Gabrielle Union

51, from Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Artwork for Bad Boys IIImage of Gabrielle Union

Biography

Gabrielle Monique Union (born October 29, 1972) is an American actress and former model. Among her notable roles is as the cheerleader opposite Kirsten Dunst in the film Bring it On. Union starred opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the blockbuster film Bad Boys II and played a medical doctor in the CBS drama Series City of Angels. She starred with LL Cool J and Meagan Good in Deliver Us from Eva in 2003.

Union was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Theresa and Sylvester Union. At the age of eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended Foothill High School. In high school, Union was an all-star point guard in basketball and a year-round athlete, also playing in soccer and running track. She went on to the University of Nebraska before moving on to Cuesta College. She eventually transferred to UCLA and earned a degree in sociology. While studying there, she interned at the Judith Fontaine Modeling & Talent Agency to earn extra academic credits. Invited by the agency's owner, Judith Fontaine, Union started working as a model to pay off college loans.

Her acting career started with minor roles. Most were in teen movies such as 10 Things I Hate About You and Love and Basketball. In 1997, Union appeared in a sixth-season episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Klingon N'Garen. She also appeared in Sister, Sister as Vanessa, in Smart Guy as Denise, and in five episodes of 7th Heaven as Keesha Hamilton. In 2000, Union landed the role of Isis in the cheerleading movie Bring it On opposite Kirsten Dunst. Bring It On helped push Union into the mainstream and she began gaining more exposure. She was cast in her first leading role in the 2003 film Deliver Us from Eva with rapper L.L. Cool J. The film received fair reviews from critics and it showed that Union was a leading lady.

Union landed the role of Will Smith's girlfriend Syd in the film Bad Boys II, a box office success grossing over $273 million worldwide. Union starred with Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx in the film Breakin' All the Rules in 2004. She then starred in the short-lived 2005 ABC series Night Stalker. She has also starred in the independent drama films Neo Ned and Constellation, the latter of which was released to theaters. She won an award for Best Actress in Neo Ned at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, and the film received awards at several festivals.

Timeline

2024Aged 52

  • Poster for The Idea of You

    Producer

2023Aged 51

  • Poster for The Perfect Find

    Jenna Jones

2022Aged 50

  • Poster for Cheaper by the Dozen

    Zoey Baker

  • Poster for The Inspection

    Inez French

  • Poster for Strange World

    Meridian Clade (voice)

2021Aged 49

  • Poster for Adele One Night Only

    Self

  • Poster for Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

    Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey

2020Aged 48

  • Poster for Sesame Street Elmo's Playdate: Scavenger Hunt

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Fearless

    General Blazerhatch (voice)

2019Aged 47

  • Poster for The Public

    (Unknown)

  • Poster for Hair Love

    Associate Producer

2018Aged 46

  • Poster for Breaking In

    Shaun Russell

2017Aged 45

  • Poster for Sleepless

    Dena

  • Poster for The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar

    Nala (voice)

2016Aged 44

  • Poster for The Birth of a Nation

    Esther

  • Poster for Almost Christmas

    Rachel

2015Aged 43

  • Poster for With This Ring

    Kitty

  • Poster for The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

    Nala (voice)

2014Aged 42

  • Poster for Think Like a Man Too

    Kristen

  • Poster for Top Five

    Erica Long

2013Aged 41

2012Aged 40

  • Poster for Good Deeds

    Natalie

  • Poster for Think Like a Man

    Kristen

  • Poster for Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

    Self

  • Poster for In Our Nature

    Vicky

2008Aged 36

  • Poster for Meet Dave

    No. 3 - Cultural Officer

  • Poster for Cadillac Records

    Geneva Wade

2007Aged 35

  • Poster for The Box

    Cris Romano

  • Poster for Constellation

    Carmel Boxer

  • Poster for Daddy's Little Girls

    Julia Rossmore

  • Poster for The Perfect Holiday

    Nancy

2006Aged 34

  • Poster for Say Uncle

    Elise Carter

  • Poster for Running with Scissors

    Dorothy

2005Aged 33

  • Poster for Neo Ned

    Rachael

  • Poster for The Honeymooners

    Alice Kramden

2004Aged 32

  • Poster for Breakin' All the Rules

    Nikki

  • Poster for Something the Lord Made

    Clara Thomas

2003Aged 31

  • Poster for Deliver Us from Eva

    Eva Dandrige

  • Poster for Cradle 2 the Grave

    Daria

  • Poster for Bad Boys II

    Sydney 'Syd' Burnett

  • Poster for Hustle and Heat

    Masked Woman

2002Aged 30

  • Poster for Welcome to Collinwood

    Michelle

  • Poster for Abandon

    Amanda Luttrell

2001Aged 29

  • Poster for The Brothers

    Denise Johnson

  • Poster for Two Can Play That Game

    Conny Spalding

2000Aged 28

  • Poster for Love & Basketball

    Shawnee

  • Poster for Bring It On

    Isis

1999Aged 27

  • Poster for She's All That

    Katie

  • Poster for 10 Things I Hate About You

    Chastity

  • Poster for H.E. Double Hockey Sticks

    Gabrielle

Year unknown