Tall, dark-haired, handsome and well-built actor Ivan Sergei got his start in the mid-1990s, racking up numerous TV roles following his 1995 big-screen debut, but is best 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 the romantic comedy series "Jack & Jill" (The WB, 1999-2001). The New Jersey native's big break came in the form of an open casting call for the 1995 high school-set drama "Dangerous Minds", starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a Marine turned English teacher who connects with her inner city class. Sergei landed the role of intimidating and troubled Huero in the film, working alongside real-life gang members as well as actors. The performer stayed out West and pursued an acting career, 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 landing parts in numerous TV-movies, from 1994's campy "Bionic Ever After?" (CBS) and 1996's unforgettable "Mother, May I Sleep With Danger" (NBC) to the somewhat more respectable 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-video in the USA. The following year he essayed the role a slow-witted hunk seduced by the manipulative half-sister (Christina Ricci) of his partner (Martin Donovan) in Don Roos' 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 for his affianced neighbor in New York City. During the series' 1999-2001 run, the actor completed several independent films including 2000's "Playing Mona Lisa". In 2002, he returned to series television with the ABC midseason replacement "Wednesday 8:30 (9:30 Central)", a sitcom set in the world of network television.
Profession(s):
Actor
Sometimes Credited As:
2004 Cast in the NBC made for TV movie "10.5"
2004 Cast as Detective Danny on NBC's drama "Hawaii"
2003 Joined the cast of "Crossing Jordan" as Dr. Peter Winslow
2002 Retured to series television with a lead role in the ABC midseason replacement "Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)"
2002 Featured alongside Woody Harrelson and Alicia Silverstone in the crime comedy "Scorched"
2000 Acted in the independent "Playing Mona Lisa"
1999 Featured in the festival-screened romantic comedy "The Big Day"
1998 Co-starred in the acclaimed independent "The Opposite of Sex"
1997 Acted in the independent western "Gunfighter's Moon", released theatrically internationally and direct-to-video in the USA
1996 Featured in the amusingly-titled Tori Spelling TV-movie "Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?" (NBC); featured in four TV-movies that year including UPN 's "Star Command" and "John Woo's Once a Thief" (Fo
1995 Acted in the TV-movie "If Someone Had Known" (NBC)
1995 Made feature debut in the urban drama "Dangerous Minds"
1994 Had early television credit with a role in the "Bionic Woman"/"Six Million Dollar Man" reunion TV-movie "Bionic Ever After?" (CBS)
1994 Guested on the CBS drama "Touched By an Angel"
Starred in the romantic comedy-drama series "Jack & Jill" (The WB)