Gilles Marini

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. 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.