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Gloria Reuben

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Gloria Reuben
Reuben at the 35th International Emmy Awards Gala in 2007
Born
Gloria Elizabeth Reuben

(1964-06-09) June 9, 1964 (age 60)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, producer
Years active1985–present

Gloria Elizabeth Reuben (born June 9, 1964) is a Canadian-American actress, producer, and singer. She is well-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 Steven Spielberg–directed film Lincoln.

She has 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 (2019-2021). She also played Adina Johnson on Cloak & Dagger from 2018 to 2019.

Early life and education

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Gloria Elizabeth Reuben was born on June 9, 1964 in Toronto, Ontario, to Pearl Avis (Mills), a classical singer, and Cyril George Reuben, a civil engineer. Her parents are both Jamaican-born.[1] Her father was mostly Jewish (with Ashkenazi and Sephardi roots), though he also had some African ancestry; her mother is of mostly African descent.[2][3] Her father, an elderly widower with five adult children when he married her mother,[1] died when she was young.[4][5][6][7] Her parents had split up before his death. Reuben was the subject of a segment of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s television genealogy series Finding Your Roots.[1]

Gloria was 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]

Reuben began learning piano as a child and later studied music technique and theory, ballet, and jazz at the Royal Conservatory of Music.[6]

Career

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Screen acting

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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.[12]

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.[13] Reuben guest-starred in season 12 of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, reprising her role as U.S. Attorney Christine Danielson.[14] In 2012, she appeared in the CBS TV movie Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt. In 2012, Reuben played Elizabeth Keckley in the historical drama film Lincoln and her portrayal of the character received critical praise.[15] 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.[16] Reuben plays Dr. Krista Gordon, the psychiatrist of the show's unstable main character, Elliott.[17] The show premiered on in June 2015. She acted in all four seasons of the show. At first a recurring role,[16] 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

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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.[18]

Music

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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 latest album, For All We Know, was released on February 14, 2020, on the MCG Jazz recording label, where she is accompanied by guitarist and Grammy winning producer Marty Ashby.[21][22] She performed all around New York City in the fourth quarter of 2019 to promote her upcoming record.[21][23][24]

Author

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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

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Reuben lives in Brooklyn, New York.[18]

Activism

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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, lobbying for increased advocacy and speaking at several major fundraising events.[25] She also takes great interest in global issues, predominantly climate change, nature, and human rights.[26] Gloria Reuben is the president of Waterkeeper Alliance, an organization that strengthens and grows a global network of grassroots leaders protecting everyone’s right to clean water.[27] She is also 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.[28] Reuben is also on the Leadership Council for the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights.[8]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Films

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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
2003 Salem Witch Trials Tituba Indian
2006 The Sentinel Mrs. Merriweather
2007 Life Support Sandra
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
2015 Anesthesia Meredith
2016 Jean of the Joneses Janet
2017 Who We Are Now Rebecca
2018 Every Day Is Christmas Lydia
2019 The Jesus Rolls Lady Owner
2022 Firestarter Captain Hollister
2024 My Dead Friend Zoe † Completed
TBA I Do Again † Brenda Petty Filming

Television

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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, 1997, 1998, 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, 1997, 1998, 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 TV movie
2012 Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt Thelma Gleffey TV movie
2013 Betty & Coretta Myrlie Evers-Williams Television film
2013 Falling Skies Marina Peralta 10 episodes
2014 Happy Face Killer FBI Agent Melinda Gand TV movie
2015 The Music in Me Gloria TV movie
2015–2017 The Blacklist Dr. Selma Orchard 2 episodes
2015–2019 Mr. Robot Dr. Krista Gordon Recurring role
2015 Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise Thelma Gleffey TV movie
2016–2017 Saints & Sinners Mayor Pamela Clayborne Series regular
2017 The Breaks Mattie Taylor 4 episodes
2017 The Librarians Jade Wells Episode: "And the Silver Screen"
2018 Blindspot Kira Evans 6 episodes
2018–2019 Cloak & Dagger Adina Johnson Series regular
2019–2021 City on a Hill Eloise Hastings Recurring role[29]
2021 Blue Bloods ATF Agent Rachel Weber 2 episodes
2022 The First Lady Valerie Jarrett 3 episodes
2022–2023 The Equalizer Trish 2 episodes
2023 NCIS: Hawaiʻi Col. Tannon McCarthy Episode: "Cabin Fever"
2024 Elsbeth Claudia Payne Recurring role

References

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  1. ^ a b c Reel Beach: Journey through Gloria Reuben’s family history intriguing and fascinating
  2. ^ Stated on Finding Your Roots, PBS, September 23, 2014
  3. ^ Gates, Henry Louis Jr. (January 28, 2016). Finding Your Roots, Season 2: The Official Companion to the PBS Series. UNC Press Books. ISBN 9781469626192.
  4. ^ Profile, interfaithfamily.com; accessed November 27, 2014.
  5. ^ 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...
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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...
  8. ^ a b "Gloria Reuben born". African American Registry. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Actress Gloria Reuben Opens Up About a Very Personal Journey in New Book". Cheddar. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Reuben, Gloria (November 19, 2019). My Brothers' Keeper. Post Hill Press. ISBN 978-1-64293-410-6.
  11. ^ KTLA Morning Show interview, October 9, 2008.
  12. ^ Rne, Bridget (May 5, 2002). "Gloria Reuben takes time out from 'The Agency' for Hallmark's 'Little John'". nwi.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: Gloria Reuben to Guest-Star on Drop Dead Diva". TVGuide.com.
  14. ^ "Gloria Reuben Returns to SVU". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  15. ^ "Oscars 2013: Keep Your Eye On..." Archived October 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, ew.com; accessed November 27, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Karen Pittman Joins The Americans; Gloria Reuben In Mr. Robot". Deadline. October 23, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  17. ^ "Krista Gordon played by Gloria Reuben | Characters & Cast | Mr. Robot". USA Network. August 16, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  18. ^ a b c "Gloria Reuben". iobdb.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "Just For You". www.amazon.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  20. ^ "Perchance to Dream". www.amazon.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Gloria Reuben: From Ballads to Bossa". Feinstein's/54 Below. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  22. ^ "For All We Know". www.amazon.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  23. ^ "- The Triad". www.triadnyc.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  24. ^ "Pizza Express Live". www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  25. ^ "Gloria Reuben | People | Pioneers of Television | PBS". Pioneers of Television. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  26. ^ "Gloria Reuben to Jamie Dimon – Stop Bankrolling MTR and the Coal Industry! – The Understory". Rainforest Action Network. October 26, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  27. ^ "Gloria Reuben". Waterkeeper. November 23, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  28. ^ "The National Wildlife Federation Blog". The National Wildlife Federation Blog. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  29. ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 26, 2019). "'City On A Hill': James Remar & Gloria Reuben To Recur On Showtime Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
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