Gloria Elizabeth Reuben is a Canadian born actress and singer who has amassed impressive credentials in television, film, theater, and music. Reuben was born in Toronto, Ontario and started classical piano lessons at the age of five. It was the beginning of a lifelong love of music. Gloria's career includes many memorable acting roles, from Jeanie Boulet in the hit NBC drama "ER", to Elizabeth Keckley, in Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln". Gloria's portrayal of Condoleezza Rice in David Hare's play "Stuff Happens" garnered her a Lucille Lortel Best Actress Award. Gloria's music career includes being a backup singer for Tina Turner in 2000, recording a solo album in 2004 titled "Just For You", and completing her second album to be released in the spring of 2015 titled "Per Chance to Dream". Reuben is an avid supporter of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit organization that spreads awareness of, and solutions for the global climate change crisis. She also supports the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Gloria toured with Tina Turner as a backup singer, on her "24/7" Tour.
Sister of Denis Simpson.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world
Sang the Canadian national anthem at the 1998 baseball All-Star game.
Played the wife of actor/director/producer Jimmy Bridges in a "Luvs Diapers" commercial in 1989.
Sang the Canadian national anthem at the 2003 basketball All-Star game. Continues to sing both the Canadian and U.S. anthems at sporting events, including NY Giants, NY Knicks, NY Rangers, Toronto Raptors.
Her parents were born in Jamaica. Her mother, Pearl Avis (Mills), was a singer, while her father, Cyril George Reuben, was an engineer. Gloria appeared on the program "Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr." , where her family ancestry was traced. Her father was mostly white (with Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewish ancestry), though he also had some African roots. Her mother was of mostly African descent. A DNA test identified Glorias African DNA as mostly Nigerian, Malian, Ghanaian, from the Ivory Coast, and Cameroonian.
She and singer/actor brother Denis Simpson both hosted the Canadian pre-schooler program "Polka Dot Door" at one time.
Crowned "Miss Black Ontario" in 1986.
Became a US Citizen in 2009.
Gloria began studying classical piano at age 5.
In New York, playing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the Public Theaters production of "Stuff Happens," David Hares play about the Bush Administration. Reuben won a Lucille Lortel award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Condi Rice.
(June - August 2000) Singing backup for Tina Turners international tour
(February 2000) Currently touring as a backup singer for Tina Turner
