Gabrielle Union Biography Quotes 4 Report mistakes
| 4 Quotes | |
| Occup. | Actress |
| From | USA |
| Born | October 29, 1972 |
| Age | 53 years |
Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, and spent her early years in the Midwest before her family relocated to Pleasanton, California. Raised in a close-knit household that emphasized hard work, accountability, and kindness, she grew up an avid student-athlete and learned early lessons in resilience that would later shape her public voice. After graduating from Foothill High School, she attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a degree in sociology. An internship at a talent agency led to commercial work and modeling, which opened the door to auditions and her first acting roles. Even at the outset, Union approached her craft with a methodical work ethic, using small opportunities to build a foundation for a durable career.
Early Roles and Breakthrough
Union found steady work in the late 1990s with guest and recurring roles on television, gaining experience across a range of popular series. Her early film appearances in teen and sports dramas quickly raised her profile. In 1999 she appeared in 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That, and in 2000 she stood out in Love & Basketball. That same year, Bring It On became a breakout moment. As Isis, the principled and fiercely competitive cheer captain, Union brought wit, leadership, and moral clarity to a role that resonated with young audiences and helped set the tone for her future choices: sharp, self-possessed women who challenged stereotypes.
Film Career
After Bring It On, Union sustained momentum with a run of comedies, thrillers, and dramas. She co-led the romantic comedy Deliver Us from Eva opposite LL Cool J, demonstrating a deft comedic timing and a grounded romantic presence. In Bad Boys II, she played Special Agent Sydney Burnett opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, adding action credentials and chemistry to a blockbuster franchise. Union continued to diversify her roles with ensemble pieces and relationship comedies, including Think Like a Man and its sequel, while taking on more serious material such as The Birth of a Nation, where she chose a quietly devastating role aligned with her advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.
Union has remained a consistent big-screen presence in the 2010s and 2020s. Almost Christmas showcased her in a multigenerational family ensemble. In Breaking In, she anchored a high-stakes home-invasion thriller as a resourceful mother under pressure. She expanded into family entertainment and animation, voicing a lead character in Disney's Strange World and co-starring in a new take on Cheaper by the Dozen. The Perfect Find combined romance and workplace dynamics, reflecting her growing influence as both star and producer shaping stories from a Black female perspective.
Television and Producing
Union's television work has been equally defining. Being Mary Jane, created by Mara Brock Akil, made her a household name on the small screen. As Mary Jane Paul, a driven news anchor navigating love, ambition, and integrity, Union delivered a layered performance across multiple seasons, earning critical praise and a devoted audience. Later, she revived her Bad Boys character in L.A.'s Finest, partnering with Jessica Alba for an action-driven series that foregrounded two women leading a cop procedural. Earlier, she had notable arcs on network dramas and comedies, including FlashForward and Ugly Betty, which helped demonstrate her versatility.
Her time as a judge on America's Got Talent brought her into variety television and, after her departure, into a nationally visible conversation about workplace culture and accountability. By speaking publicly and pressing for change, she further cemented her reputation as a principled advocate within the industry. Increasingly, she has taken the reins behind the camera, serving as a producer and executive producer to expand opportunities for underrepresented voices and to exert creative control over the kinds of narratives she brings to audiences.
Authorship and Advocacy
Union's voice has carried beyond screens. Her essay collection We're Going to Need More Wine became a bestseller, blending humor with unflinching honesty about race, gender, Hollywood, and personal resilience. She followed it with You Got Anything Stronger?, deepening conversations about fertility, surrogacy, marriage, and evolving notions of success. She also entered children's publishing with Welcome to the Party, inspired by her daughter, and helped craft the spirited picture book Shady Baby that channeled the personality and confidence that fans had come to associate with her family's social-media presence.
A survivor of sexual assault, Union has long been an outspoken advocate for survivors, supporting awareness, resources, and reform. She has been a visible supporter of the MeToo and Time's Up movements, using her platform to discuss consent, accountability, and trauma-informed care. Alongside her husband, former NBA star Dwyane Wade, she has been a prominent ally for LGBTQ+ youth, publicly supporting Wade's daughter Zaya and speaking about the importance of affirming families. The couple's advocacy was recognized with honors including the NAACP President's Award, underscoring their commitment to equity and inclusion.
Entrepreneurship and Fashion
Union has extended her brand through entrepreneurship. She launched a hair-care line, Flawless by Gabrielle Union, in collaboration with her longtime stylist, focusing on textured hair and inclusive beauty. She has partnered on fashion collections that reflect her polished, approachable style, aiming to offer accessible pieces for women balancing work, family, and self-expression. These ventures reflect the same through line present in her on-screen work: centering women, especially Black women, with practicality, glamour, and agency.
Personal Life
Union married NFL running back Chris Howard in 2001; they later divorced. She began a relationship with Dwyane Wade, and the two married in 2014, forming a blended family grounded in mutual support and candor about the complexities of modern parenting. Their daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, was born via surrogate in 2018, a milestone Union has discussed with openness given her fertility challenges and a diagnosis of adenomyosis. As a stepmother to Wade's children, including Zaire, Zaya, and Xavier, Union has emphasized love, structure, and communication, and she and Wade have intentionally used their platform to advocate for the dignity and rights of transgender youth.
Legacy and Influence
From Omaha to Hollywood, Gabrielle Union has built a career notable for longevity, range, and purpose. She helped define a generation's teen comedies, broke into action franchises without sacrificing wit or warmth, and anchored one of cable television's most incisive dramas about ambition and identity. As an author and advocate, she has modeled vulnerability and courage, translating personal experience into public service. Through producing and entrepreneurship, she has invested in stories and products that broaden representation and meet the everyday needs of the communities she champions. Surrounded by collaborators and family, from Mara Brock Akil and Jessica Alba to LL Cool J, Will Smith, and Martin Lawrence, and alongside Dwyane Wade and their children, Union continues to evolve, leveraging celebrity into a platform for storytelling, accountability, and joy.
Our collection contains 4 quotes who is written by Gabrielle, under the main topics: Equality - Movie - Entrepreneur.
Other people realated to Gabrielle: Shemar Moore (Actor), Jessica Alba (Actress), Morris Chestnut (Actor)