Gilles Marini (born January 26, 1976) is a French actor. He is known for having appeared in Sex and the City: The Movie and in the American TV show Brothers & Sisters as Luc Laurent.
Marini was born in Grasse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France to a Greek mother and Italian father. After working as a baker in his father’s bakery since he was eight years old and graduating from high school, Gilles joined the French army and was stationed in Paris, where he acted as a fireman for the famous Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris. It was in Paris where Marini met Fred Goudon, a photographer who introduced him to the world of modeling. After fulfilling his military duties, he went to the United States to learn English while working as a model. He began his career as a model in his early twenties. 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 flick Screech of the Decapitated.
He played Dante in Sex and the City: The Movie, the object of Samantha Jone’s (played by Kim Catrall) desire. He has been seen on Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, Dirty Sexy Money, Criminal Minds, Nip/Tuck, The Bold and the Beautiful and Passions. His recent film credits include One and the Other (L’Une et L’Autre) and The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down.
He was introduced as a recurring character on ABC’s hit family drama Brothers & Sisters. He played Luc Laurent, the French love interest of Rachel Griffiths’ characterSarah Walker in what was originally was supposed to be a five episode arc, but was promoted to a series regular. The series was cancelled in May 2011 after the fifth season ended. He also appeares as Bay Kennish’s biological father, Angelo Sorrento, in Switched at Birth.
On February 8, 2009, it was announced that Marini would participate in the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. Gilles and his partner Cheryl Burke came in 2nd Place of the American TV show, 1% behind Olympic Gymnast Shawn Johnson & her partner Mark Ballas.
