Robin Givens

Infobox actor
name = Robin Givens


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Robin Simone Givens
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1964|11|27
birthplace = New York, New York US
spouse = Svetozar Marinkovic (1997)
Mike Tyson (1988-1989)

Robin Simone Givens (born November 27, 1964) is an American actress.

Early life

Givens was born in New York City, the daughter of Ruth Roper (née Newby) and Reuben Givens. [http://www.filmreference.com/film/60/Robin-Givens.html] [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32667020_ITM] She was raised with her younger sister Stephanie by their mother, in the South Bronx,New York. Their father was an artist who left the family in 1966. Givens's mother encouraged her daughters creativity; this influenced their interest in art. As a young artist, Givens played violin for a short while.

In 1980, 16 year old Givens enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. Givens stated that she studied genetics, biochemistry and other medical courses at Harvard Medical School. However Harvard's registrar's office confirms that she took only one class in 1984; and it was in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences not medical school.Fact|date=September 2008

Career

Givens appeared on "The Cosby Show"; on "Diff'rent Strokes"; and as April Baxter in the television film "Beverly Hills Madam", before "Head of the Class". Her role as rich girl Darlene Merriman on the sitcom "Head of the Class" made her famous. The series was a comedy about a group of gifted high school students that were placed in an enrichment class; it lasted 5 years on ABC.

After "Head of the Class" she appeared in "The Women of Brewster Place" with Oprah Winfrey; 1992's Boomerang, as well as "The Face" (now called "A Face To Die For") with Yasmine Bleeth. She posed nude for "Playboy" magazine in the September 1994 edition. In May 1995, Givens appeared in the "Cold Feet, Hot Body" episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" as a young lady named Denise. Also in 1995, she was named by "Empire Magazine" as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History". [http://www.twoop.com/people/robin_givens.html]

In January 2000, she appeared in a cameo in music video "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton, as the wife of a cheating husband. Givens attempted to return to the entertainment industry in 2000 as the host of the talk show "Forgive or Forget" replacing television personality Mother Love; Givens was received coldly as Mother Love, as the original version of the series had been built to prominence. Givens's stint was brief; just a few months later, the show stopped production.

In 2006, Givens attempted a return to television on MyNetworkTV's "Saints and Sinners", [cite press release | title = ROBIN GIVENS AND MEL HARRIS JOIN CAST OF MYNETWORKTV'S"SAINTS AND SINNERS" | publisher = MyNetworkTV | date = November 29, 2006 | url = http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20061129mynetworktv01 | accessdate = 2006-11-30] but the show earned low ratings. Given continued acting in made-for-television films and made appearances on Trinity Broadcasting Network's "Praise The Lord" program (July 12, 2007), as well as on "Larry King Live".

She performed in New York in the Off-Broadway production of "The Vagina Monologues", earning good reviews for her performance Fact|date=February 2007. From February - April 16, 2006 she was Roxie in the broadway play "Chicago". [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=7847 Given is "Roxie Hart" in Chicago]

In 2007, Givens toured the country playing a part in the I'm Ready Productions play "Men, Money & Golddiggers" (which is rumored to have been written with Givens in mind). In addition, Givens was filming "Queen of Media", the film based on the autobiography written by radio personality Wendy Williams.

Most recently, Givens portrayed herself on "The Game". She has been recurring character Tanya on the TBS show Tyler Perry's House of Payne, and she has a guest role on USA Network's "Burn Notice".

Personal life

Givens dated her "Head of the Class" costar Brian Robbins, [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20099305,00.html "The Champ And The Vamp" vol 29 # 25, 27 Jun 88 People magazine] as well as Eddie Murphy and Brad Pitt for some time in Pitt's pre-stardom days. [ [http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/person.jsp?id=15123 Brad Pitt - Channel 4 Film] ] On the Oprah Winfrey Show, Givens said heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson broke down her hotel room door trying to assault Pitt.

After meeting in March 1987, Givens married Tyson on February 7 1988; Tyson gave her no prenuptial agreement. With his millions, Givens and her mother bought a $4.5 million dollar mansion in the affluent suburb of Bernardsville, New Jersey. She miscarried the couple's child in May 1989 and soon after there was a rift in the couple's relationship. [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20099305,00.html "The Champ And The Vamp" vol 29 # 25, 27 Jun 88 People magazine] They filed for divorce and hurled accusations. Givens alleged spousal abuse; Tyson alleged alienation and interest in his money not him. The marriage ended (on Valentine's Day), just a year later. Newspapers reported that Givens received a divorce settlement of over $10 million from her marriage to Tyson. [Younge, Gary., [http://www.guardian.co.uk/boxing/article/0,,1012528,00.html "Out for the count"] , "The Guardian", 2003-08-05, Retrieved on 2007-07-03.] Givens, however, states that she received no money: "I didn't get a dime, not one penny!" she relayed. [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=NeWh8yw1QMo] ]

Givens received negative press following her split from Tyson, particularly within the African American community. One article in particular described her as "the most hated woman in America". [ Randolph, Laura B., "Robin Givens: Life After Tyson", "Ebony", March 1990. ]

Givens adopted son Michael Givens (1992) in early 1994. [http://www.mediatakeout.com/2008/9834-check_out_robin_givens_and_two_handsome_sons.html Robin, Michael,William] [http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2007/08/robin-givens-an.html Robin and her two sons] [http://concreteloop.com/?p=15880&cp=2 June Robin Given and her 2 sons in New York, USA]

In 1997, Givens married her tennis instructor Svetozar Marinkovic. The marriage was a failure, as the two were separated from the day of their marriage.

In October 1999, she had son William Jensen with tennis player Murphy Jensen; they are no longer together.

Givens briefly dated Howard Stern from 1999-2000. [http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?month=June&day=7&year=2007&x=22&y=14 Given on Howard Stern radio show]

Filmography

*"The Wiz" (1978)
*"A Rage in Harlem" (1991)
*"Boomerang" (1992)
*"Foreign Student" (1994)
*"Blankman" (1994)
*"The Fresh Prince of Bel Air"
*"Dangerous Intentions" (1995)
*"A Face to Die For" (1996)
*"Secrets" (1998) (short subject)
*"Everything's Jake" (2000)
*"The Elite" (2001)
*"Book of Love" (2002)
*"Antibody" (2002)
*"Head of State" (2003)
*"A Good Night to Die" (2003)
*"Love Chronicles" (2003)
*"One On One" (2005)
*"Flip the Script" (2005)
*"Restraining Order" (2006)
*"The Game" (2006-present) (TV-series)
*"4-Bidden" (2007)
*"Tyler Perry's House of Payne" (2007-present) (TV-series)
*"Little Hercules in 3-D" (2007)
*"Queen Of Media" (2008)
*"The Family That Preys" (2008)
*"Burn Notice (TV series)" (2008)

Books

*"Grace Will Lead Me Home" (Publisher: Miramax (June 5, 2007)) ISBN1-4013-5246-4. The book addresses her personal religious faith and how it provided strength to her in times of trouble.

References

External links

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