NEW YORK - Eric Mabius is cast as playboy editor Daniel Meade on ABC's "Ugly Betty" but, in real life, he's married to a former ninth-grade classmate.

"This sounds a little trite and unbelievable but we had sex-ed class in ninth grade together," said the 37-year-old actor, who is married to interior designer Ivy Sherman.

Mabius said he and Sherman flirted at first but didn't date.

"But 10 years later, when I was in New Orleans working on a project, my best friend put us back in touch," he said in a recent interview. "And the rest, as they say . . ."

Sherman is expecting the couple's second child later this year. They have a son, Max, who is nearly two years old.

On "Ugly Betty," Mabius' character is dating Renee Slater, sister of his rival, Wilhelmina Slater (played by Vanessa Williams).

"Let's say thing really heat up between Renee and Daniel. I can definitely say that. And there's an implied double entendre in that," Mabius said. "Things get crazy."

Mabius has also appeared in the TV series "The L Word," "The O.C." and "Eyes."