Gloria Reuben
Gloria Reuben | |
---|---|
Born | Gloria Elizabeth Reuben[1] June 9, 1964 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, producer |
Years active | 1985–present |
Spouse |
Wayne Isaak
(m. 1999; div. 2003) |
Gloria Elizabeth Reuben (born June 9, 1964) is a Canadian actress, producer, and singer. She is known for her role as Jeanie Boulet on the medical drama ER (1995–1999, 2008), for which she was twice-nominated for an Emmy Award, and for portraying Elizabeth Keckley in the 2012 Academy Award-winning film Lincoln.
Additionally, she has been featured in films such as Timecop (1994), Nick of Time (1995), Admission (2013), and Reasonable Doubt (2014). She played Krista Gordon on Mr. Robot (2015–2019), as well as a recurring character on City on a Hill (since 2019). She played Adina Johnson on Cloak & Dagger from 2018 to 2019.
Early life
Gloria Reuben was born on June 9, 1964, in Toronto, Canada, to Pearl Avis (Mills), a classical singer, and Cyril George Reuben, an engineer.[2] Her parents are both Jamaican-born. Her father is mostly Jewish (with Ashkenazi and Sephardi roots), though also had some African ancestry; her mother is of mostly African descent.[1][3] Her father died when she was young.[4][5][6][7] Reuben was the subject of a segment of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s television genealogy series Finding Your Roots.
Rueben grew up one of six children.[8] Her older half-brother, Denis Simpson, was an actor and children's television host and died in 2010.[5] Her younger brother David died in 1988.[9] Reuben details her relationship and experience with the deaths of her brothers in her 2019 memoir My Brothers' Keeper.[10]
Rueben began learning piano as a child and later studied music technique and theory, ballet and jazz at the Royal Conservatory of Music.[6]
Career
Screen acting
Reuben began her career as an actress after having a few jobs as a model and in television advertisements.
Reuben came to prominence on the American television series ER as Jeanie Boulet, an HIV-positive physician assistant on the hospital's staff. She was a guest star throughout the first season and was promoted to full-time cast member at the beginning of the second. She continued that role until early in the sixth season. In 2008, Reuben returned to ER for one episode during its 14th season. She has stated that this role led to her HIV/AIDS activism.[11] In 1996, she was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [citation needed]
Reuben again held a major role in a television series when she starred as FBI agent Brooke Haslett in 1-800-Missing (2003–2004). She later starred as Rosalind Whitman in the TNT series Raising the Bar.
Reuben guest-starred in the season two finale of Drop Dead Diva as Professor Kathy Miller.[12] Reuben guest-starred in season 12 of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, reprising her role as U.S. Attorney Christine Danielson.[13] In 2012, she appeared in the CBS TV movie Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt. In 2012, Reuben played Elizabeth Keckley in Steven Spielberg's historical drama film Lincoln and her portrayal of the character received critical praise.[14] In 2013, she guest starred on the sci-fi drama series Falling Skies.
In October 2014, it was announced that Reuben had joined the cast of the USA Network series Mr. Robot.[15] Reuben plays Dr. Krista Gordon, the psychologist of the show's unstable main character, Elliott.[16] The show premiered on in June 2015. She acted in all four seasons of the show. At first a recurring role,[15] Reuben's character was upgraded to a season regular for the fourth and final season.
In 2017, Reuben was cast as Adina Johnson, mother of Tyrone Johnson, in the series Cloak & Dagger.
Stage acting
In 1999, Reuben acted in an off-Broadway production of The Vagina Monologues. In 2006, she starred as Condoleezza Rice in the play Stuff Happens at the Public Theater. The following year, she won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, the preeminent honour for off-Broadway productions, for her portrayal. In 2008, she returned to the Public Theater for Conversations in Tusculum.[17]
Music
In 2000, Reuben sang backup vocals for Tina Turner on her Twenty Four Seven Tour.[18]
Reuben is a regularly performing jazz singer and pianist. She released her first record, Just for You, in December 2007.[19] Her second album, Perchance to Dream, was released in April 2015;[20] it was her first jazz record. Her next album, For All We Know, will be released in 2020.[21] She performed all around New York City in the fourth quarter of 2019 to promote her upcoming record.[21][22][23]
Author
On November 19, 2019, Reuben released a memoir, My Brothers' Keeper, detailing her journey and an exploration of the life she shared with her two brothers, as well as her emotions and experiences after their sudden deaths.[10]
Personal life
Reuben lives in Brooklyn, New York.[18]
Activism
Reuben is a committed social activist. In large part due to her role as an HIV-positive character in ER, she continues to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic that affects the African American and Latino communities in the United States.[24] She also takes great interest in global issues, predominantly climate change, nature, and human rights.[25] She is a special adviser on climate change for the Climate Reality Project, former United States vice president Al Gore’s environmental organization. She was formerly on the board for the National Wildlife Federation.[26] She is also on the Leadership Council for the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights.[8]
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue | Celeste | |
1994 | Timecop | Sarah Fielding | |
1995 | Nick of Time | Krista Brooks | |
1998 | Indiscreet | Eve Dodd | |
1999 | Macbeth in Manhattan | Claudia / Lady Macbeth | |
1999 | David and Lola | Gloria | |
1999 | Deep in My Heart | Barbara Ann Williams | |
2000 | Pilgrim | Vicky | |
2000 | Shaft | Sgt. Council | Uncredited |
2001 | The Feast of All Saints | Cecile Ste. Marie | |
2002 | Happy Here and Now | Hannah | |
2002 | Salem Witch Trials | Tituba Indian | |
2006 | The Sentinel | Mrs. Merriweather | |
2012 | Lincoln | Elizabeth Keckley | Nominated: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Detroit Film Critics Society for Best Ensemble Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble |
2013 | Admission | Corrinne | |
2014 | Reasonable Doubt | Detective Blake Kanon | |
2015 | The Longest Ride | Adrienne Francis | |
2016 | Anesthesia | Meredith | |
2016 | Jean of the Joneses | Janet | |
2017 | Who We Are Now | Rebecca | |
2019 | The Jesus Rolls | Lady Owner |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Polka Dot Door | Host | |
1990–1991 | The Flash | Sabrina | 5 episodes |
1995 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Det. Theresa Walker | 3 episodes |
1995–1999, 2008 | ER | Jeanie Boulet | Series regular; 102 episodes Won: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1996–1999) Viewers for Quality Television for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1997–1998) Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1998) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1997–1998) Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2000) NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (1996–1999) |
2001–2002 | The Agency | Lisa Fabrizzi | Regular: episodes 1–13, 21–22 |
2002, 2007–2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Violet Tremain (2002) / Christine Danielson (2007–2011) | 4 episodes |
2002 | Little John | Natalie Britain | TV film; Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Film |
2003–2004 | 1-800-Missing | Brooke Haslett | Series regular; season 1: 18 episodes |
2005 | Numb3rs | Erica Quimby | Episode: "Noisy Edge" |
2008–2009 | Raising the Bar | Rosalind Whitman | Series regular; 25 episodes |
2010 | Drop Dead Diva | Professor Kathy Miller | Episode: "Freeze the Day" |
2011 | Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost | Thelma Gleffey | |
2012 | Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt | Thelma Gleffey | |
2013 | Betty & Coretta | Myrlie Evers-Williams | Television film |
2013 | Falling Skies | Marina Peralta | 10 episodes |
2014 | Happy Face Killer | FBI Agent Melinda Gand | TV film |
2015 | The Blacklist | Dr. Selma Orchard | Episode: "Luther Braxton Conclusion" |
2015–2019 | Mr. Robot | Krista Gordon | Series regular |
2015 | Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise | Thelma Gleffey | |
2016 | Saints & Sinners | Mayor Pamela Clayborne | Series regular |
2018 | Blindspot | Kira Evans | 5 episodes |
2018–2019 | Cloak & Dagger | Adina Johnson | Series regular |
2019 | City on a Hill | Eloise Hastings | Recurring role[27] |
References
- ^ a b Stated on Finding Your Roots, PBS, September 23, 2014
- ^ Gloria Reuben profile, filmreference.com; accessed November 27, 2014.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Profile, interfaithfamily.com; accessed November 27, 2014.
- ^ a b "Gloria!". Chatelaine. March 1999. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
Unfortunately, the interracial Jamaican family – her father was white, her mother black – was a conspicuous addition to the very white, very conservative community. "The realities of being a mulatto kid in London or Scarberia weren't always easy," says Reuben's half-brother Denis Simpson...
- ^ a b Williams, Kam (August 28, 2008). "Gloria Reuben: The Raising the Bar Interview with Kam Williams". The Sly Fox Film Reviews. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
At 18, she won the Miss Black Ontario beauty pageant, although the crown did not come without controversy, as some people questioned whether she was deserving because one of her parents was white.
- ^ Bournea, Chris (April 3, 2007). "Gloria Reuben's Activism Moves from Screen to Real-Life Role". blackaids.org. ThisWeek Newspapers. Archived from the original on June 24, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
A Toronto native and daughter of a black mother and a white Canadian father...
- ^ a b "Gloria Reuben born". African American Registry. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Actress Gloria Reuben Opens Up About a Very Personal Journey in New Book". Cheddar. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ a b My Brothers' Keeper. November 19, 2019. ISBN 978-1-64293-410-6.
- ^ KTLA Morning Show interview, October 9, 2008.
- ^ "Exclusive: Gloria Reuben to Guest-Star on Drop Dead Diva". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Gloria Reuben Returns to SVU". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Oscars 2013: Keep Your Eye On...", ew.com; accessed November 27, 2014.
- ^ a b Team, The Deadline; Team, The Deadline (October 23, 2014). "Karen Pittman Joins 'The Americans'; Gloria Reuben In 'Mr. Robot'". Deadline. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Krista Gordon played by Gloria Reuben | Characters & Cast | Mr. Robot". USA Network. August 16, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Gloria Reuben". iobdb.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ a b "Gloria Reuben". iobdb.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Just For You". www.amazon.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Perchance to Dream". www.amazon.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Gloria Reuben: From Ballads to Bossa". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "- The Triad". www.triadnyc.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Pizza Express Live". www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Gloria Reuben | People | Pioneers of Television | PBS". Pioneers of Television. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Gloria Reuben to Jamie Dimon – Stop Bankrolling MTR and the Coal Industry! – The Understory". Rainforest Action Network. October 26, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "The National Wildlife Federation Blog". The National Wildlife Federation Blog. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 26, 2019). "'City On A Hill': James Remar & Gloria Reuben To Recur On Showtime Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
External links
- 1964 births
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- 20th-century Canadian actresses
- 21st-century Canadian actresses
- Living people
- American people of Canadian descent
- Actresses from Toronto
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- Canadian film actresses
- Canadian television actresses
- Canadian people of Jamaican descent
- Canadian people of Jewish descent
- American people of Jamaican descent
- American people of Jewish descent
- The Royal Conservatory of Music alumni
- African-American actresses
- Black Canadian actresses