing high school, Marini served in the French army, stationed in Paris as a fireman for the Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris. It was in Paris that he met photographer Fred Goudon, who introduced him to the modeling industry. Following his military service, Marini moved to the United States to learn English and pursue modeling opportunities. His early career included appearances in numerous television commercials and print advertisements for various companies such as Budweiser, Clairol, Coca Cola, Ross, Chrysler, Fila, GNC, Infiniti, Mervins, Avon, Lord and Taylor, and Robinsons May.

Marini’s acting career began in 2005 with the horror film “Screech of the Decapitated.” He gained significant international recognition for his role as Dante, the Casanova in the 2008 film “Sex and the City: The Movie,” particularly for his shower scene. This role led to increased visibility and new acting opportunities. He appeared in various television shows, including “Ugly Betty,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Criminal Minds,” “Windfall,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and “Passions.” In 2009, Marini participated in the eighth season of “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing as the runner-up with his professional partner Cheryl Burke. He later returned for season 15 of “Dancing with the Stars.” The actor became a recurring character, Luc Laurent, in the ABC drama “Brothers & Sisters” from 2009 to 2011, a role that was later elevated to a series regular. He also played Angelo Sorrento in “Switched at Birth” from 2011 to 2017, becoming a series regular for its second season.

Throughout his career, Marini has maintained a consistent presence in both film and television. His filmography includes appearances in “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007), “The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down” (2006), and “Waiting for Anya” (2020). Recent television credits include “Grey’s Anatomy” (2023), “American Auto” (2023), “S.W.A.T.” (2024), “Beyond Black Beauty” (2024), and “Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch” (2024). Marini has also lent his voice to animated projects like “Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos” (2012) and served as a French co-host for the Netflix show “Ultimate Beastmaster.” He continues to reside in California with his family.