Rob Estes, who recently starred on "Melrose Place" and "Suddenly Susan," will guest-star on NBC's "Providence" (Fridays, 8-9 p.m. ET) as a handsome suitor who woos Dr. Sydney Hansen (series star Melina Kanakaredes) in an arc of multiple episodes to begin the new fall season.

In the hit drama "Providence," Kanakaredes stars as an altruistic plastic surgeon who abandons her career specialty and unfulfilling lifestyle to return to her colorful family and hometown in Providence, Rhode Island. Estes will portray John Hemming, a licensed physical therapist who uses holistic medicine in an attempt to help a wary Syd recover from her coma (as depicted in last season's cliffhanger finale).

In past years, Estes portrayed a talented photographer on "Suddenly Susan," restaurateur Kyle McBride in "Melrose Place" and starred in the original cast of the cable crime drama "Silk Stalkings" as Officer Chris Lorenzo.

A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Estes received a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Southern California and studied at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival where he performed in numerous productions.

Among Estes' television movie credits are "Disaster at the Mall," "Close to Danger," "Loss of Innocence," "Come Die With Me: A Mike Hammer Mystery," "Perfect People" and "Foreign Exchange." He has guest-starred on such series as "The Young Riders," "Simon and Simon," "21 Jump Street" and "My Sister Sam." His theater credits include "The Rose Tattoo" at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood.

Last year, Estes and his wife of seven years, actress Josie Bissett ("Melrose Place"), became the parents of their first child, a boy.