Gilles Marini
French actor Gilles Marini may be one of the least known celebrities this year on “Dancing with the Stars” but he is partnering with a winner – Cheryl Burke – and his good looks are sure to be remembered by the show’s fans.
Gilles was born in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France on January 26, 1976. When he was young, he worked in his father’s bakery, but after high school, he decided to join the French army. He was stationed as a fireman in Paris when he met photographer Fred Goudon. Goudon introduced Gilles to modeling and after his stint in the Army was over, he moved to the U.S. to find work in that field.
While in his early 20s, Gilles found modeling jobs, but later he ventured into acting, appearing first in a Bud Light commercial. He would do both television commercials and print ads for Clairol, Coca Cola, Ross, Chrysler, Fila, GNC, Infiniti, Mervins, Avon, Lord and Taylor, and Robinsons May among others.
He also appeared in the 2005 horror film Screech of the Decapitated. He also made television appearances on “Passions,” “Criminal Minds,” “Windfall,” “Ugly Betty,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and “Dirty Sexy Money.”
It was his role as Dante, the sexy neighbor of Samantha, in 2008’s Sex and the City: The Movie that brought him to greater recognition. Since then, he has made two guest appearances on “Nip/Tuck.”
Gilles lives in California with his wife Carole, son Georges, and daughter Juliana. In his spare time, he plays soccer (he took part in the Wembley Stadium for Soccer Aid in 2008) and teaches martial arts.
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