| Gabrielle Ruiz | |
| Birth Date: | 1984 12, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Edinburg, Texas, United States |
| Alma Mater: | Oklahoma City University |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Children: | 1 |
Gabrielle Ruiz (born December 12, 1984) is an American actress best known for playing the role of Valencia Perez on The CW musical comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.[1] [2] [3] [4] Prior to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, she performed in several Broadway musicals.
Gabrielle was born to Eduardo and Sylvia Ruiz in Edinburg, Texas. Both parents are of Mexican heritage. She discovered her love of performing at a young age through dance. She was trained in dance at Melba's School of Dance and the Texas Association for Teachers of Dance. She also took vocal lessons and was part of the Texas All-State Choir.[5] She attended public schools through high school, and graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance in 2007. While in college she was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company, OCU Rhythms, numerous musicals, work-study, and the Alpha Phi women's fraternity.[6]
After college, Ruiz landed various roles on both television and Broadway. Her breakthrough role was playing Valencia Perez on The CW comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.[6] Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, saw her perform in his musical In the Heights and referred her to the CXG show producers. On the basis of his recommendation, she got an audition and then landed the part.
On August 4, 2016, Ruiz married Philip Pisanchyn in a small private ceremony at a villa on Saint Martin.[7] They live in New York City and occasionally Los Angeles. On April 28, 2021 she gave birth to a girl, Mercedes.[8]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | One Life to Live | Principal Dancer | Episode #1.9956 |
| 2009 | Sesame Street | Singing Electrician | Episode: "Y a Quest, Y Not?" |
| 2013 | Tina | Episode: "Deadly Ambition" | |
| 2015–2019 | Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | Valencia Perez | Recurring role (season 1) Main role (seasons 2-4) |
| 2016 | Orange is the New Black | Singing Inmate #2 | Episode: "Power Suit" |
| 2018 | Alone Together | Linda | Episode: "Pop-Up" |
| 2019 | Modern Family | Anne | Episode: "Snapped" |
| 2019 | The Filth | Frantic Shopper | Episode: "Filthy Day Jobs" |
| 2019 | Better Things | Herself | Episode: "The Unknown" |
| 2020 | Action Nat and the Cat | Bell | Episode: "The Field Trip" |
| 2020present | Lieutenant Lemonts / Ensign Castro / T'Lyn | Voice, 9 episodes | |
| 2021 | Mr. Mayor | Emily Biyata | Episode: "Dodger Day" |
| 2021–present | Spidey and His Amazing Friends | Rio Morales | [9] |
| If/Then | Featured, understudy Anne & Elena | Richard Rodgers Theater |
| Evita | Featured | Marquis Theater |
| In the Heights | Carla, understudy Nina & Vanessa | Richard Rodgers Theater |
| A Chorus Line | Diana Morales | Third National Tour |