Gilles Marini exploded onto the scene as Dante, the Casanova living in the beach house next door to Kim Cattrall's Samantha in the "Sex and the City" movie, a role which has earned him international recognition. Born and raised in France, Gilles joined the French army and was stationed in Paris, where he served as a fireman for the famous Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris. After fulfilling his military duties, he decided to come to the United States to learn English while working as a model. Gilles, who has appeared in series such as "Ugly Betty," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Criminal Minds," will next be seen as Vanessa Redgrave's husband on FX's "Nip/Tuck." He currently resides in California with his wife, Carole, son Georges and daughter Juliana. He teams up with two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion Cheryl Burke. Cheryl returns for her seventh season.ABC/Craig Sjodin - Wednesday, February, 18, 2009, 11:18 PM