actor
Personal Information
Born on October 29, 1973, in Omaha, Nebraska.
Education: Attended University of Nebraska; Cuesta College; UCLA, sociology.
Career
Began as model; actress. TV: Moesha, 1996; Malibu Shores, 1996; Saved By The Bell, 1996; 7th Heaven, 1996-99; Goode Behavior, 1996; Sister, Sister, 1997; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 1997; Guys Like Us, 1998; Clueless, 1999; Grown Ups, 1999; ER, 2000; The Others, 2000; Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane, 2000; City of Angels, 2000; Friends, 2001; TV movies: H-E Double Hockey Sticks, ABC, 1999; Films: She's All That, 1999; 10 Things I Hate About You, 1999; Switch, 1999; Love & Basketball, 2000; Bring It On, 2000; The Brothers, 2001;Two Can Play That Game, 2001.
Life's Work
Gabrielle Union is an actress who never intended to become an actor. Despite the fact that she was not involved in the theater during her high school or college years, and never had academic training in acting, Gabrielle Union has become one of America's top young actresses. She has had guest appearances on several television series and landed a major role on Steven Bochco's City of Angels. Union has also appeared on the popular television show Friends, portraying an African-American character involved in a romantic relationship--a first for that particular show. After appearing on several television shows, Union tried her hand at acting for the big screen. After playing some minor roles in several well-received movies including 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That, Union was cast as a major character in movies such as Bring It On and The Brothers. Since the beginning of her acting career, in 1996, she has had a steady stream of acting jobs that have revealed her integrity and talent.
Disillusioned in College
Union was born on October 29, 1973 in Omaha, Nebraska, but was raised in Pleasanton, California. Though the small town was populated by mostly white people, Union's mother made sure that Union and her siblings learned about their Black heritage. As a high school student Union was a member of several sports teams, including basketball, soccer, and track.
After finishing high school, Union attended the University of Nebraska, where she was a member of the soccer team. However, her Pleasanton background caused friction between her and other African-American students. She endured harassing phone calls because other students felt "she was too friendly with white students," according to Savoy magazine.
After one semester, Union transferred to Cuesta College in southern California. She only lasted a semester before returning home. Disillusioned and full of self-doubt, Union found work at the local Payless Shoe Source. Though most of her friends worked there, this store would be the place where Union would go through one of her most painful moments.
One night, while Union was closing the store with another woman, a man entered and pulled out a gun. He cleaned out the register and forced Union into a storage area where he raped her. He laid the gun down next to her and once he was done, asked her to hand the gun to him. Union grabbed it and tried to shoot him but the gun jammed. Her rapist then beat her into a bloody mess. Police later discovered that Union's attacker had been employed at another Payless and had actually robbed other Payless stores and raped another woman. Union sued Payless for not informing its employees of the robberies and won. She then began the long road to recovery. She also encourages other rape victims to overcome their experience and move on with their lives.
Began Modeling for Money
She later transferred to UCLA, where she graduated with honors, earning a degree in sociology. In her junior year, Union, who at that time was contemplating law school, took a modeling internship to cover some of her college expenses. Modeling naturally led to acting. Union explained to Jeffrey Epstein of E! Online: "I didn't want to act. I thought is was a cheesy profession-but when I was a junior, I got an internship at a modeling agency. When my internship ended, they said, 'We'd be interested in representing you. I was like, 'If you think someone will pay me to be cheesy, sure, whatever'!" Her first modeling job was for Teen Magazine and her first television roles were on Saved By The Bell and Moesha, both in 1996. She has also appeared on such shows as Dave's World and the Steve Harvey Show, and also had a recurring role on 7th Heaven.
Although Union initially regarded acting as "cheesy," she eventually ended up taking the profession very seriously. Union, who uses the set as her "acting class," admitted to Venice magazine's B. Jade Landry, "I used to feel like a fraud, and I would have this urge to act, but it just looked so forced." However, professionals did not view her as a fraud. For example, actress Jenifer Lewis told Gabrielle, "Whatever it is that you're doing is so completely honest, don't change a thing," she recalled to Venice. Furthermore, Union is known for paying attention to detail and is not afraid to ask questions of other actors. Before filming Bring It On, where Union plays the captain of an inner-city cheerleading squad, she and her "team mates" went off to cheerleading camp. Although Union was a cheerleader in eighth grade and an active athlete during high school, she finished the cheer camp smelling of Ben-Gay and with a new respect for the young men and women who are on cheerleading teams. Before playing surgical resident, Courtney Ellis, on City of Angels, Union made attempts to visit some hospitals. However, after the entire cast witnessed a death in a South Central L. A. hospital, she instead studied other medical shows on television and also talked with the medical consultant hired by the City of Angels.
Union modeled herself after veteran actors that she admired. Interviewer B. Jade Landry wrote, "One thing about Gabrielle--she doesn't find soul in the hoopla of stardom. She wishes to make her mark as a lady of authority and independence, worthy of carrying herself in the manner of her mentor, screen goddess Diahann Carroll." As a young girl, Union loved to watch Carroll on the dramatic television series, Dynasty. A fan of Carroll's, Union studied other parts that Carroll has played, including her role as a Vietnam widow and single mother who worked as a nurse in the television series, Julia, that aired before Union was born. Discussing Carroll with Essence magazine, Union said, "She has never compromised herself on screen--ever. From Julia to Dynasty. " In a review of The Brothers in the Los Angeles Times, Union's style was compared to the "pluck, gravitas, and beauty of actress Alfre Woodard."
The Hollywood environment is extremely competitive, with numerous actors vying for the few available roles. Although there are even fewer roles for minority actors, Union does not accept any offers without careful consideration. When Union was asked to play the role of a "love interest" on Friends, she hesitated, but her peers urged her to accept take the role, arguing that her participation in this popular show would lead to opportunities for other minorities. Union accepted the offer and had a very positive professional experience. She was particularly impressed by the professionalism of Friends cast members David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc. Union told Venice magazine, "... it was a huge deal for minorities because if felt as if we finally got asked to the dance--and we were able to dance."
Union, whose favorite past-time is an impromptu game of flag football with some friends in an empty lot rather than an athletic field, is engaged to Chris Howard, a running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Describing Howard as the down-to-earth type, she remarked that what really attracted her to him was the fact that he has his own Scrabble board and Boggle game. In 2000, E!Online's Epstein asked Union what she wanted to do next--"I want to be Miss USA or Miss America. I would bring the trophy back to Nebraska. My interests are agriculture and corn. Hey, I'm just riding this train as long as I can. As long as I am having fun I'll do it. When it stops being fun, I'll try something else. Maybe I'll open up a chain of Popeye's Chicken."
Awards
Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress (Bring It On), 2001.
Works
Selected filmography
- Films
- She's All That, 1998.
- 10 Things I Hate About You, 1999.
- Love and Basketball, 2000.
- Bring It On, 2000.
- The Brothers, 2001.
- Made For Television Movies
- H-E-Double Hockey Sticks, ABC, 1999.
- Television Series
- Moesha, 1996.
- 7th Heaven, 1996-99.
- Saved By The Bell, 1996.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 1997.
- ER, 2000.
- City of Angels, 2000.
- Friends, 2001.
Further Reading
Periodicals
- Essence, April 2001.
- Savoy, February 2001.
- E!Online, www.eonline.com/Celebs/Who/gu.html.
- Venice Magazine, www.angelfire.com/celeb/unionfan/articles/Venice.htm.
- http://celebs.absolutenow.com/gabrielle_union/Biography.html.
- http://www.reelimages.com/txt_features/conversations/conversation_with_gabrielle_union/html.
— Christine Miner Minderovic
