Gloria Reuben
*Gloria Reuben was born on this date in 1964. She is a Black Canadian actress and dancer.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, she is one of six children; her brother is Broadway actor Denis Reuben. She studied ballet, jazz, and music technique and theory at the Canadian Royal Conservatory. Ruben has made TV appearances in such shows as "The Young Riders," "The District," "Silk Stockings," "Homicide: Life on the Street," and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." She had a recurring role in "The Flash." Ruben gained widespread recognition in 1994 and 1995 when she starred alongside Jean Claude Van Damme in the movie "Timecop" and the TV series "E.R."
She’s been nominated several times for the Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. After leaving E.R. in 1999, she sang backup for Tina Turner during her Twenty-Four Seven Tour. Ruben has also appeared in the Off-Broadway production of "The Vagina Monologues." She recently appeared in the Showtime miniseries "Anne Rice's The Feast of All Saints" and the TV series "The Agency."
Ruben starred in the first season of the Lifetime TV series "1-800-MISSING," now titled "MISSING." Her portrayal of Condoleezza Rice in David Hare’s play “Stuff Happens” (at Joe Papp’s Public Theater in New York City) garnered her a Lucille Lortel Best Actress Award. Reubens’ music career includes being a backup singer for Tina Turner in 2000, which led her to record her solo record Just For You. She had a thriving jazz/cabaret show highlighting the ladies of jazz…Ella, Sarah, Billie, and her favorite Shirley Horn.
She is also a committed social activist. She continues to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS pandemic that affects the African American and Latino communities in the United States and globally. She is also greatly interested in global issues, predominantly climate change, nature, and human rights. She is a special adviser on climate change for The Climate Reality Project, former Vice President Al Gore’s environmental organization. She is on the Board of the National Wildlife Federation. She is also on the Leadership Council for the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights. Gloria Ruben has traveled to numerous international destinations on behalf of the RFK Center.
