Robert Duane “Rib” Hillis (born November 21, 1971 in Suffern, New York) is a model and actor.

Biography

Born as Robert Duane Hillis in Suffern, New York and grew up in Newton, Massachusetts with his parents, two sisters and brother. Hillis graduated from Newton South High School. He picked up his unusual nickname “Rib” while in the third grade playing with frogs, and enjoyed the sounds that they make.

Hillis married a woman four days after their first date but separated in 2008. They have twins. On August 17, 2012, he married ballroom dancer, world champion and former Dancing with the stars pro, Elena Grinenko.

Modeling

During his junior year at the University of Colorado in Boulder, he was discovered by a modeling agent. Since college, he’s been a much sought-after model, working in Milan, Paris, Barcelona, London, Sydney, New York, Miami and Los Angeles for such publications as Uomo Vogue, GQ, Esquire and Men’s Health, as well as countless national and international commercials. In addition, he landed various print campaigns for Versace, Armani and Catalyst Cologne.

He appeared on an episode of America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 4 in 2005 as a lingerie model in the episode “The Girl Who Pushes Tyra Over The Edge”.

Acting

Returned to the U.S. in spring of 1996, Hillis moved to Los Angeles and landed a role on an episode of Baywatch Nights as Jeds.

His most notable role as an actor came in 2015 on Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs’s spin-off Port Charles as Dr. Jake Marshak. He was on the show from 1997–1998 and in May 2006, he substituted for Eric Martsolf as Ethan Winthrop on Passions when Martsolf took paternity leave for his newborn twin sons. Moreover, he has appeared in dozens of television shows such as Ugly Betty, CSI and CSI: Miami. He also has a starring role in the feature film Propiedad Ajena.

Reality Television

Hillis has done two home improvement/building shows, Model Citizen and Get a Grip.

In the Fall 2007 TV season, Hillis joined the design team on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.