Galen Gering

Galen Laius Gering is an American actor and model best known for his long-running roles on daytime soap operas. He was born on February 13, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, to Alan Gering and Michele de Oñate, a renowned West Coast artist. On his father's side, he is of Russian Jewish descent, and on his mother's side, he is of French and Spanish/Basque descent. He grew up with an older sister, Charissa, and was close to his grandmother, who was an artist.

At age 18, Gering relocated to New York City to launch his modeling career while completing his high school education remotely. As a model, he traveled throughout Europe before enrolling at New York University for one year. He later transferred to the University of Miami, where he completed his college degree studying film and creative writing.

Gering entered daytime television after discovering an acting opportunity through Irene Marie Models in 1999. By the time he graduated from the University of Miami, he was already taping the new NBC daytime soap opera Passions. On the show, he portrayed Officer Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, a role he maintained until the series was canceled in 2008.

Following the end of Passions, Gering joined the cast of the long-running NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives, making his debut on October 31, 2008. He was cast as Rafe Hernandez, an FBI agent assigned to guard Sami Brady during her time in witness protection. In addition to his soap opera roles, Gering has appeared in over 50 national commercials.

Over the course of his career, Gering has received media recognition and appeared in reality television. In 2000, he was named one of People's 50 Most Beautiful People. On September 25, 2011, he and his wife, Jenna, starred alongside their children in the E! reality series Dirty Soap, which ran for one season and ended on November 13, 2011. He currently continues his role as Rafe Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.