Quick Facts
Biography
Gina Ravera (born May 20, 1966) is an American actress. She has appeared in films Showgirls (1995), Soul Food (1997), Kiss the Girls (1997), and The Great Debaters (2007), and well as co-starred as detective Irene Daniels in the TNT crime drama series, The Closer (2005-2009).
Life and career
Ravera was born in San Francisco, California. She is of African-American and Puerto Rican descent. She is a classically trained dancer.
In early 1990s, Ravera began appearing in guest starring roles on television shows, include The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Melrose Place, Star Trek: The Next Generation. During 1993-1994, she was cast member on the CBS crime series, Silk Stalkings. In film, she had starring role in the 1995 erotic drama film Showgirls directed by Paul Verhoeven. In 1997, she has appeared in the comedy-drama Soul Food. Ravera later went to television, playing roles in the movies-of-the-week, guest roles, and regular roles. She was part of the main cast of Time of Your Life, a spin-off series of Fox's popular teen drama Party of Five, from 1999 to 2001.
From 2005 to 2009, Ravera played Irene Daniels during the first four seasons of the TNT crime drama series, The Closer, and was the only regular cast member to leave the series during its run. From 2006 to 2008, she also had the recurring role on ER, and in 2007 played Denzel Washington's wife in the biographical film The Great Debaters.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Lambada | Funk Queen | |
| 1992 | Steal America | Jeena | |
| 1995 | Illegal in Blue | Alexis | Direct-to-Video |
| 1995 | Showgirls | Molly Abrams | |
| 1996 | Get on the Bus | Gina | |
| 1997 | Soul Food | Faith | |
| 1997 | Kiss the Girls | Naomi Cross | |
| 2003 | Chasing Papi | Beauty Pageant Judge | |
| 2004 | Gas | Rev. Sheila | |
| 2007 | Great Debaters, TheThe Great Debaters | Ruth Tolson |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, TheThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Cheryl | "Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect: Part 2" |
| 1991 | True Colors | Anita | "Yo' House, Mama: Part 2" |
| 1991 | Reasonable Doubts | Latasha Richardson | "Pure Gold" |
| 1992 | Melrose Place | Theresa | "My Way" |
| 1993 | Where I Live | Robin | "Dontay's Inferno" |
| 1993 | Days of Our Lives | Vanessa Mitchell | "1.7060" |
| 1993 | Frasier | Waitress | "The Good Son" |
| 1993 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Ensign Tyler | "Phantasms" |
| 1993-1994 | Silk Stalkings | Dr. Diana Roth | Recurring role |
| 1994 | White Mile | Alma | TV film |
| 1994 | NYPD Blue | Shawanda Wilson | "For Whom the Skell Tolls" |
| 1995 | W.E.I.R.D. World | Dr. Patty Provost | TV film |
| 1996 | Soul of the Game | Grace | TV film |
| 1997 | In the House | Sam | "Men in the Black" |
| 1998 | Temptations, TheThe Temptations | Josephine | TV film Nominated — ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series |
| 1998 | Malcolm & Eddie | Tracy Burke | "Dream Girl" |
| 1999-2001 | Time of Your Life | Jocelyn House | Main role |
| 2000 | 919 Fifth Avenue | Sheila | TV film |
| 2000 | Rhapsody | Lenore Foxwood | TV film |
| 2000-2001 | Fugitive, TheThe Fugitive | Sara Gerard | "Pilot", "Sanctuary", "And in That Darkness" |
| 2002 | Saint Sinner | Rachel Dressler | TV film |
| 2003 | Miracles | Raina Bauer | "The Patient" |
| 2003 | Charmed | Mary | "My Three Witches" |
| 2004 | Handler, TheThe Handler | Agent Ridgeway | "Acts of Congress" |
| 2004 | Boston Legal | Dr. Amanda Gerard | "A Greater Good" |
| 2004 | Pryor Offenses | Tameka | TV film |
| 2005 | Inconceivable | Tricia Santos | "The Last Straw" |
| 2005 | Everwood | Stacey | "Pro Choice" |
| 2005-2009 | Closer, TheThe Closer | Det. Irene Daniels | Series regular, 44 episodes Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2008-2009) Nominated — Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress - Television (2006, 2009) |
| 2006-2008 | ER | Dr. Bettina DeJesus | Recurring role |
| 2007 | Raines | Lisa Lincoln | "Stone Dead" |
| 2009 | Private Practice | Dawn | "The Hard Part" |
| 2011 | Lie to Me | Paula | "Rebound" |
| 2012 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Paula O'Keefe | "Risky Business Class" |
| 2014 | Castle | Marsha Stoller | "Montreal" |