Gabrielle Union
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Gabrielle Monique Union was born on October 29, 1972 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. She is an African-American actress and former model.
On her way to law school, just planning on being a working stiff, things started to happen during her senior year. Gabrielle had a college internship at a L.A. modeling agency, she thought it would be an easy way to pick up some extra credits. Little did she know that clients were eyeing the help. Upon completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Union thought of it as a great way to pay off a stack of college loans, and modeled until her agent found that she could actually act. Her first audition/job was landed with out any headshots, on UPN's 'Moesha.'
Since then she has had small but substantial roles in several teenage movies: She's All That, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Bring It On. Gabrielle has also guest starred on several popular television shows: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sister, Sister; and 7th Heaven. Fans may rember Union's portrayal of Keesha Hamilton, the eldest daughter in an African-American version of the Camden Family. Eventually Union made her television series debut as Dr. Courtney Ellis on CBS' short-lived drama, 'City of Angels.'
In addition to her role in Bring It On, Gabrielle was in fact a cheerleader in the 8th grade, however she said that "it was more about popularity than cheering." When Gabrielle auditioned for the leading role that Sanaa Lathan played in Love and Basketball, the director didn't see her as a ball player, she has played sports since she was eight. Instead, she became Shawnee, a mean athletic groupie.
Although she plays parts that are opinionated and strong, Gabrielle Union believes that, "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African American beauty." Landing her first leading role in Hardwick's 'Deliver Us From Eva,' Union also landed her first lead action role in 'Cradle 2 the Gave,' and recently stars as the female romantic lead to Will Smith's Mike Lowrey in the sequel blockbuster 'Bad Boys 2.'
Union starred in the 2007 film Daddy's Little Girls by Tyler Perry that was released on Valentine's Day. She also starred in the Christmas film The Perfect Holiday.
In May 2001, Union married NFL player Chris Howard of the Jacksonville Jaguars; In November 2005, the couple separated; the divorce was finalized in April of 2006.
Gabrielle is a graduate of UCLA with honors, in sociology.
Filmography
- Starship Dave (2008)
- The Perfect Holiday (2007)
- The Box (2007)
- Daddy's Little Girls (2007)
- Football Wives (2007)
- Running with Scissors (2006)
- "Night Stalker" (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
- "Family Guy" (1 episode, 2005)
- Say Uncle (2005)
- The Honeymooners (2005)
- Neo Ned (2005)
- Constellation (2005)
- Something the Lord Made (2004)
- Breakin' All the Rules (2004)
- "The West Wing" (1 episode, 2004)
- Ride or Die (2003)
- Bad Boys II (2003)
- Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
- Deliver Us from Eva (2003)
- "The Proud Family" (1 episode, 2003)
- Abandon (2002)
- Welcome to Collinwood (2002)
- Two Can Play That Game (2001)
- "Friends" (1 episode, 2001)
- The Brothers (2001)
- Close to Home (2001)
- "City of Angels" (11 episodes, 2000)
- Bring It On (2000)
- "Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane" (1 episode, 2000)
- "The Others" (1 episode, 2000)
- Love & Basketball (2000)
- "ER" (1 episode, 2000)
- H-E Double Hockey Sticks (1999)
- "Grown Ups" (1 episode, 1999)
- "Clueless" (1 episode, 1999)
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
- She's All That (1999)
- "7th Heaven" (5 episodes, 1996-1999)
- "The Steve Harvey Show" (1 episode, 1998)
- "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1 episode, 1997)
- "City Guys" (1 episode, 1997)
- "Sister, Sister" (2 episodes, 1997)
- "Hitz" (1 episode, 1997)
- "Dave's World" (1 episode, 1997)
- "Smart Guy" (1 episode, 1997)
- "Goode Behavior" (3 episodes, 1996)
- "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" (1 episode, 1996)
- "Malibu Shores" (1 episode, 1996)
- "Moesha" (1 episode, 1996)
