Gabrielle Dennis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabrielle Dennis
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Dennis in 2018
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| Born |
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, singer, television host |
| Years active | 1990–present |
Gabrielle Dennis is an American actress and comedian, best known for starring in the sketch comedy HBO show A Black Lady Sketch Show.
Early life and education
Dennis was born and raised in Cincinnati. She began studying dance at the age of four. She attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, and by the fifth grade she got her first acting gigs.
Dennis attended Howard University, majoring in communications with a minor in theatre. After graduation, she took a job as a news station camera operator.
Career
Dennis has a background in dance, theatre, stand-up comedy, and singing.
In 2008, Dennis won the role of Janay Brice on The CW comedy series The Game. After the show was canceled, fans campaigned for its return where Dennis was able to reprise her role for two more seasons on BET. During her stint on The Game she landed roles in the direct-to-DVD film Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, and The Marc Pease Experience. She played Denise Roy on Spike's Blue Mountain State.
Dennis has since guest-starred on several series including Franklin & Bash, Bones, Justified, and Baby Daddy. In 2015, she landed the role of Pippy Rosewood, the toxicology expert and lesbian sister of Beaumont Rosewood (Chestnut) for Fox's Rosewood.
Dennis was in a recurring role as Candace on the hit show Insecure.
Dennis is in a recurring role as Tasha on the Netflix series The Upshaws.
Dennis played Whitney Houston in the BET miniseries, The Bobby Brown Story, which debuted in the United States and internationally in September 2018.
In 2018, she began starring as Tilda Johnson in the Marvel Comics-based series Luke Cage (2018).
She has also appeared in Old Spice commercials with comedian/actor Deon Cole.
In 2023, Dennis began playing the leading role of Cass in the Apple TV+ series The Big Door Prize.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | A Mom for Christmas | Christmas Box | TV movie |
| 2004 | He Can Get It | Kyra | Video |
| 2005 | The Wickeds | Kate | Video |
| 2006 | Let's Talk | Khalil's Wife | Short |
| 2008 | Drifter | Miranda | |
| Learning How to Speak | Student | Short | |
| After School | Robert's Wife | ||
| 2009 | Timer | Girlfriend | |
| Slinging Mud | Guidance Counselor | Short | |
| Bring It On: Fight to the Finish | Treyvonetta | Video | |
| The Marc Pease Experience | Tracey | ||
| Janky Promoters | Female Fan | ||
| 2011 | Holly's Holiday | Deena | TV movie |
| Politics of Love | Chelsea | ||
| He's Mine Not Yours | Brooke | ||
| 2012 | Back Then | Bobby Jo | |
| 2013 | Reporting Live | Guidance Counselor | |
| What Would You Do for Love | Paula | TV movie | |
| 2014 | Black Coffee | Morgan | |
| The Fright Night Files | Serena | TV movie | |
| A Super Secret | - | Short | |
| 2015 | My First Love | Carmen | Video |
| Call Me King | Leena | ||
| 2017 | Girls Trip | Herself | |
| 2022 | A Madea Homecoming | Laura | |
| Wendell & Wild | Wilma Elliot (voice) | ||
| 2025 | One of Them Days | TBA |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2000 | Teen Summit | Herself/Host | Main Host |
| 2004 | The New Detectives | Girlfriend | Episode: "Vanished" |
| 2005 | Minding the Store | Herself | Episode: "... of Comedy" |
| Ballin | Herself/Host | Main Host | |
| 2006 | The Underground | Herself/Cast Member | Main Cast |
| 2007 | Campus Ladies | Lena | Episode: "Barri & Joan Rush a Black Sorority" |
| 2008 | Penn & Teller: ...! | Mock Trainer's Assistant | Episode: "Sensitivity Training" |
| Wizards of Waverly Place | Candace | Episode: "Quinceanera" | |
| My Name Is Earl | Sassy Black | Episode: "We've Got Spirit" | |
| 2008–12 | The Game | Janay Brice | Recurring Cast: Season 2–5 |
| 2009 | Penn & Teller: ...! | Herself | Episode: "Lie Detectors" |
| 2010 | Southland | Michelle Hill | Episode: "The Runner" |
| Blue Mountain State | Denise Roy | Main Cast: Season 1 | |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | Nicole Toomin | Episode: "Summer Girls" |
| 2014 | Justified | Gloria | Recurring Cast: Season 5 |
| Baby Daddy | Valerie Banks | Episode: "Curious Georgie" | |
| 2015 | Bones | Alana Jackson | Episode: "The Psychic in the Soup" |
| 2015–16 | Born Again Virgin | Kelly/Bryn | Episode: "Pilot" & "Call a Spade a Spade" |
| 2015–17 | Rosewood | Pippy Rosewood | Main Cast |
| 2017 | Tia Mowry at Home | Herself | Episode: "... and Bites" |
| Face Value | Herself/Team Captain | Episode: "Justin Hires Vs. Gabrielle Dennis" | |
| Lady Dynamite | Jessica Hu | Episode: "Souplutions" | |
| 2017–18 | Insecure | Candice Peña | Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3 |
| 2018 | Luke Cage | Tilda Johnson | Main Cast: Season 2 |
| The Bobby Brown Story | Whitney Houston | Episode: "Part I & II" | |
| Hell's Kitchen | Herself/Restaurant Patron | Episode: "Families Come to Hell" | |
| 2018–19 | S.W.A.T. | Briana Harrelson | Recurring Cast: Season 1 & 3, Guest: Season 2 |
| 2019 | Rel | Shannon | Episode: "Cleveland" |
| American Soul | Tina Turner | Episode: "Proceed with Caution" | |
| 2019–23 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Herself/Cast Member | Main Cast |
| 2021–23 | The Upshaws | Tasha Lewis | Recurring Cast: Season 1–2, Guest: Season 3 |
| 2022 | All American | Lareesha | Episode: "Turn Down for What" |
| 2023–24 | The Big Door Prize | Cass | Main Cast |
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