Robin Givens — Director | Biography, Movies & Career

Biography

Robin Simone Givens (November 27, 1964) is an American actress and model. She's best known for her roles as Jada Jet in CW's Batwoman, Stephanie Carlisle in OWN's drama Ambitions, Sierra McCoy in CW's Riverdale, Abby in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys, Kim in Head of State, Wilma Cuthbert on UPN's sitcom Sparks, Jacqueline Broyer in Boomerang, Imabelle in A Rage in Harlem, Kiswana on the miniseries The Women of Brewster Place, and Darlene Merriman on ABC's sitcom Head of the Class.

She first began acting in 1985 with an appearance on The Cosby Show, followed by roles in Diff'rent Strokes and the 1986 television film Beverly Hills Madam, opposite Faye Dunaway. That same year, she landed her breakthrough role as rich girl Darlene Merriman on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class - she reprised her role in the 2021 HBO remake.

In 1989, while starring in Head of the Class, she appeared in The Women of Brewster Place with Oprah Winfrey. She later starred in the feature films A Rage in Harlem (1991) and Boomerang (1992).

In 1994, she posed nude for Playboy magazine. She was ranked No. 88 on Empire magazine's "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" list in May 1995.

From February to April 16, 2006, she played the role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway play Chicago. From February to April 16, 2006, she played the role of Roxie Hart in the Broadway play Chicago. In 2007, she toured the country playing a part in the I'm Ready Productions play Men, Money & Golddiggers. She starred in the 2009 stage play A Mother's Prayer.

After meeting in March 1986, she married boxer Mike Tyson on February 7, 1988. Tyson was then estimated to have $50 million, and they did not have a prenuptial agreement. In October 1988, Givens filed for divorce, citing spousal abuse and was granted a temporary restraining order. Tyson sought an annulment, accusing her of stealing millions of dollars and manipulating the public. She responded by filing a $125 million libel suit for defamation. Their divorce was finalized on Valentine's Day in 1989. She was the spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline for several years.

In 1993 she adopted her first son, Michael "Buddy" Givens. In 1997, she married her tennis instructor, Svetozar Marinković; she filed for divorce months later. In 1999, she had a biological son, William "Billy" Jensen, with tennis player Murphy Jensen. They dated from 1999 until 2002.

In June 2007, she released her autobiography Grace Will Lead Me Home.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.