Gina Gershon

Gina L. Gershon

Gershon in June 2011
Born (1962-06-10) June 10, 1962
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater New York University
Occupation Actress, singer, author
Years active 1981–present
Website www.ginagershon.com

Gina L. Gershon (born June 10, 1962) is an American film, television and stage actress, singer and author. She is known for her roles in the films Cocktail (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) and House of Versace (2013). She has also had supporting roles in FX's Rescue Me and HBO's How to Make It in America.

Early life

Gershon was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of mother Mickey Gershon (née Koppel),[1] an interior decorator, and father Stan Gershon, who worked in the import-export business and in sales.[2][3] Gershon was raised in a Jewish family in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley[4] She has an older brother, Dan Gershon, and an older sister, Tracy Gershon.

Gershon went to Collier Street Elementary School and Woodland Hills Academy (formerly known as Parkman Middle School).[5] Gershon attended Beverly Hills High School and started acting at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1980, Gershon moved to Boston to attend Emerson College. She transferred to New York University, and graduated with a BFA in drama and psychology/philosophy in 1983.[6]

Gershon said she always wanted to be an actor, but her career began in music and dance.[5]

Career

Theater

Gershon attended the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School in New York, working first with David Mamet and later with Harold Guskin and Sandra Seacat, whom she has described in interviews as "a huge influence."[7][8] Gershon is one of the founding members of the New York-based theater group Naked Angels.[9]

She has appeared on Broadway three times, as Sally Bowles in the revival of Cabaret, in the revival of the sex farce Boeing-Boeing, and played Rosie Alvarez in the 2010 Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie at the Roundabout Theatre Company.[10]

Her first acting venues were stage appearances in Camille and The Substance of Fire.

Film

She had a cameo role in The Cars 1984 video "Hello Again" alongside Andy Warhol. Her break came with a bit part in 1986's Pretty in Pink which led to more substantial roles in Sweet Revenge with Nancy Allen and Cocktail, with Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue and in John Sayles' urban drama City of Hope (1991). Gershon also worked in television, with a recurring role on Melrose Place playing a prostitute working for a Heidi Fleiss-esque Hollywood madam. She won critical acclaim for her portrayal of Nancy Sinatra in the made-for-TV biopic Sinatra. In 1996, she played Corky, an ex-con who gets mixed up in an affair with Violet (played by Jennifer Tilly), in the mobster flick Bound. The following year, she costarred with John Travolta and Nicolas Cage in Face/Off.[9]

Gershon is regarded as a gay icon[11] because of her roles in movies such as Bound (in which she played a butch lesbian), Prey for Rock & Roll, and Showgirls (in which she played a bisexual, and which is regarded as a camp classic). She was ranked #23 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2004.[12]

TV and online work

On television, she has recurring roles on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm (as a Hasidic dry cleaner), Rescue Me, and the U.S. dramedy series Ugly Betty (as Italian cosmetics mogul Fabia, the rival of Wilhelmina Slater). She also has served as the voiceover for Major League Baseball's "I Live For This" promotional campaign. She has also played the voice of Catwoman in the 2007 animated series The Batman.

On September 10, 2008, Gershon appeared in a video on funnyordie.com, parodying former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, titled "Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin"[13] which she followed with "Gina Gershon Does Sarah Palin 2".[14]

In 2011, she appeared as a recurring character in the HBO series How to Make It in America.[15] Her portrayal of Donatella Versace in Lifetime's House of Versace earned her praise from fashion critic Cathy Horyn.[16]

On December 19, 2014, it was announced that Gershon would guest star in Glee's sixth and final season as Pam, the mother of Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss).[17]

Music

Gershon played Jew's harp on "I Can't Decide", a song on the Scissor Sisters 2006 release Ta-Dah. She also played Jew's harp on the song "I Do It For Your Love", Paul Simon's collaboration with Herbie Hancock on his album Possibilities, in a duo with bassist Christian McBride on the song "Chitlins and Gefiltefish", on McBride's 2011 album Conversations with Christian, and on "Maria" from her album In Search of Cleo.

She had a cameo role in The Cars 1984 video "Hello Again" alongside Andy Warhol. She appeared in Lenny Kravitz's music video entitled "Again".

Books

She and her brother Dan are the authors of the children's book Camp Creepy Time.

Gershon's first book written for adults, In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind, is the true story of the hunt for her runaway cat[18] and was released on October 11, 2012.[19]

Personal life

A 2008 Vanity Fair article linked her romantically with former President Bill Clinton. She denied the connection, saying on the June 9 episode of the TV show Live with Regis and Kelly "It is such a crazy, outrageous lie... I met him three times at events. [These rumors] disturbed me on so many levels."[20]

In a 2014 interview with Larry King, Gershon said that she was in a relationship with DEDON outdoor furniture founder Robert "Bobby" Dekeyser.[5]

Filmography

Film

Gershon in May 2010
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Beatlemania Dancer (uncredited)
1985 Girls Just Want to Have Fun Dancer (uncredited)
1986 3:15 Cobrettes
1986 Pretty in Pink Trombley, Girl Friend / Gym Class
1987 Sweet Revenge K.C.
1988 Red Heat Catherine 'Cat' Manzetti
1988 Cocktail Coral
1989 Suffering Bastards Sharnetta
1990 Voodoo Dawn Tina
1991 Out for Justice Patti Madano
1991 Jungle Fever Angie's Neighbor (scenes deleted)
1991 City of Hope Laurie Rinaldi
1992 Player, TheThe Player Whitney Gersh
1993 Joey Breaker Jenny Chaser
1994 Black and White
1994 Flinch Daphne James Video
1995 Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back Margo Preston
1995 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
1997 Touch Debra Lusanne
1997 Face/Off Sasha Hassler
1998 Palmetto Nina
1998 Lulu on the Bridge Hannah
1998 One Tough Cop Joey O'Hara
1998 I'm Losing You Lidia
1998 Prague Duet Dr. Lauren Graham
1999 Black and White Nora 'Hugs' Hugosian
1999 Guinevere Billie
1999 Insider, TheThe Insider Helen Caperelli
2001 Driven Cathy Heguy
2001 Picture Claire Lily Warden
2002 Slackers Girl at Trendy Club (uncredited)
2002 Demonlover Elaine Si Gibril
2002 Borderline Dr. Lila Coletti
2003 Prey for Rock & Roll Jacki
2004 Out of Season Eileen Phillips
2004 Three Way Florence DeCroix Hagen
2005 One Last Thing... Arlene
2005 Category 7: The End of the World Judith Carr
2006 Dreamland Mary
2006 Man About Town Arlene Kreiner
2006 Kettle of Fish Ginger
2006 Delirious Dana
2007 What Love Is Rachel
2007 P.S. I Love You Sharon
2008 Just Business Marty Jameson Video
2008 Beer for My Horses Cammie
2008 Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin Sarah Palin Video short
2009 Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard., TheThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. (uncredited)
2010 Love Ranch Irene
2010 Five Minarets in New York Maria
2010 Across the Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright Mariel Garza Video
2011 Sarah Palin Media Addict Sarah Palin Short film
2011 Killer Joe Sharla Smith Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
2011 Breathless Lorna
2012 LOL Kathy
2012 The Unknown Son Mrs. Prentice
2013 Dealin' with Idiots Sophie
2014 The Scribbler Cleo
2014 Mall Donny
2014 The Lookalike Lee Garner
2015 Staten Island Summer Ms. Greeley
2016 Bad Kids of Crestview Academy Senator Wilkes Post-production
TBA Lost Cat Corona Connie Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Stark: Mirror Image Alison Cromwell Movie
1987 The Twilight Zone Laura Episode: "Time and Teresa Golowitz"
1989 Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, TheThe Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Randy Lewis 3 episodes
1989 Monsters Ann Episode: "Jar"
1990 Cop Rock Stacey Kane Episode: "The Cocaine Mutiny"
1992 Miss Rose White Angie TV movie
1992 Sinatra Nancy Barbato Sinatra Miniseries
1993 Love Matters Heat Movie
1993 Melrose Place Ellen 3 episodes
1994 Untouchables, TheThe Untouchables Becky Petrov Episode: "The Skin Trade"
1997 Ellen The Cashier (uncredited) Episode: "The Puppy Episode: Part 2"
1998 Legalese Angela Beale Movie
1999–2000 Snoops Glenn Hall 13 episodes
2000 Saturday Night Live Wilma Slotsin (uncredited) Episode: "Jackie Chan/Kid Rock"
2002–2003 Just Shoot Me! Rhonda Ferrara 2 episodes
2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Shikata (voice) Episode: "Sword of Shikata"
Episode: "Keeping Secrets"
2004 Practice, TheThe Practice Glenn Hall Episode: "The Firm"
2004 Tripping the Rift Six 13 episodes
2004 Kevin Hill Carly Austin Episode: "The Good Life"
2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Anna Episode: "The Survivor"
2004–2007 The Batman Catwoman / Selina Kyle (voice) 5 episodes
2005 Studio, TheThe Studio Bebe Knight Episode: "Pilot"
2005 Crossing Jordan Charlie Davis Episode: "Embraceable You"
2005 Family Guy Policewoman (voice) Episode: "Blind Ambition"
2005 Category 7: The End of the World FEMA Director Judith Carr TV movie
2005 American Dad! Karen / Various (voice) Episode: "Homeland Insecurity"
Episode: "Stan of Arabia: Part 2"
2006–2007 Ugly Betty Fabia 3 episodes:
"Pilot"
"I'm Coming Out"
"East Side Story"
2007 Psych Emilina Saffron Episode: "American Duos"
2007 Curb Your Enthusiasm Anna Episode: "The Anonymous Donor"
2007–2009 Rescue Me Valerie 9 episodes
2009 Life on Mars Rita Episode: "Coffee, Tea, or Annie"
2009 Numb3rs Danielle Hill Episode: "12:01 AM"
2009 Eastbound & Down Realtor Episode: "Chapter 5"
2009 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"
2013 House of Versace Donatella Versace Movie
2013 Hunt For the Labyrinth Killer Karen Donovan Movie
2013 Anger Management Mandy 1 episode
2013–14 Cleaners Mother Main role (18 episodes)
2014 Elementary Elana March 2 episodes
2014 Community Devon's wife Episode: "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing"
2015 Glee Pam Anderson 1 episode
2015 Z Nation La Reina de la Muerte Episode: "Party With the Zeros"
Episode: "Adiós, Muchachos"
Episode: "All Good Things Must Come to an End"
Theater
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Cabaret Sally Bowles
2008 Boeing Boeing Gabriella
2009 Bye Bye Birdie Rose Alvarez
2014 Ghost Brothers of Darkland County Monique McCandless [21]
Music
Year Title Notes
2007 In Search of Cleo

References

  1. "Gina L Gersohn: California, Birth Index, 1905-1995". FamilySearch. Retrieved 9 August 2014. Gina L Gersohn [sic], 10 Jun 1962; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento.
  2. "Gina Gershon Biography (1962–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  3. "Gina Gershon". Yahoo Movies. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  4. "Patrica Sheridan's Breakfast With ... Gina Gershon". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  5. 1 2 3 King, Larry (30 September 2013). "Gina Gershon". Larry King Now. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. Marc Maron (7 March 2013). "WTF with Marc Maron Podcast - Episode 367 - Gina Gershon" (Podcast). WTF with Marc Maron. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  7. Paul Chutkow: "I Dream of Gina," Cigar Aficionado, Sept/Oct 1998
  8. Dawn Kay: "Gina Gershon;" The Lab Magazine; August 12, 2012
  9. 1 2 NetGlimse Gina Gershon biography
  10. Time 2 hours and 30 minutes. (1 Intermission). "Bye Bye Birdie Tickets | Broadway". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  11. http://www.afterellen.com/TV/totallygay.html Afterellen.com Retrieved on 04-19-07
  12. "FreeJose.com". Maxim Magazine Hot 100 Women of 2004. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  13. "Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin". Funnyordie.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  14. "Gina Gershon Does Sarah Palin 2". Funnyordie.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  15. , HBO.com, retrieved 2013-06-18
  16. Horyn, Cathy, "Why Fashion Films Are Usually Cartoons," New York Times, Sun. Oct. 6, 2013, p. 13
  17. "Glee Season 6 Spoilers Gina Gershon as Blaine's Mom". MJSBIGBLOG. December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  18. "Gina Gershon writing book about missing cat". New York Magazine. July 30, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  19. "Gina Gershon talks 'Killer Joe,' her career, new book". Philly.com. August 5, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  20. The Los Angeles Times Vanity Fair links Bill Clinton to actress Gina Gershon
  21. "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County | Stephen King, John Mellencamp & T Bone Burnett's Supernatural musical featuring Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson & more. In stores now". www.ghostbrothersofdarklandcounty.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.

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