Ivan Sergei Biography

Ivan Sergei got his start in themid-1990s, racking up numerous TV roles following his 1995 big-screen debut, but isbest known for his pivotal supporting turn as easily-led eye candy in Don Roos'acclaimed independent "The Opposite of Sex" (1998) and his starring role on theromantic comedy series "Jack & Jill" (The WB, 1999-2001). The New Jersey native'sbig break came in the form of an open casting call for the 1995 high school-setdrama "Dangerous Minds", starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a Marine turned Englishteacher who connects with her inner city class. Sergei landed the role ofintimidating and troubled Huero in the film, working alongside real-life gangmembers as well as actors. The performer stayed out West and pursued an actingcareer, working extensively in TV series guest roles including "Touched By an Angel"(CBS, 1994), "Cybill" (CBS, 1995) and "Party of Five" (CBS, 1996) as well as landingparts in numerous TV-movies, from 1994's campy "Bionic Ever After?" (CBS) and 1996'sunforgettable "Mother, May I Sleep With Danger" (NBC) to the somewhat morerespectable actioner "John Woo's Once a Thief" (Fox).
Sergei returned to feature work with a role in the 1997 independent western"Gunfighter's Moon", an international theatrical release that went direct-to-videoin the USA. The following year he essayed the role a slow-witted hunk seduced by themanipulative half-sister (Christina Ricci) of his partner (Martin Donovan) in DonRoos' acclaimed independent black comedy "The Opposite of Sex". Beginning in 1999,he reached a wider audience with a starring role on the romantic comedy "Jack &Jill" as David 'Jill' Jillefsky, an awkward but charming toy designer who falls forhis affianced neighbor in New York City. During the series' 1999-2001 run, the actorcompleted several independent films including 2000's "Playing Mona Lisa". Mostrecently he returned to series television with successful turns as a co-starringcharacter on "Crossing Jordan" as Dr. Pete Winslow on NBC and as police officer andhusband to one of the charmed ones, Henry Mitchell on the WB's "Charmed" .