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Robin Givens

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Robin Givens
Born
Robin Simone Givens
Spouse(s)Svetozar Marinkovic (1997)
Mike Tyson (1988-1989)

Robin Simone Givens (born November 27, 1964) is an American actress.

Biography

Robin Simone Givens was born to Ruth and Reuben Givens in New York City on November 27, 1964. Robin was raised with her younger sister Stephanie by their mother, Ruth in suburban Westchester County, New York. Their father Reuben was an artist who left the family in 1966.Ruth encouraged her daughters creativity; this influenced their interest in art. As a young artist, Robin played violin for a short while. She chose acting instead, and began classes in New York City, at age ten, at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts[citation needed].

In 1980, 15 year old Givens enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College . During her junior year, she became so interested in acting that she left school[citation needed]. She once claimed in Seventeen magazine that she was accepted to Harvard Medical School but had given it up to appear on The Cosby Show because Bill Cosby himself told her that the school would always be there and her youthful career opportunities would not [citation needed]. Givens claimed that she studied genetics, biochemistry and other medical courses at Harvard Medical School. However Harvard's registrar's office confirms that she took only one class in 1984; and it was in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences not medical school.

Personal

Givens dates her Head of the Class costar Brian Robbins [1]; as well as Eddie Murphy and Brad Pitt for some time in Pitt's pre-stardom days [2] in the 1980s. On the Oprah Show Given said Mike broke down her hotel room door trying to assault Brad.

After meeting in March 1987, she married heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson on 7 February 1988; Tyson gave her no prenuptial agreement. With his millions Given and her mother bought a $4.5million dollar mansion in the affluent suburb of Bernardsville, New Jersey. She miscarried in May 1998 and soonafter there was a rift [3]. They filed for divorce and hurled accusations. Givens alleged spousal abuse; Tyson alleged alienation and interest in his money not him. The marriage ended (on Valentine's Day), just a year later. Newspapers reported that Givens received a divorce settlement of over $10 million from her marriage to Tyson [4]. Givens claims she received no money.

Givens adopted son Michael Givens(1992) in early 1994 [5] [6] [7].

In 1997 Givens married her tennis instructor Svetozar Marinkovic. The marriage was a failure, as the two were separated from the day of their marriage. In October 1999, she had son William Jensen with tennis player Murphy Jensen; they are no longer together.

Given briefly dated Howard Stern from 99-00 [8].

Career

Givens appeared on The Cosby Show; on Diff'rent Strokes; and as April Baxter in the TV movie Beverly Hills Madam; before Head of the Class. Her role as rich girl Darlene Merriman on the sitcom Head of the Class made her famous. The series was a comedy about a group of gifted high school students that were placed in an enrichment class; it lasted 5 years on ABC

After Head of the Class she appeared in The Women of Brewster Place with Oprah Winfrey; 1992's Boomerang (film) as well as The Face (1996 film) [now called A Face To Die For] with Yasmine Bleeth.

In May 1995 she appeared in the Cold Feet, Hot Body episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a young lady named Denise.

Givens has guest starred in various shows. From February- 16 April 2006 she was Roxie in the broadway play Chicago[9].

Most recently she portrayed herself on The Game (US TV series); has been recurring character Tanya on the TBS show Tyler Perry's House of Payne; and she has a guest role on USA Network's Burn Notice (TV Series).

Recent Career

Givens attempted to return to the entertainment industry in 2000 as the host of the talk show Forgive or Forget replacing television personality Mother Love. While this was generally regarded as a failure, Givens was well-liked by the audience[citation needed]. Her stint was brief, as just a few months later, the show stopped production. With the exception of the occasional made-for-television movie or appearance on Trinity Broadcasting Network's Praise The Lord program (12 July 2007), and Larry King Live, she has rarely been seen on television. She performed in New York in the Off-Broadway production of The Vagina Monologues, earning good reviews for her performance, and she played Roxie Hart on Broadway in "Chicago". In 2007 Givens toured the country playing a part in I'm Ready Productions play, "Men, Money & Golddiggers" (which is rumored to have been written with Givens in mind) and starred in Saints and Sinners on MyNetworkTV[10].

In 2007, Givens was filming Queen of Media, the movie based on the autobiography written by radio personality Wendy Williams.

In summer 2008 she joined the cast of the TBS sitcom "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne" playing CJ's (Allen Payne's girlfriend.

Trivia

  • She said she didn't get "a dime" in her divorce with Mike Tyson and that they also did not have a prenup. [1] However, newspapers report that her divorce settlement from Tyson was over $10 million.
  • She received an enormous amount of negative press following her split from Mike Tyson, particularly within the African-American community. One article in particular described her as "the most hated woman in America."[12]

Lil Wayne mentions her in the song called Damn I'm Cold.

  • She posed nude for Playboy magazine in the September 1994 edition.
  • She has two sons: Buddy, born 1992; and William, born October 1999. William is the son of professional tennis player Murphy Jensen.[13]

Filmography

Books

  • Grace Will Lead Me Home (Publisher: Miramax (June 5, 2007)) ISBN1-4013-5246-4. The book addresses her personal religious faith and how it provided strength to her in times of trouble.

References

  1. ^ http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20099305,00.html The Champ And The Vamp vol 29 # 25, 27 Jun 88 People magazine
  2. ^ Brad Pitt - Channel 4 Film<
  3. ^ http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20099305,00.html The Champ And The Vamp vol 29 # 25, 27 Jun 88 People magazine
  4. ^ Younge, Gary., "Out for the count", The Guardian, 2003-08-05, Retrieved on 2007-07-03.
  5. ^ http://www.mediatakeout.com/2008/9834-check_out_robin_givens_and_two_handsome_sons.html Robin, Michael,William
  6. ^ http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2007/08/robin-givens-an.html Robin adn her two sons
  7. ^ http://concreteloop.com/?p=15880&cp=2 JuneRobin Given and her 2 sons in NEw York, USA
  8. ^ http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?month=June&day=7&year=2007&x=22&y=14 Given on howard Stern radio show
  9. ^ http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=7847 Given is Roxie Hart in Chicago
  10. ^ "ROBIN GIVENS AND MEL HARRIS JOIN CAST OF MYNETWORKTV'S"SAINTS AND SINNERS"" (Press release). MyNetworkTV. 29 November, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-30. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Brad Pitt - Channel 4 Film
  12. ^ Randolph, Laura B., "Robin Givens: Life After Tyson", Ebony, March 1990.
  13. ^ Robin Givens

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=7847

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