Gilles Marini was born in Grasse, France in 1976, with Greek-Italian heritage. He worked in his father’s bakery in Cannes from a young age until he joined the French Army at eighteen. As a soldier, Marini was stationed in Paris where he served as a firefighter in the renown Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris. While there, Marini was spotted by the fashion photographer Fred Goudon. A successful modeling career then followed.
After landing a number of high-end modeling jobs and campaigns, Marini moved to the United States to pursue his goal of becoming an actor. Marini began training with the famous acting teacher Vincent Chase. The bookings followed, including a cameo in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End with Johnny Depp. In 2008, Marini made his screen debut as Dante, the object of Kim Cattrall’s obsession in the mega-hit Sex and the City: The Movie.
Acting roles in “Nip/Tuck,” “Ugly Betty,” and other shows soon followed. But it was on the smash hit, “Dancing with the Stars,” that Marini became a household name in America. With no prior formal dance training, Marini wowed audiences and judges with his dancing prowess. His Argentine Tango with partner Cheryl Burke has been described as something that elevated “entertainment to art.” He also hosted several seasons of Sylvester Stallone’s Netflix show “Ultimate Beastmaster.”
Marini was a series regular on “Brothers and Sisters” and “Switched at Birth” and had recurring roles on “Two Broke Girls,” “Teen Wolf,” “Castle,” “Modern Family,” “Dare Devil,” “Devious Maids” and “Hot in Cleveland,” among others. Some of his filmography includes Mothers and Daughters and All I Wish alongside with Sharon Stone, Burning at Both Ends, Blunt and Deadly Games. Some of his latest work Includes “Uncoupled,” Black Beauty, “The Rookie,” “Dollface” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Marini is a known philanthropist who lends his time and energy to many worthy causes. He is also an avid mixed martial artist (Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing and Savate) working as a professional coach for the famous fighter Cheick Congo since 2007. He is the proud husband of Carole, and father to Juliana and Georges. He splits his time between Los Angeles and France.
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