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Gina Gershon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gershon in 2018 | |
| Born | Gina L. Gershon (1962-06-10)June 10, 1962 (age 63) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Known for | Bound Cocktail Showgirls Face/Off Killer Joe |
Gina L. Gershon (/ˈɡɜːrʃɒn/; born June 10, 1962) is an American actress and singer. She has starred in such films asCocktail (1988),Red Heat (1988),Showgirls (1995),Bound (1996),Face/Off (1997),The Insider (1999),Demonlover (2002),P.S. I Love You (2007),Five Minarets in New York (2010),Killer Joe (2011), andHouse of Versace (2013). She has also had supporting roles inFX'sRescue Me andHBO'sHow to Make It in America. Additionally, she portrayed Jughead's momGladys Jones onThe CW teen drama seriesRiverdale and Lauren Bloom's mother Jeanie Bloom on theNBC medical seriesNew Amsterdam.
Gina L. Gershon was born inLos Angeles, to Mickey Gershon (née Koppel) aninterior decorator, and Stan Gershon, who worked in theimport-export business and sales.[1][2] She was raised in aJewish family in Los Angeles'sSan Fernando Valley.[3] She has an older brother and sister.[4][5]
Gershon went to Collier Street Elementary School and Woodland Hills Academy (formerly Parkman Junior High).[6] She attendedBeverly Hills High School and started acting at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1980, she moved toBoston to attendEmerson College. She transferred toNew York University and graduated with aBFA in drama and psychology/philosophy in 1983.[7]
She has said she always wanted to be an actress, but her career began in music and dance.[6]
Gershon attended the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School in New York, working first withDavid Mamet and later withHarold Guskin andSandra Seacat, whom she has described in interviews as "a huge influence."[8][9] Her first professional acting was in stage productions ofCamille andThe Substance of Fire.
She is one of the founding members of the New York-based theater groupNaked Angels.[10]
She has appeared on Broadway three times: asSally Bowles in the revival ofCabaret; in the revival of the sex farceBoeing-Boeing; and as Rosie Alvarez in the 2010 revival ofBye Bye Birdie at theRoundabout Theatre Company.[11]
Gershon's break came with abit part inPretty in Pink (1986), which led to more substantial roles inSweet Revenge withNancy Allen,Cocktail withTom Cruise andElisabeth Shue, andJohn Sayles' urban dramaCity of Hope (1991). Also in 1991, she appeared in the action filmOut for Justice oppositeSteven Seagal, where she played Patti Madano, sister of the film's villain, Richie Madano (William Forsythe). Gershon also worked in television, with a recurring role onMelrose Place playing a prostitute working for aHeidi Fleiss-esque Hollywoodmadam.[12]
In 1996, she played Corky, anex-con who gets mixed up in an affair with Violet (played byJennifer Tilly) in the crime filmBound.[13] In 1997, she co-starred withJohn Travolta andNicolas Cage inFace/Off.[10]
Gershon is regarded as agay icon[14] for her roles in films such asBound (in which she played abutch lesbian),Prey for Rock & Roll, andShowgirls (in which she played abisexual showgirl, and which is regarded as acamp classic). She was ranked #51 on theMaxim Hot 100 Women of 2004.[15]
In 2011, Gershon appeared alongsideMatthew McConaughey inKiller Joe, a dark comedy/thriller featuring directorWilliam Friedkin.[16]
In 2017, Gershon starred inBad Kids of Crestview Academy directed byBen Browder,[17]Lost Cat Corona directed by Anthony Tarsitano,[18] the romantic comedy-dramaPermission oppositeDan Stevens andRebecca Hall directed by Brian Crano,[19] Gershon co-starred alongsideNicolas Cage in the thrillerInconceivable,thriller film directed by Jonathan Baker,[20] That same year, she starred in9/11 directed by Martin Guigui revolving around theSeptember 11 attacks oppositeWhoopi Goldberg,Luis Guzmán andCharlie Sheen.[21] The film was panned by critics and faced controversy for Sheen's history with the911 Truth movement, aconspiracy theory.[22] Gershon stated she was unaware of Sheen's comments during production of the film and would have spoken with Sheen and Guigui before agreeing to star.[23]
In 2018, Gershon starred in the adventure dramaAmerican Dresser directed by Carmine Cangialosi, which was critically panned.[24] Gershon then starred in the drama filmAfter Everything directed byHannah Marks and Joey Power, oppositeMaika Monroe andJeremy Allen White.[25] The film had its world premiere atSouth by Southwest in March 2018, and was released in October 2018, to critical acclaim.[26][27] She also had a small role in comedyBlockers directed byKay Cannon, which was released on April 6, 2018, to critical and commercial success.[28]
In 2020, Gershon starred in the sports filmCagefighter: Worlds Collide directed by Jesse Quinones.[29] Gershon next starred inRifkin's Festival directed byWoody Allen.[30] Following backlash for starring in the film, Gershon defended her decision to star in the film stating: "I don't believe that to be true. You should really do all of the research and read all of the articles before believing that. It's really important to make up your own mind and not go by what the masses claim. I've done extensive research and I can say with very clear conscience that I'm so happy to be working with him. This man is not a sexual predator."[31] Gershon also called working on the film "a dream come true".[32] Gershon will also star inWith/In an anthology film set during theCOVID-19 pandemic directing from a screenplay she wrote.[33]
She portrayed Nancy Barbato,Frank Sinatra's 1st wife in themade-for-TV biopicSinatra, in 1992.[34] Gershon next had a recurring role onMelrose Place playing a prostitute working for aHeidi Fleiss-esque Hollywoodmadam.[12] Gershon made a guest appearance as herself onThe Larry Sanders Show.[35] Gershon next starred in the lead role of Glenn Hall inABC's detective seriesSnoops created byDavid E. Kelley, which was cancelled after one season.[36]
Gershon has made numerous guest and recurring appearances on various shows includingHBO's comedy seriesCurb Your Enthusiasm,[37]FX's comedy-dramaRescue Me,[38] ABC'sUgly Betty,[39]USA Network'sPsych,[40] A recurring role on HBO'sHow to Make It in America.[41]
Gershon voiced the role of Six in the adult animation seriesTripping the Rift.[42] Gershon also voiced the role ofCatwoman in the 2007 animated seriesThe Batman.[43] From 2017 to 2018, Gershon voiced the role of Langwidere inLost in Oz.[44]
In 2013, Gershon starred in the television filmHouse of Versace asDonatella Versace, which premiered onLifetime.[45] Gershon's performance earned praise from fashion criticCathy Horyn.[46] That same year, Gershon began starring in theCrackle action seriesCleaners.[47]
In 2015, Gershon made a guest appearance onGlee in thesixth and final season as Blaine's mother.[48] From 2015 to 2017, Gershon had a recurring role onAmazon Prime Video'sRed Oaks.[49] She also appeared in two episodes ofElementary.[50] That same year, Gershon had a recurring role onZ Nation.[51] In 2016, Gershon guest starred onEmpire.[52] In 2017, Gershon guest starred on the HBO comedy seriesCrashing.[53] That same year, Gershon had a recurring role inBrooklyn Nine-Nine as the villainous Lt. Melanie Hawkins.[54] Gershon was cast in theE! dark comedy pilot#Fashionvictim oppositeWilla Fitzgerald, which was not picked up to series.[55][56] Since 2018, Gershon has had a recurring role onThe CW dramaRiverdale portraying the role of Jughead Jones's mother, Gladys.[57] That same year, Gershon made a guest appearance onYounger.[58]
In 2020, Gershon had a recurring role onNew Amsterdam.[59]
Gershon has appeared in two videos onFunnyorDie.com parodying formerRepublican vice presidential nomineeSarah Palin, titled "Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin", and "Gina Gershon Does Sarah Palin 2".[60][61] In 2016, Gershon parodiedMelania Trump in a Funny or Die video "A Message from Melania Trump".[62] Gershon additionally has played Trump on an episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,[63] An Off-Broadway play, "The 1st Annual Trump Family Special".[64] and in an episode ofCBS All Access'sThe Good Fight.[65]
Gershon playedJaw harp on "I Can't Decide", a song on theScissor Sisters 2006 releaseTa-Dah. She also played Jaw harp on the song "I Do It For Your Love",Paul Simon's collaboration withHerbie Hancock on his albumPossibilities, in a duo with bassistChristian McBride on the song "Chitlins and Gefiltefish", on McBride's 2011 albumConversations with Christian, and on "Maria" from her albumIn Search of Cleo.[66][67]
She had acameo role inThe Cars' music video "Hello Again" (1984) alongsideAndy Warhol, and appeared inLenny Kravitz's music video "Again" (2000).
Gershon and her brother Dann[4] are the authors of the children's bookCamp Creepy Time.[68][69]
Gershon's first book written for adults,In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind,[70] is the true story of the hunt for her runaway cat[71] and was released on October 11, 2012.[72]
From 2015 to 2018, Gershon was in a relationship with Belgian entrepreneur and former footballerRobert Dekeyser.[73]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Beatlemania | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1985 | Girls Just Want to Have Fun | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1986 | Pretty in Pink | Trombley, Girl Friend / Gym Class | |
| 3:15 the Moment of Truth | Cobrettes | ||
| 1987 | Sweet Revenge | K.C. | |
| 1988 | Red Heat | Catherine 'Cat' Manzetti | |
| Cocktail | Coral | ||
| 1989 | Suffering Bastards | Sharnetta | |
| 1990 | Voodoo Dawn | Tina | |
| 1991 | City of Hope | Laurie Rinaldi | |
| Out for Justice | Patti Madano | ||
| Jungle Fever | Angie's Neighbor | Deleted scenes | |
| 1992 | The Player | Whitney Gersh | |
| 1993 | Joey Breaker | Jenny Chaser | |
| 1994 | Flinch | Daphne James | |
| 1995 | Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back | Margo Preston | |
| Showgirls | Cristal Connors | Nominated –Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress | |
| 1996 | Bound | Corky | Nominated –Saturn Award for Best Actress Nominated –MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss |
| 1997 | This World, Then the Fireworks | Carol Lakewood Morton | |
| Touch | Debra Lusanne | ||
| Face/Off | Sasha Hassler | ||
| 1998 | Palmetto | Nina | |
| Lulu on the Bridge | Hannah | ||
| Prague Duet | Dr. Lauren Graham | ||
| I'm Losing You | Lidia | ||
| One Tough Cop | Joey O'Hara | ||
| 1999 | Guinevere | Billie | |
| The Insider | Helen Caperelli | ||
| 2001 | Driven | Cathy Heguy | |
| Picture Claire | Lily Warden | ||
| 2002 | Slackers | Girl at Trendy Club | Uncredited |
| Demonlover | Elaine Si Gibril | ||
| 2003 | Prey for Rock & Roll | Jacki | Also producer |
| 2004 | Three Way | Florence DeCroix Hagen | Also known as3-Way |
| Out of Season | Eileen Phillips | ||
| 2005 | One Last Thing... | Arlene | |
| 2006 | Dreamland | Mary | |
| Man About Town | Arlene Kreiner | ||
| Kettle of Fish | Ginger | ||
| I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With | Herself as Marty's Mother | ||
| Delirious | Dana | ||
| 2007 | What Love Is | Rachel | |
| P.S. I Love You | Sharon McCarthy | ||
| 2008 | Just Business | Marty Jameson | |
| Beer for My Horses | Cammie | ||
| Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin | Sarah Palin | Short film | |
| 2009 | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 2010 | Love Ranch | Irene | |
| Five Minarets in New York | Maria | Also known asAct of Vengeance andThe Terrorist | |
| Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright | Mariel Garza | ||
| 2011 | Sarah Palin Media Addict | Sarah Palin | Short film |
| Killer Joe | Sharla Smith | Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated –Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| 2012 | LOL | Kathy | |
| Breathless | Lorna | ||
| 2013 | Dealin' with Idiots | Sophie | |
| House of Versace | Donatella Versace | ||
| 2014 | The Scribbler | Cleo | |
| Mall | Donna | Also known asMall: A Day to Kill | |
| The Lookalike | Lee Garner | ||
| Sharklumbo | Widow | Short film | |
| Me | Gina Gershon | ||
| 2015 | Staten Island Summer | Ms. Greeley | |
| 2016 | A Message from Melania Trump | Melania Trump | Short film |
| My Dead Boyfriend | Helene | ||
| 2017 | Bad Kids of Crestview Academy | Senator Wilkes | |
| Lost Cat Corona | Connie | ||
| Permission | Lydia | ||
| Inconceivable | Angela | ||
| 9/11 | Eve Cage | ||
| 2018 | After Everything | Tracy | |
| Blockers | Cathy | ||
| The Little Mermaid | Peggy Gene | ||
| American Dresser | Sandra | ||
| 2019 | The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts | K. T. McFarland /Rick Gates | Live reading of excerpts from theMueller Report |
| Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs | Regina | Voice | |
| 2020 | The Mimic | The Woman at the Bar | |
| Cagefighter: Worlds Collide | Max Drake | ||
| Rifkin's Festival | Sue | ||
| People in Landscape | Alex's Mother | ||
| 2021 | With/In: Volume 2 | Unknown | Segment: "Shell Game"; also director and writer |
| Don't Look Up | Kathy Logolos | Deleted scenes | |
| 2022 | Emily the Criminal | Alice | |
| 2023 | Thanksgiving | Amanda Collins | |
| 2024 | Borderlands | Mad Moxxi | |
| The Trainer | Bob Campbell | ||
| 2025 | High Rollers | Amelia Decker | |
| Breed of Greed | Susan Wendolyn | ||
| TBA | Tapawingo† | TBA | Post-production |
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Stark: Mirror Image | Alison Cromwell | Television film |
| 1987 | The Twilight Zone | Laura | Episode: "Time and Teresa Golowitz" |
| 1989 | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | Randy Lewis | 3 episodes |
| Monsters | Ann | Episode: "Jar" | |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Stacey Kane | Episode: "The Cocaine Mutiny" |
| 1992 | Miss Rose White | Angie | Television film |
| Sinatra | Nancy Barbato Sinatra | Miniseries | |
| 1993 | Love Matters | Heat | Television film |
| Melrose Place | Ellen | 3 episodes | |
| 1994 | The Untouchables | Becky Petrov | Episode: "The Skin Trade" |
| 1997 | Ellen | Cashier | Episode: "The Puppy Episode: Part 2"; uncredited |
| 1998 | Legalese | Angela Beale | Television film |
| The Larry Sanders Show | Herself | Episode: “Just the Perfect Blendship” | |
| 1999 | Black and White | Nora 'Hugs' Hugosian | Television film |
| 1999–2000 | Snoops | Glenn Hall | Main role |
| 2000 | Saturday Night Live | Wilma Slotsin | Episode: "Jackie Chan/Kid Rock"; uncredited |
| 2002–2003 | Just Shoot Me! | Rhonda Ferrara | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Borderline | Dr. Lila Coletti | Television film |
| 2003 | Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Shikata | Voice, 2 episodes |
| The Restaurant | Herself | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | The Practice | Glenn Hall | Episode: "The Firm" |
| Tripping the Rift | Six | Main role (season 1) | |
| Kevin Hill | Carly Austin | Episode: "The Good Life" | |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Anna | Episode: "The Survivor" | |
| 2004–2007 | The Batman | Selina Kyle / Catwoman | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2005 | The Studio | Bebe Knight | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Crossing Jordan | Charlie Davis | Episode: "Embraceable You" | |
| Family Guy | Policewoman | Voice, episode: "Blind Ambition" | |
| Category 7: The End of the World | FEMA Director Judith Carr | Television film | |
| American Dad! | Karen, additional voices | 2 episodes | |
| 2006–2007 | Ugly Betty | Fabia | Recurring role (season 1) |
| 2007 | Psych | Emilina Saffron | Episode: "American Duos" |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Anna | Episode: "The Anonymous Donor" | |
| 2007–2009 | Rescue Me | Valerie | Recurring role (seasons 4-5) |
| 2008 | I Love the New Millennium | Herself | Commentator |
| 2009 | Life on Mars | Rita | Episode: "Coffee, Tea, or Annie" |
| Numb3rs | Danielle Hill | Episode: "12:01 AM" | |
| Eastbound & Down | Realtor | Episode: "Chapter 5" | |
| Everything She Ever Wanted | Pat Allanson | Miniseries | |
| 2010 | Glory Daze | Lt. Lang | Episode: "What's Love Got to Nude with It" |
| 2011 | How to Make It in America | Nancy Frankenburg | 7 episodes |
| 2013 | Maron | Alexa | Episode: "A Real Woman" |
| House of Versace | Donatella Versace | Television film | |
| Hunt For the Labyrinth Killer | Karen Donovan | Television film | |
| Anger Management | Mandy | Episode: "Charlie Loses His Virginity Again" | |
| 2013–2014 | Cleaners | Mother | Main role |
| 2014 | Elementary | Elana March | 2 episodes |
| Community | Devon's wife | Episode: "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing" | |
| 2015 | Glee | Pam Anderson | Episode: "A Wedding" |
| 2015–2017 | Red Oaks | Fay Getty | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Z Nation | La Reina de la Muerte | Recurring role (season 2) |
| 2016 | Empire | Heleen Von Wyatt | Episode: "The Unkindest Cut" |
| 2017 | Crashing | Susie | Episode: "The Road" |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Lt. Melanie Hawkins | Recurring role (seasons 4-5) | |
| 2018 | Younger | Chrissie Hart | Episode: "Sex, Liza and Rock & Roll" |
| 2018–2019 | Riverdale | Gladys Jones | Recurring role (season 3) |
| 2019 | The Good Fight | "Melania Trump" | Episode: "The One with the Celebrity Divorce"[74] |
| 2020–2021 | New Amsterdam | Jeanie Bloom | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Loafy | Slippy Parker | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Betty | Oracle | Episode: "Sweet Tooth" |
| 2022 | Chucky[75] | Herself | Episode: "Death on Denial" |
| 2023 | Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens | Toe / Dr. Emily Cohen | Episode: "Nightmares" |
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Dr. Vanessa Holmes | Episode: "An Ear For An Ear"[76] |
| 2024 | Doctor Odyssey | Lenore Laurent | Episode: "Plastic Surgery Week"[77] |
| 2025 | The Assassin | Marie | 5 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Doom: The Dark Ages | The Witch | [78] |
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Cabaret | Sally Bowles | Henry Miller's Theatre /Studio 54 | |
| 2008 | Boeing-Boeing | Gabriella | Longacre Theatre | |
| 2009 | Bye Bye Birdie | Rose Alvarez | Henry Miller Theatre | |
| 2014 | Ghost Brothers of Darkland County | Monique McCandless | Various (18-city tour) | [79] |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | In Search of Cleo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Pack Podcast | Narrator | |
| 2021 | The Playboy Interview | Oriana Fallaci | 2 episodes |
Time 2 hours and 30 minutes. (1 Intermission)
