Sebastian Roché

French actor Sebastian Roché's life reads something like a movie itself: the linguistically-gifted actor (he is fluent in Spanish, Italian, French and English) spent his teenage years sailing with his family, and later studied drama at the famed Conservatoir Superieur d'Art Dramatique in Paris while working on the French stage and screen. By the late '90s Roché had married actress Vera Farmiga; helped co-write the experimental indie film "Loungers" (1995); and appeared in numerous American films and TV series, including the short-lived Heath Ledger adventure fantasy "Roar" (Fox, 1997). But it was the 2000s that found the avid rock climber ascending to new heights. In 2007 he voiced a character in the epic "Beowulf," and landed a recurring role as a criminally-minded terrorist on the long-running ABC soap opera "General Hospital" (1963- ). Two years later Roché, who continued to perform on stage throughout the U.S. and Europe, was cast as an otherworldly shapeshifter on "Fringe" (Fox, 2008-2013), which he followed up with memorable performances as a rogue angel on "Supernatural" (The CW, 2005- ) and a centuries-old vampire on "The Vampire Diaries" (The CW, 2009-17). Armed with a sly sense of humour and energetic demeanor, Roché brings his scene-stealing presence to both big and small screens.

Born in Paris during the summer of '64, Roché had an unconventional upbringing. His family spent much of the '70s traveling via sailboat, visiting South America, Africa and the Caribbean before finally returning to France. He enrolled in drama classes at the famed Conversatoire and worked steadily in French TV, beginning with the mini-series "Bonjour maitre," before graduating from the school in 1989. After being introduced to American audiences with a minor role in the horror anthology series "The Hitchhiker" (HBO, 1983-87; USA Network 1989-1991), Roché landed a supporting role in the critically-acclaimed "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992) and co-wrote the 1995 indie festival hit "Loungers," "Monster's Ball" director Marc Forster's debut film. In 1997 he portrayed Longinus, a cruel immortal Roman warrior, on "Roar," where he fell in love with co-star Vera Farmiga, whom he married later that year. Roché continued indulging his childhood love of science fiction and mythology with supporting roles in everything from the NBC miniseries "Merlin" (1998) to the time-traveling space adventure "Odyssey 5" (Showtime, 2002-03). In 2007, the newly-divorced Roché portrayed a fierce Old English warrior in the motion capture "Beowulf," written by "American Gods" author Neil Gaiman; and signed on to play the slippery Jerry Jacks on "General Hospital." His role as the enigmatic, shapeshifting soldier Thomas Newton on "Fringe" launched the actor onto two high-profile, cult-status CW series; first in 2010 as "Supernatural's" hedonistic angel Balthazar (whom he professed to share a lot in common with), then the following year as "The Vampire Diaries" original vampire Mikael. Since joining "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005- ) as Interpol agent Clyde Easter, Roché has appeared on the fairy-tale thriller "Grimm" (NBC, 2011-17) and the Syfy made-for-TV movie "Pegasus vs. Chimera" (2012).