Gina Gershon

Gina L. Gershon (Template:IPAc-en; born June 10, 1962) is an American actress and singer. She has starred in such films as Cocktail (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), 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. Additionally, she portrayed Jughead's mom Gladys Jones on The CW teen drama series Riverdale and Lauren Bloom's mother Jeanie Bloom on the NBC medical series New Amsterdam.

Early life

Gina L. Gershon was born in Los Angeles, to Mickey Gershon (née Koppel) an interior decorator, and Stan Gershon, who worked in the import-export business and sales.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Her family name appears to have been misprinted Gersohn on her birth certificate. Template:Cite web</ref> She was raised in a Jewish family in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has an older brother and an older sister.<ref name="californiabirthindex/5524485">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="californiabirthindex/6179417">Template:Cite web</ref>

Gershon went to Collier Street Elementary School and Woodland Hills Academy (formerly Parkman Junior High).<ref name=LarryKingNow-Versace-2013/> She attended Beverly Hills High School and started acting at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1980, she 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.<ref name="WTFMaron-2013">Template:Cite podcast</ref>

She has said she always wanted to be an actress, but her career began in music and dance.<ref name=LarryKingNow-Versace-2013>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

Theatre

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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="thelabmagazine/gina-gershon">Template:Cite web</ref> Her first professional acting was in stage productions of Camille and The Substance of Fire.

She is one of the founding members of the New York-based theater group Naked Angels.<ref name="Netglimse">Template:Cite web</ref>

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 as Rosie Alvarez in the 2010 revival of Bye Bye Birdie at the Roundabout Theatre Company.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Film

Gershon's break came with a bit part in Pretty in Pink (1986), which led to more substantial roles in Sweet Revenge with Nancy Allen, Cocktail with Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue, and John Sayles' urban drama City of Hope (1991). Also in 1991, she appeared in the action film Out for Justice opposite Steven 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 on Melrose Place playing a prostitute working for a Heidi Fleiss-esque Hollywood madam.<ref name="Sullivan">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1996, she played Corky, an ex-con who gets mixed up in an affair with Violet (played by Jennifer Tilly) in the crime film Bound.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1997, she co-starred with John Travolta and Nicolas Cage in Face/Off.<ref name= Netglimse/>

File:Gina Gershon 2011.jpg

Gershon in June 2011

Gershon is regarded as a gay icon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for her roles in films such as Bound (in which she played a butch lesbian), Prey for Rock & Roll, and Showgirls (in which she played a bisexual showgirl, and which is regarded as a camp classic). She was ranked #51 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2004.<ref name="freejose2004">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2011, Gershon appeared alongside Matthew McConaughey in Killer Joe, a dark comedy/thriller featuring director William Friedkin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2017, Gershon starred in Bad Kids of Crestview Academy directed by Ben Browder,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lost Cat Corona directed by Anthony Tarsitano,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the romantic comedy-drama Permission opposite Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall directed by Brian Crano,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon co-starred alongside Nicolas Cage in the thriller Inconceivable, thriller film directed by Jonathan Baker,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, she starred in 9/11 directed by Martin Guigui revolving around the September 11 attacks opposite Whoopi Goldberg, Luis Guzmán and Charlie Sheen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film was panned by critics and faced controversy for Sheen's history with the 911 Truth movement, a conspiracy theory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2018, Gershon starred in the adventure drama American Dresser directed by Carmine Cangialosi, which was critically panned.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon then starred in the drama film After Everything directed by Hannah Marks and Joey Power, opposite Maika Monroe and Jeremy Allen White.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest in March 2018, and was released in October 2018, to critical acclaim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also had a small role in comedy Blockers directed by Kay Cannon, which was released on April 6, 2018, to critical and commercial success.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, Gershon starred in the sports film Cagefighter: Worlds Collide directed by Jesse Quinones.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon next starred in Rifkin's Festival directed by Woody Allen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon also called working on the film "a dream come true".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon will also star in With/In an anthology film set during the COVID-19 pandemic directing from a screenplay she wrote.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

TV and online work

File:GinaGershonMay10.jpg

Gershon in May 2010

She portrayed Nancy Barbato, Frank Sinatra's 1st wife in the made-for-TV biopic Sinatra, in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon next had a recurring role on Melrose Place playing a prostitute working for a Heidi Fleiss-esque Hollywood madam.<ref name="Sullivan"/> Gershon made a guest appearance as herself on The Larry Sanders Show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon next starred in the lead role of Glenn Hall in ABC's detective series Snoops created by David E. Kelley, which was cancelled after one season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gershon has made numerous guest and recurring appearances on various shows including HBO's comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> FX's comedy-drama Rescue Me,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> ABC's Ugly Betty,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> USA Network's Psych,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A recurring role on HBO's How to Make It in America.<ref>How To Make It in America - Nancy Frankenburg Template:Webarchive, HBO.com; retrieved June 18, 2013.</ref>

Gershon voiced the role of Six in the adult animation series Tripping the Rift.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon also voiced the role of Catwoman in the 2007 animated series The Batman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 2017 to 2018, Gershon voiced the role of Langwidere in Lost in Oz.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2013, Gershon starred in the television film House of Versace as Donatella Versace, which premiered on Lifetime.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon's performance earned praise from fashion critic Cathy Horyn.<ref>Horyn, Cathy, "Why Fashion Films Are Usually Cartoons," New York Times, October 6, 2013, pg. 13</ref> That same year, Gershon began starring in the Crackle action series Cleaners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2015, Gershon made a guest appearance on Glee in the sixth and final season as Blaine's mother.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 2015 to 2017, Gershon had a recurring role on Amazon Prime Video's Red Oaks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also appeared in two episodes of Elementary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, Gershon had a recurring role on Z Nation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Gershon guest starred on Empire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, Gershon guest starred on the HBO comedy series Crashing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, Gershon had a recurring role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine as the villainous Lt. Melanie Hawkins.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Gershon was cast in the E! dark comedy pilot #Fashionvictim opposite Willa Fitzgerald, which was not picked up to series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 2018, Gershon has had a recurring role on The CW drama Riverdale portraying the role of Jughead Jones's mother, Gladys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, Gershon made a guest appearance on Younger.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2020, Gershon had a recurring role on New Amsterdam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gershon has appeared in two videos on FunnyorDie.com parodying former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, titled "Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin", and "Gina Gershon Does Sarah Palin 2".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Gershon parodied Melania Trump in a Funny or Die video "A Message from Melania Trump".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gershon additionally has played Trump on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An Off-Broadway play, "The 1st Annual Trump Family Special".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in an episode of CBS All Access's The Good Fight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Music

Gershon played Jaw harp on "I Can't Decide", a song on the Scissor Sisters 2006 release Ta-Dah. She also played Jaw 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

She had a cameo role in The Cars' music video "Hello Again" (1984) alongside Andy Warhol, and appeared in Lenny Kravitz's music video "Again" (2000).

Books

Gershon and her brother Dann<ref name="californiabirthindex/5524485"/> are the authors of the children's book Camp Creepy Time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="ew/article/0,,20041907">

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Gershon's first book written for adults, In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind,<ref name="curvemag/page-turner-gershon">Template:Cite news</ref> is the true story of the hunt for her runaway cat<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was released on October 11, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

From 2015 to 2018, Gershon was in a relationship with Belgian entrepreneur and former footballer Robert Dekeyser.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Acting credits

Film

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 as 3-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 as Act of Vengeance and The 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 as Mall: 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 the Mueller 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	TBA
2025	High Rollers	Amelia Decker
	Breed of Greed	Susan Wendolyn
TBA	Template:Pending film	TBA	Post-production

Television

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"<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
2020–2021	New Amsterdam	Jeanie Bloom	Recurring role
2020	Loafy	Slippy Parker	Voice, 5 episodes
2021	Betty	Oracle	Episode: "Sweet Tooth"
2022	Chucky<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	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"<ref name="VUL-25.04.2024">Template:Cite web</ref>
2024	Doctor Odyssey	Lenore Laurent	Episode: "Plastic Surgery Week"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2025	The Assassin	Marie	5 episodes

Video game

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2025	Doom: The Dark Ages	The Witch	<ref name="btva">Template:Cite web</ref>

Theater

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)	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Music

Year	Title	Notes
2007	In Search of Cleo

Podcast

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2020	The Pack Podcast	Narrator
2021	The Playboy Interview	Oriana Fallaci	2 episodes

External links

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