Gina Ravera

Gina Ravera is an American actress. She has appeared in the films Showgirls, Soul Food (1997), Kiss the Girls (1997), The Temptations and The Great Debaters (2007). She 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 mixed African-American and Puerto Rican heritage. She is a classically trained dancer.

In the early 1990s, Ravera began appearing in guest-starring roles on television shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Melrose Place and Star Trek: The Next Generation. During 1993–1994, she was a cast member of the CBS crime series Silk Stalkings. In films, she had a starring role in the 1995 erotic drama Showgirls, directed by Paul Verhoeven, and in 1997 appeared in the family drama Soul Food. Ravera later went to television, appearing in TV films of the week and in series guest roles and regular roles. She appeared in the TV miniseries The Temptations in 1998 as Josephine Williams, the first wife of Otis Williams. She was a regular cast member of Time of Your Life, a spin-off series of Fox's popular teen drama Party of Five, from 1999 to 2000.

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 appeared in a recurring role on ER and in 2007 she appeared opposite Denzel Washington as the wife of Melvin B. Tolson in the biographical film The Great Debaters.

Filmography

Film and TV movies Year Title Role Notes 1990 Lambada Funk Queen 1991 Auto Theft: Hot Cars, Cold Facts Lisa Short 1992 Steal America Jeena 1994 White Mile Alma TV movie 1995 Illegal in Blue Alexis Video Showgirls Molly Abrams W.E.I.R.D. World Dr. Patty Provost TV movie 919 Fifth Avenue Sheila TV movie 1996 Soul of the Game Grace TV movie Get on the Bus Gina 1997 Soul Food Faith Hunter Kiss the Girls Naomi Cross 1999 A Luv Tale Taylor James 2000 Rhapsody Lenore Foxwood TV movie 2002 Saint Sinner Rachel Dressler TV movie 2003 Chasing Papi Beauty Pageant Judge 2004 Pryor Offenses Tameka TV movie Gas Rev. Sheila 2007 Ruth Tolson

Television Year Title Role Notes 1990 Cheryl Episode: "Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect: Part 2,” credited as Gina Ravarra 1991 In Living Color Herself Episode: "Episode #2.24" True Colors Anita Episode: "Yo' House, Mama: Part 2" Reasonable Doubts Latasha Richardson Episode: "Pure Gold" 1992 Melrose Place Theresa Episode: "Second Chances" 1993 Where I Live Robin Episode: "Dontay's Inferno" Days of Our Lives Vanessa Mitchell Episode: "Episode #1.7060" Frasier Waitress Episode: "The Good Son" Star Trek: The Next Generation Ensign Tyler Episode: "Phantasms" 1993-94 Silk Stalkings Dr. Diana Roth Recurring cast 1994 NYPD Blue Shawanda Wilson Episode: "For Whom the Skell Tolls" 1997 In the House Sam Episode: "Men in the Black" 1998 Josephine Episode: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2" Malcolm & Eddie Tracy Burke Episode: "Dream Girl" 1999–2000 Time of Your Life Jocelyn House Main cast 2000–01 Sara Gerard Recurring cast 2003 Miracles Raina Bauer Episode: "The Patient" Charmed Mary Episode: "My Three Witches" 2004 Agent Ridgeway Episode: "Acts of Congress" Boston Legal Dr. Amanda Gerard Episode: "A Greater Good" 2005 Inconceivable Tricia Santos Episode: "The Last Straw" Everwood Stacey Episode: "Pro Choice" 2005–09 Det. Irene Daniels Recurring cast: seasons 1-2, main cast: seasons 3-4 2006–08 ER Dr. Bettina DeJesus Recurring cast: Season 13-14, guest: Season 15 2007 Raines Lisa Lincoln Episode: "Stone Dead" 2009 Private Practice Dawn Episode: "The Hard Part" 2011 Lie to Me Paula Episode: "Rebound" 2012 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Paula O'Keefe Episode: "Risky Business Class" 2014 Castle Marsha Stoller Episode: "Montreal" 2018 Arrow Lydia Cassamento Recurring cast: season 6 2020 Station 19 Claudia Flores Episode: "Satellite of Love" & "Born to Run" 2021 Calls Room Service (voice) Episode: "Pedro Across the Street"

Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome 1999 ALMA Awards ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series 2006 Imagen Awards Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress - Television 2008 Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Imagen Awards Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress - Television