Wednesday Morning Man: Galen Gering!

Galen Gering is so handsome he makes me want to cry.

I watch him on NBC’s Days of Our Lives, try and focus on whatever his character of Rafe Hernandez is saying, but just keep getting lost in those beautiful eyes.

Rafe is still recovering from a brutal attack that left him in a coma and is now requiring intense physical therapy to try and walk again.

The 42-year-old actor landed on Days in 2008 after the cancellation of Passions, a soap on which he portrayed the character of Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald for nearly a decade.

Galen was born in Los Angeles and moved to New York at just 18 to start a modeling career which led to travel in Europe as a model before attending New York University for a year. Gering finished college at the University of Miami where he studied creative writing and film.

Not surprisingly, Galen was named one of People’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2000. He has also appeared in over 50 national commercials.

The character of Rafe was, for a time, stepfather to Will Horton on Days. I chatted with Galen in early 2012 about Will just as the character was coming to terms with being gay.

It’s an important story,” he said. “These are issues that people face, people are coming out of the closet, dealing with their sexuality and being comfortable with it. It’s nice to be part of a show that is addressing issues that people face.”

He hoped viewers – gay or straight – would get a lot out of it.

“I’m sure it will probably help people deal with that issue so they might have to go through what [Will] is going through, they might be able to find strength in that storyline,” he said. “Whenever you’re a part of something like that, it’s always good. Above and beyond all of that, I think it’s entertaining. It’s a win-win.”