Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade (born October 29, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in The Brothers (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Bad Boys II (2003), Daddy's Little Girls (2007), Think Like a Man (2012), Think Like a Man Too (2014), and the remake of Cheaper by the Dozen (2022). She also starred as the lead in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane (2013-2019), for which she has received an NAACP Image Award, and in the crime series L.A.'s Finest (2019-2020) - a spinoff series for her character Syd in Bad Boys II.. She also had starring roles in the CBS medical drama series City of Angels (2000) and in the films Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Neo Ned (2005), Cadillac Records (2008), Top Five (2014), Breaking In (2018), and The Perfect Find (2023). She has also co-starred in the films The Birth of a Nation (2016), Almost Christmas (2016), and Sleepless (2017). 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, she started working as a model to pay off college loans. Her career began in the 1990s, when she made dozens of appearances on TV sitcoms prior to landing supporting roles in 1999 teen films She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. She rose to greater prominence the following year, after she landed her breakthrough role in the teen film Bring It On. Bring It On helped push her 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. In 2003, she landed the role of Will Smith's girlfriend/Martin Lawrence's sister Sydney Burnett in the film Bad Boys II, and she 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. Outside of acting, she has written four books: two memoirs, titled We're Going to Need More Wine (2017) and You Got Anything Stronger? (2021), and two children's books, titled Welcome to the Party (2020), and Shady Baby (2021).
Known For
Credits
- 2025 ·Riff Raffas Sandy
- 2024 ·We Got Time Todayas Self
- 2024 ·Space Cadetas Pam Proctor
- 2023 ·The Perfect Findas Jenna Jones
- 2023 ·Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50as Self
- 2022 ·Strange Worldas Meridian Clade (voice)
- 2022 ·StoryBots: Answer Timeas
- 2022 ·The Inspectionas Inez French
- 2022 ·The Jennifer Hudson Showas Self
- 2022 ·Cheaper by the Dozenas Zoey Baker
- 2021 ·Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokesas Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey
- 2021 ·Adele One Night Onlyas Self
- 2020 ·The Drew Barrymore Showas Self
- 2020 ·Fearlessas General Blazerhatch (voice)
- 2020 ·Sesame Street Elmo's Playdate: Scavenger Huntas
- 2019 ·Truth Be Toldas Eva Pierre
- 2019 ·Tamron Hallas Self - Guest
- 2019 ·The Kelly Clarkson Showas
- 2019 ·A Black Lady Sketch Showas Gabrielle Union
- 2019 ·L.A.'s Finestas Syd Burnett
- 2019 ·The Publicas
- 2019 ·Desus & Meroas Self - Illustrious Guest
- 2018 ·Red Table Talkas Self
- 2018 ·Breaking Inas Shaun Russell
- 2017 ·The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scaras Nala (voice)
- 2017 ·Sleeplessas Dena
- 2016 ·Almost Christmasas Rachel
- 2016 ·The Birth of a Nationas Esther
- 2016 ·The Lion Guardas Nala (voice)
- 2015 ·The Lion Guard: Return of the Roaras Nala (voice)
- 2015 ·The Late Show with Stephen Colbertas
- 2015 ·Hot Onesas Self
- 2015 ·With This Ringas Kitty
- 2014 ·Top Fiveas Erica Long
- 2014 ·Think Like a Man Tooas Kristen
- 2014 ·Late Night with Seth Meyersas Self
- 2014 ·The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self
- 2013 ·Being Mary Janeas Mary Jane Paul
- 2013 ·The Dooras She
- 2013 ·Miss Dialas Long Story Caller
- 2012 ·In Our Natureas Vicky
- 2012 ·Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwideas Self
- 2012 ·Think Like a Manas Kristen
- 2012 ·Good Deedsas Natalie
- 2011 ·NTSF:SD:SUV::as Sandy Canyons
- 2010 ·Conanas Self
- 2009 ·FlashForwardas Zoey Andata
- 2009 ·Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest
- 2008 ·Cadillac Recordsas Geneva Wade
- 2008 ·Meet Daveas No. 3 - Cultural Officer
- 2007 ·The Perfect Holidayas Nancy Taylor
- 2007 ·Lifeas Jane Seever
- 2007 ·Daddy's Little Girlsas Julia Rossmore
- 2007 ·Constellationas Carmel Boxer
- 2007 ·The Boxas Cris Romano
- 2006 ·Running with Scissorsas Dorothy
- 2006 ·Ugly Bettyas Renee Slater
- 2006 ·Say Uncleas Elise Carter
- 2006 ·America's Got Talentas Self - Judge
- 2005 ·The Reichen Showas Self
- 2005 ·Night Stalkeras Perri Reed
- 2005 ·The Honeymoonersas Alice Kramden
- 2005 ·Neo Nedas Rachael
- 2004 ·The Tony Danza Showas Self
- 2004 ·Something the Lord Madeas Clara Thomas
- 2004 ·Breakin' All the Rulesas Nikki
- 2004 ·On Air with Ryan Seacrestas Self
- 2003 ·Hustle and Heatas Masked Woman
- 2003 ·Bad Boys IIas Syd
- 2003 ·Cradle 2 the Graveas Daria
- 2003 ·Deliver Us from Evaas Evangeline 'Eva' Dandrige
- 2003 ·Jimmy Kimmel Live!as Self
- 2002 ·Abandonas Amanda Luttrell
- 2002 ·Welcome to Collinwoodas Michelle
- 2001 ·The Proud Familyas Sunny Stevens / Iesha (voice)
- 2001 ·Two Can Play That Gameas Conny Spalding
- 2001 ·The Brothersas Denise Johnson
- 2000 ·Bring It Onas Isis
- 2000 ·Love & Basketballas Shawnee
- 2000 ·City of Angelsas Courtney Ellis
- 1999 ·The Early Showas Self
- 1999 ·H.E. Double Hockey Sticksas Gabrielle
- 1999 ·The West Wingas Meeshel Anders
- 1999 ·Grown Upsas
- 1999 ·10 Things I Hate About Youas Chastity
- 1999 ·Family Guyas Shauna Parks (voice)
- 1999 ·She's All Thatas Katie
- 1997 ·City Guysas
- 1997 ·The Viewas Self - Guest
- 1997 ·Smart Guyas
- 1996 ·Jungle Cubsas
- 1996 ·Cluelessas
- 1996 ·7th Heavenas Keesha Hamilton
- 1996 ·Goode Behavioras Tracy Monaghan
- 1996 ·The Steve Harvey Showas Naomi Parson
- 1996 ·The Daily Showas Self
- 1996 ·Moeshaas
- 1994 ·Friendsas Kirsten Lang
- 1994 ·ERas Tamara Davis
- 1994 ·Sister, Sisteras Vanessa
- 1993 ·Dave's Worldas Carly
- 1993 ·Late Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Guest
- 1993 ·Saved by the Bell: The New Classas Hilary
- 1993 ·Saved by the Bell: The New Classas Jennifer
- 1993 ·Star Trek: Deep Space Nineas N'Garen
- 1992 ·The Tonight Show with Jay Lenoas
- 1988 ·LIVE with Kelly and Markas Self
- 1988 ·LIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest
- Future ·Sorcerorityas
- Future ·The Casket Girlsas Detective Shay Williams