Nephew of actor Claude Melki known as "The Acrobat", the young Gilbert dreamt of becoming an actor himself. His father, an antique dealer, sent him to a woodworking school which he attended only a few months. At 20, he made the big step towards acting, attending several theatre courses. Underestimating himself, he decided to get away from the thespian world which seemed to him a hostile one and went to live in Italy for a few years.
His first role was in the film "Betty", but his public acclaim came in 1997 with his role in "Would I Lie to You?" by Thomas Gilou. He played Patrick Abitbol, a smooth talking business man, and assumed the same role in the sequel in 2001, "Would I Lie to You Again?". As a double for Delores Chaplin (!) in "Ice Rink", he proved that he could play other roles than a hyperactive pied-noir (a French colonial born in Algeria): a crazy dealer for de Caunes ("Love Bites"), a seducer of Nathalie Baye ("Venus Beauty Institute") and of Karin Viard ("A Hell of a Day").
In 2003, Gilbert Melki incarnated the role of a cynical policeman married to a heroin addict in Lucas Belvaux's trilogy, a key role in the series that stunned the critics. Adversary of Daniel Auteil in the medieval western "The Red Knight", husband to Catherine Deneuve in "Changing Times" by Techine (2004), he had already played her lover in "Nearest to Heaven". A moving father in "Monsieur Ibrahim", Melki also inspired many female directors with his masculine self-assurance, from Ronit Elkabetz to Emmanuelle Cuau and Claire Simon. Once again tackling comedy, even if caustic in nature ("Cote d'Azur" and "Palais Royal!" in 2005), he became a fixture on the silver screen in 2007: daunting Isabelle Carré in "Anna M.", a couple of detective films, the big budget "The Second Wind" and a first feature entitled "The Killer" and then back to comedy with a lead role in "Made in Italy" opposite Amira Casar once again ("Would I Lie to You?"). At the end of 2008, he figured in the cast of the big budget "Largo Winch" adapted from the comic book series.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER:
1997 – Keo (Short) – Dir: O. Van Hoofstadt (Belgium);
1997 – Parabellum (Short) – Dir: O. Van Hoofstadt (Belgium)

TV:
2004 – Coup de vache – Dir: L. Jeunet

THEATRE:
Les Précieuses ridicules by Molière (Dir: B. Orthega);
Le Mariage forcé by Molière (Dir: B. Orthega);
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme by Molière (Dir: B. Orthega);
Le Malade imaginaire by Molière (Dir: B. Orthega);
Portrait de la dame au petit chien (Dir: C. Delacroix & S. Verrue);
Un uomo chiamato Irma (Dir: R. Marafante);
Intervention (Dir: F. Caron);
Candide from Voltaire (Dir: P. Bensted);
La règle du jeu