Long before he was pacing the glass-walled offices of Pearson Hardman as Harvey Specter, Gabriel Macht was just another handsome face in the hyper-saturated dating pool of 1990s Manhattan.
If you’re a Suits superfan, you might think you know every smirk and eyeroll in the Macht catalog. But honestly, most people completely whiff on his early career guest spots. Specifically, the one where he played a guy who was basically the "anti-Harvey."
We’re talking about Gabriel Macht on Sex and the City.
It happened way back in 1998. The show was still finding its legs. Sarah Jessica Parker’s hair was at its most chaotic, and the "punny" voiceovers were in high gear. In the second episode of the first season, titled "Models and Mortals," Macht pops up as Barkley.
He wasn't a closer. He wasn't a legal titan.
Barkley was a "modelizer."
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Why the Barkley Role is So Bizarre Now
In the Sex and the City universe, a "modelizer" is a guy who exclusively dates models. It’s a shallow existence. Barkley is a loft-dwelling painter who spends his time obsessing over the "unobtainable" women of the fashion world.
But there’s a darker twist that makes this role feel weirdly transgressive compared to his later, more polished characters. Barkley has a secret hobby. He secretly videotapes himself having sex with these models and keeps a library of the tapes.
Yeah. It’s a lot.
When Samantha Jones finds out about his "collection," she doesn’t run for the hills. Because it’s Samantha, she views it as a challenge. She decides she wants to be the best "non-model" on his shelf. It’s one of those early SATC plots that feels a bit "of its time," but seeing a baby-faced Gabriel Macht play a creepy, loft-dwelling artist is a trip.
He’s young. Like, really young. He has this soft, boyish face that is a far cry from the sharp, chiseled, "I-own-this-city" look he mastered for Harvey Specter.
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The Gap Between Barkley and Harvey Specter
Watching the episode today, you can see the seeds of that effortless charisma, but it’s raw. Barkley is arrogant, but it’s the arrogance of a guy who doesn't have much else going on. Harvey Specter’s arrogance is backed by a $1,000-an-hour billing rate and a genius-level understanding of the law.
Barkley? He’s just a guy in a shirt that’s probably too big for him, living in a messy apartment.
It’s a masterclass in how much "vibe" and styling matter in Hollywood. If you saw Barkley on the street, you’d think he was a local indie rocker who might borrow twenty bucks and never pay you back. If you saw Harvey Specter, you’d assume he was about to buy the building you’re standing in.
Where the Career Went from There
Macht didn't just jump from Sex and the City to Suits. There was a long road in between. He did the "guest star" circuit for a while—spots on Spin City and Beverly Hills, 90210. He even played a pilot in Behind Enemy Lines and the lead in The Spirit.
But Suits changed everything. It’s the role that defined him.
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The interesting thing is that Macht actually took a massive break from acting after Suits ended in 2019. He moved to Europe with his wife, Jacinda Barrett (who, fun fact, also appeared in Suits as Zoe Lawford), and their kids. He’s been living a quiet life, mostly staying out of the spotlight until the recent "Suits resurgence" on streaming platforms.
Why This Episode is Topping the Trends Again
Why are we even talking about a 27-year-old episode of a show about four women and their shoes?
Because of Suits: LA.
With the spinoff recently hitting screens and Gabriel Macht officially returning to guest star as Harvey Specter, fans are doing deep dives into his filmography. It’s like a digital archaeology project. When people realize that the "God of Litigation" was once a sketchy artist on SATC, it goes viral every single time.
It’s a reminder that even the biggest stars start out in roles they might not put on the top of their highlight reel.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to see this for yourself, go find Season 1, Episode 2 of Sex and the City. Don't expect the polished cinematography of the later seasons. It’s gritty, it’s 90s, and Barkley is... well, he’s a piece of work.
- Look for the voice: Even as a kid, Macht had that specific resonance.
- Check the "Modelizer" behavior: It’s a great example of the show’s early attempts to define NYC "types."
- Spot the wardrobe: The baggy 90s aesthetic is a hilarious contrast to Harvey’s Tom Ford suits.
Once you’ve seen "Barkley," go back and watch the first episode of Suits. The evolution of a performer is one of the coolest things to track, and Gabriel Macht’s journey from a loft in Chelsea to a penthouse in Midtown is one for the books.