Gabrielle Union
Acting
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
Acting125
movieGOAT
2026
Jett Fillmore (voice)
movieRiff Raff
2025
Sandy
movieSpace Cadet
2024
Pam Proctor
movieThe Perfect Find
2023
Jenna Jones
movieStrange World
2022
Meridian Clade (voice)
movieThe Inspection
2022
Inez French
tvThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
Self / Self - Guest
tvSherri
2022
Self - Guest
movieCheaper by the Dozen
2022
Zoey Baker
tvThe Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
2022
Talia (Voice)
movieLive in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes
2021
Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey
tvCBS Mornings
2021
Self - Guest
movieFearless
2020
General Blazerhatch (voice)
tvTruth Be Told
2019
Eva Pierre
tvTamron Hall
2019
Self - Guest
tvA Black Lady Sketch Show
2019
Gabrielle Union
tvL.A.'s Finest
2019
Syd Burnett
movieThe Public
2019
Rebecca Parks
tvDesus & Mero
2019
Self - Illustrious Guest
movieBreaking In
2018
Shaun Russell
tvSteve
2017
Self
movieThe Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
2017
Nala (voice)
movieThe Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
2016
Nala (voice)
tvThe Lion Guard
2016
Nala (voice)
tvThe Late Late Show with James Corden
2015
Self - Guest
tvHot Ones
2015
Self
movieTop Five
2014
Erica Long
tvLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
Self - Guest / Self
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
Self - Guest
tvBeing Mary Jane
2013
Mary Jane Paul
movieMiss Dial
2013
Long Story Caller
movieThink Like a Man
2012
Kristen
movieGood Deeds
2012
Natalie
tvNTSF:SD:SUV::
2011
Sandy Canyons
tvConan
2010
Self
tvFlashForward
2009
Zoey Andata
tvWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
Self - Guest
movieCadillac Records
2008
Geneva Wade
movieMeet Dave
2008
No. 3 - Cultural Officer
movieThe Perfect Holiday
2007
Nancy Taylor
tvLife
2007
Jane Seever
tvArmy Wives
2007
Gina Holt
movieDaddy's Little Girls
2007
Julia Rossmore
movieConstellation
2007
Carmel Boxer
movieThe Box
2007
Cris Romano
tvUgly Betty
2006
Renee Slater
movieSay Uncle
2006
Elise Carter
tvAmerica's Got Talent
2006
Self - Judge
tvNight Stalker
2005
Perri Reed
movieThe Honeymooners
2005
Alice Kramden
movieNeo Ned
2005
Rachael
movieSomething the Lord Made
2004
Clara Thomas
movieHustle and Heat
2003
Masked Woman
Pepsi Smash
2003
Self - Host
movieDeliver Us from Eva
2003
Evangeline 'Eva' Dandrige
tvJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
Self / Self - Guest
movieAbandon
2002
Amanda Luttrell
movieWelcome to Collinwood
2002
Michelle
tvThe Proud Family
2001
Sunny Stevens / Iesha (voice)
movieTwo Can Play That Game
2001
Conny Spalding
movieThe Brothers
2001
Denise Johnson
movieLove & Basketball
2000
Shawnee
tvCity of Angels
2000
Courtney Ellis
movieH.E. Double Hockey Sticks
1999
Gabrielle
tvThe West Wing
1999
Meeshel Anders
Grown Ups
1999
Felicia
tvTeen Choice Awards
1999
Self - Presenter
tvFamily Guy
1999
Shauna Parks (voice)
tvThe View
1997
Self - Guest / Self
tvSmart Guy
1997
Lydia
tv7th Heaven
1996
Keesha Hamilton
tvThe Steve Harvey Show
1996
Naomi Parson
tvThe Daily Show
1996
Self - Guest
tvMoesha
1996
Ashli
tvFriends
1994
Kirsten Lang
tvER
1994
Tamara Davis
tvSister, Sister
1994
Shawn / Vanessa
tvDave's World
1993
Carly
tvLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Self - Guest
tvSaved by the Bell: The New Class
1993
Hilary / Jennifer
tvLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
Self / Self - Guest
tvPeople's Choice Awards
1975
Self - Presenter
The Casket Girls
Detective Shay Williams
Perdita
Pearl
Production10
movieThe Idea of You
2024
Producer
movieThe Perfect Find
2023
Producer
movieThe Inspection
2022
Executive Producer
movieCheaper by the Dozen
2022
Executive Producer
movieHair Love
2019
Associate Producer
tvL.A.'s Finest
2019
Executive Producer
movieBreaking In
2018
Producer
movieAlmost Christmas
2016
Executive Producer
movieWith This Ring
2015
Executive Producer
The Casket Girls
Executive Producer