Gabrielle Union facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gabrielle Union
Union in 2010
Born	Gabrielle Monique Union (1972-10-29) October 29, 1972 (age 52) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BS)
Occupation	Actress author
Years active	1993–present
Spouse(s)	Chris Howard ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2006)​ Dwyane Wade ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	1
Relatives	Saweetie (cousin)

Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade (née Union; born October 29, 1972) is an American actress. She started her career in the 1990s, appearing in many TV shows. She then got bigger roles in movies like She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You in 1999.

She became very famous the next year with her main role in the teen movie Bring It On. Gabrielle Union is known for her roles in fun movies like The Brothers (2001) and Think Like a Man (2012). She also starred in TV shows like City of Angels and Being Mary Jane.

Beyond acting, Gabrielle Union has written four books. Two are about her life, and two are children's books. She also speaks out for important causes. These include women's health, LGBTQ+ equality, and stopping violence against women. She and her husband, Dwyane Wade, received an award for their work helping others. In 2020, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Early Life and Education

Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska. Her mother was a phone company manager and social worker. Her father was a military sergeant. She was raised in the Catholic faith. Her parents taught her to be a strong, independent woman.

When she was young, her family moved to Pleasanton, California. Her mother taught her to understand different people and cultures. For example, her mother took her to a gay pride parade when she was eight. At Foothill High School, she was a talented athlete. She played soccer, ran track, and played basketball all year round.

Gabrielle's parents divorced after 30 years. She shared that they handled it with kindness and respect. They always put their children first. This helped her learn how to handle family changes well.

Growing up, Gabrielle sometimes struggled with her self-esteem. She was one of the few African-American children in her area. She used to think that "blonde was the ideal of beauty." This made her feel like she wasn't pretty because she looked different. She later earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from UCLA.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out in Acting

Gabrielle Union began her acting journey with small parts. Her very first audition was for the show Saved by the Bell. In 1997, she appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also had roles in popular shows like Moesha, Sister, Sister, and 7th Heaven. She even appeared in an episode of Friends. Her early movie roles included teen films like She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You.

Becoming a Star (2000–2009)

Union in February 2009

In 2000, Gabrielle Union appeared in the film Love & Basketball. She then got the role of Isis in the cheerleading movie Bring It On. This movie made her very well-known. After Bring It On, she was cast as Dr. Courtney Ellis in the TV drama City of Angels.

In 2001, she was in The Brothers. Her acting was praised for being sincere. In 2003, Gabrielle Union got her first main role in the movie Deliver Us from Eva. The director, Gary Hardwick, chose her because she could easily switch from being funny to serious. Critics praised her performance in the film.

Also in 2003, Union played Syd, the girlfriend of the main character, in Bad Boys II. This movie was a huge success, earning over $273 million worldwide. She felt this role greatly helped her career. She also lent her voice to The Proud Family cartoon.

She starred in the 2005 movie Neo Ned. In this film, she played an African-American woman with unusual beliefs. Her acting in Neo Ned earned her an award for Best Actress at the Palm Beach International Film Festival. That same year, she was in the TV series Night Stalker.

In 2007, Gabrielle Union starred in Daddy's Little Girls by Tyler Perry. The role of Julia Rossmore, a lawyer, was written with her in mind. She was praised for her comedic timing in the film. She also starred with Morris Chestnut in the 2007 Christmas movie The Perfect Holiday. She played a divorced single mother of three.

Union has spoken about the challenges for Black actresses in Hollywood. She noted that there are fewer roles specifically for Black actors now. She believes Hollywood needs to appreciate all kinds of African-American beauty.

In 2008, Union appeared in three episodes of Ugly Betty. She also had a small part in Ne-Yo's music video for "Miss Independent". She was in the 2008 film Cadillac Records, playing Geneva Wade. Her performance in this film showed her wider acting skills. She also appeared in the film Meet Dave. In 2009, she joined the TV series Life on NBC. She was later nominated for an award for her role in the ABC series FlashForward.

Continued Success (2010s)

Union in September 2010

In 2010 and 2011, Gabrielle Union appeared in episodes of Army Wives and NTSF:SD:SUV::. In 2011, she got roles in Think Like a Man, a romantic comedy based on Steve Harvey's book, and an independent film called Family Tree.

In 2012, she played Natalie in the romantic comedy Good Deeds. She enjoyed working with the cast and Tyler Perry again. She then appeared in Think Like a Man. She felt a connection to her character, who married and divorced young. Her next film was In Our Nature, which was a personal success for her.

In 2013, she began starring in the BET show Being Mary Jane. She was very impressed with the show's quality. Also in 2013, Union starred in Ava DuVernay's short film The Door.

Union played Kristen again in Think Like a Man Too in 2014. She was also a producer for the Lifetime film With This Ring. She appeared in Chris Rock's film Top Five, playing his character's fiancée. In November 2015, Union started voicing Nala in the Disney movie and series The Lion Guard. In October 2016, she was in The Birth of a Nation. Later that year, she had a big role in the comedy film Almost Christmas.

In 2017, Union launched Flawless by Gabrielle Union. This is a line of hair-care products for people with textured hair. In September 2017, she partnered with Invicta Watch Group to create her own line of watches.

In 2019, Union began starring as Syd Burnett in L.A.'s Finest. This show is a spin-off of the Bad Boys movies. She was also a judge for the fourteenth season of America's Got Talent. Her contract was not renewed after the season, reportedly because she spoke out about issues she cared about.

Recent Work (2020s)

On December 11, 2020, it was announced that Gabrielle Union would star with Zach Braff in a remake of Cheaper by the Dozen. The movie was released in March 2022. In December 2021, she played Tootie Ramsey in a special TV event called Live in Front of a Studio Audience.

In March 2022, she was cast as the main character for the third season of Truth Be Told on Apple TV+. She also returned to The Proud Family in its new series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, in early 2023.

Author and Entrepreneur

Books Written by Gabrielle Union

In April 2017, Gabrielle Union announced her first book. It was a memoir titled We're Going to Need More Wine. A memoir is a book about a person's own life experiences. The book was released on October 17, 2017. In December 2017, it was named a "Best Book of the Year by a Black Author."

In May 2020, Union released her first children's book, Welcome to the Party. This book celebrates newborns and different kinds of families. It was inspired by her own daughter. She worked with her husband, Dwyane Wade, on a second children's book, Shady Baby, published in May 2021. She released another memoir, You Got Anything Stronger?: Stories, on September 14, 2021.

Other Business Ventures

Gabrielle Union became a spokesperson for Neutrogena in 2004. In 2010, she launched Love & Blessings, a clothing line for women who wear plus sizes. This line was inspired by her sister. In March 2014, Union released her first wine, Vanilla Puddin'. That November, she became the first celebrity ambassador for the nail polish company SensatioNail.

In 2020, Union relaunched her haircare brand, Flawless. It is for women with textured hair and is affordable. The goal is to help customers create a hair routine that fits their hair type. That same year, she became a co-founder of Bitsy's. This company aims to make allergen-friendly snacks that are safe for schools. They want these snacks to be available and affordable for all families.

Union and her daughter, Kaavia, are also part of the ownership group for Angel City FC. This is a professional women's soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League.

Advocacy and Public Service

Gabrielle Union is a strong voice for important causes. She has spoken about the importance of therapy for mental health. She shared how her family and co-workers helped her find therapy quickly.

Union spoke out about the killing of Trayvon Martin. She said that people with influence should speak up when they see unfairness. She supported a petition to bring charges against George Zimmerman. After Zimmerman was found not guilty, Union commented on the injustice.

When Tanganyika Williams, the aunt of NBA player Matt Barnes, was killed in 2014, Union asked for help finding information about the killer.

Oprah Winfrey was inspired by one of Union's speeches. In it, Union honestly talked about the challenges and competition in Hollywood.

Union ran in the Global Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C., in June 2012. She did this to honor her friend Kristen Martinez, who passed away from breast cancer. In August 2013, Union helped unveil a special stamp. This stamp celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

Union is an Ambassador for Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Circle of Promise. This group works to fight breast cancer. In October 2014, she designed T-shirts to support the Women Are Watching campaign.

In 2020, Union worked with JusticeLA to create a public service announcement. This message was about the health of people in L.A. County jails during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Involvement in Politics

In 2008, Gabrielle Union supported Barack Obama in his presidential campaign. President Obama later asked her to work with the National Advisory Committee for Violence Against Women. This committee helps prevent violence against women. Union also participated in Obama's "Greater Together" initiative for his re-election campaign in 2012.

In November 2014, the mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, announced a campaign called "Take a Stand." This campaign included a short film featuring Union. In 2020, Union was named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine. Before the 2020 presidential election, she encouraged people on Facebook to make sure they had everything they needed to vote.

Personal Life

Gabrielle Union met NFL player Chris Howard in 1999. They married on May 5, 2001, and separated in October 2005. Their divorce was finalized in 2006. Union later said that she realized she hadn't been making the best choices for her own dreams.

In 2008, Union started dating NBA player Dwyane Wade. They married on August 30, 2014, in Miami, Florida. When they married, she became a stepmother to his three children. On November 7, 2018, they welcomed their daughter, Kaavia James Wade, who was born via surrogate.

Awards and Recognition

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Music Videos

Documentaries

See also

In Spanish: Gabrielle Union para niños