Gabrielle Dennis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabrielle Dennis
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Dennis in 2018
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| Born | October 19, 1978 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, singer, television host |
| Years active | 1990–present |
Gabrielle Dennis (born October 19, 1978) is an American actress and comedian. She is famous for her roles in many popular TV shows, including the comedy show A Black Lady Sketch Show and the superhero series Luke Cage.
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Early Life and Education
Gabrielle Dennis was born and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She discovered her love for performing at a young age. When she was only four, she started taking dance lessons.
She attended a special school called the School for Creative and Performing Arts. This school helped her develop her talents in acting and dance. By the time she was in the fifth grade, she was already getting her first acting jobs.
After high school, Dennis went to Howard University. She studied communications and also took classes in theatre. Once she graduated, she worked behind the scenes as a camera operator for a news station.
Acting Career
Gabrielle Dennis is a multi-talented performer. She has skills in dancing, acting in plays, stand-up comedy, and singing.
Breakthrough on Television
In 2008, Dennis got a big break with the role of Janay Brice in the TV comedy The Game. When the show was first canceled, its fans started a campaign to bring it back. The campaign was successful, and Dennis returned to play Janay for two more seasons.
During this time, she also acted in movies like Bring It On: Fight to the Finish and The Marc Pease Experience. She also had a main role as Denise Roy in the comedy series Blue Mountain State.
Major Roles and Guest Appearances
Dennis became a familiar face on television, appearing in many different shows. She had guest roles on popular series like Bones, Justified, and Baby Daddy.
In 2015, she joined the main cast of the Fox show Rosewood. She played Pippy Rosewood, a smart toxicology expert. She also had a memorable role as Candace on the popular show Insecure.
Playing Famous Figures and Superheroes
One of her most famous roles was playing the legendary singer Whitney Houston. She played Houston in the 2018 TV miniseries The Bobby Brown Story.
Also in 2018, Dennis joined the Marvel Comics universe. She starred as Tilda Johnson in the second season of the Netflix series Luke Cage.
Recent Work
From 2019 to 2023, Dennis was a main cast member on the HBO comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show, where she showed off her comedy skills. She also has a recurring role as Tasha in the Netflix series The Upshaws.
In 2023, she began starring as Cass in the Apple TV+ show The Big Door Prize. You might also recognize her from commercials for Old Spice, where she appeared with fellow comedian Deon Cole.
Notable Roles
Here are some of Gabrielle Dennis's most well-known roles in movies and television.
Film
- Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009) as Treyvonetta
- Black Coffee (2014) as Morgan
- Girls Trip (2017) as Herself
- A Madea Homecoming (2022) as Laura
- Wendell & Wild (2022) as the voice of Wilma Elliot
Television
- The Game (2008–2012) as Janay Brice
- Blue Mountain State (2010) as Denise Roy
- Rosewood (2015–2017) as Pippy Rosewood
- Insecure (2017–2018) as Candice Peña
- Luke Cage (2018) as Tilda Johnson
- The Bobby Brown Story (2018) as Whitney Houston
- A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019–2023) as a main cast member
- The Upshaws (2021–2023) as Tasha Lewis
- The Big Door Prize (2023–2024) as Cass
