Gabrielle Ruiz

{{Infobox person

| name = Gabrielle Ruiz

| image = Gabrielle Ruiz 2016.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Ruiz in 2016

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|12|12}}

| birth_place = Edinburg, Texas, United States

| alma_mater = Oklahoma City University

| occupation = Actress

| years_active =

| spouse = {{marriage|Philip Pisanchyn|2016}}

| children = 2

| website = {{URL|http://www.gabrielleruiz.net}}

}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://zap2it.com/2015/10/crazy-ex-girlfriend-rebecca-valenica-josh-chan/|title='Crazy Ex-Girlfriend': Rebecca and Valencia have more in common than Josh Chan|website=Zap2it|date=2015-10-19|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-10|archive-date=2015-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020102451/http://zap2it.com/2015/10/crazy-ex-girlfriend-rebecca-valenica-josh-chan/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Krauser|first=Emily|date=March 15, 2019|title=Gabrielle Ruiz Talks Upcoming 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Finale|url=https://www.etonline.com/gabrielle-ruiz-is-dancing-her-way-toward-the-crazy-ex-girlfriend-finale-exclusive-121588|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Entertainment Tonight|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Bradley|first=Laura|date=November 19, 2016|title=Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Gabrielle Ruiz Is All in for Valencia's Feminist Awakening|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/crazy-ex-girlfriend-season-2-episode-5-recap-valencia-gabrielle-ruiz-interview|access-date=2020-08-29|website=Vanity Fair|language=en-us}}{{Cite news|last=Greenberg|first=Rudi|date=April 5, 2018|title=Actress Gabrielle Ruiz loosens up for the 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' live tour|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2018/04/05/actress-gabrielle-ruiz-loosens-up-for-the-crazy-ex-girlfriend-live-tour/|access-date=2020-08-29|issn=0190-8286}} Prior to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, she performed in several Broadway musicals.

Early life and education

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gabrielle-ruiz-of-crazy-ex-girlfriend-on-hollywood-diversity-and-boxed-water/|title=Gabrielle Ruiz of 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' on Hollywood Diversity and Boxed Water|author=|date=10 March 2016|website=vice.com|access-date=7 September 2018}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gabrielleruiz.net/perf_bio.html |title=Gabrielle Ruiz* ~ Bio |website=www.gabrielleruiz.net |access-date=2016-04-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401094821/http://www.gabrielleruiz.net/perf_bio.html |archive-date=2016-04-01 }}

Career

After college, Ruiz landed various roles on both television and Broadway.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Her breakthrough role was playing Valencia Perez on The CW comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. 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.

Personal life

On August 4, 2016, Ruiz married Philip Pisanchyn in a small private ceremony at a villa on Saint Martin.{{Cite web|url=http://site.people.com/style/crazy-ex-girlfriend-star-gabrielle-ruiz-wedding-photos-exclusive|title=See Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Star Gabrielle Ruiz's Gorgeous Wedding Photos!|date=2016-08-05|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-date=2016-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807210228/http://site.people.com/style/crazy-ex-girlfriend-star-gabrielle-ruiz-wedding-photos-exclusive/|url-status=dead}} They live in New York City and occasionally Los Angeles.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} On April 28, 2021 she gave birth to a girl, Mercedes.{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/COYRhKgnvgO/ | title=Gabrielle Ruiz on Instagram: "Mercedes is here and oh what a beauty she is. Ty for all your prayers and well wishes. We felt them. More later after some more family time. Oh my baby girl, how you've made our world so beautiful. I love you, Philip. 🤍 4/28/2021" }}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable" \|+Film roles
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2014 \| Sex, Love, and Salsa \| Maria \| Indie Film Award, Best Featured Actress

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Film roles

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2014

| Sex, Love, and Salsa

| Maria

| Indie Film Award, Best Featured Actress

class="wikitable sortable" \|+Television roles
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2007 \| One Life to Live \| Principal Dancer \| Episode #1.9956
2009 \| Sesame Street \| Singing Electrician \| Episode: "Y a Quest, Y Not?"
2013 \| Law & Order: SVU \| 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"
2020{{ndash}}2024 \| Star Trek: Lower Decks \| Lieutenant Lemonts / Ensign Castro / T'Lyn \| Voice, 17 episodes
2021 \| Mr. Mayor \| Emily Biyata \| Episode: "Dodger Day"
2021–present \| Spidey and His Amazing Friends \| Rio Morales \|{{cite web\|title=Mother's Day Mayhem / Not-So-Fun House\|url=https://disneynow.com/shows/spidey-and-his-amazing-friends/season-01/episode-06-mothers-day-mayhem-notsofun-house/vdka24592416\|work=DisneyNow\|date=September 3, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907163557/https://disneynow.com/shows/spidey-and-his-amazing-friends/season-01/episode-06-mothers-day-mayhem-notsofun-house/vdka24592416\|archive-date=September 7, 2021\|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Television roles

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2007

| One Life to Live

| Principal Dancer

| Episode #1.9956

2009

| Sesame Street

| Singing Electrician

| Episode: "Y a Quest, Y Not?"

2013

| Law & Order: SVU

| 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"

2020{{ndash}}2024

| Star Trek: Lower Decks

| Lieutenant Lemonts / Ensign Castro / T'Lyn

| Voice, 17 episodes

2021

| Mr. Mayor

| Emily Biyata

| Episode: "Dodger Day"

2021–present

| Spidey and His Amazing Friends

| Rio Morales

|{{cite web|title=Mother's Day Mayhem / Not-So-Fun House|url=https://disneynow.com/shows/spidey-and-his-amazing-friends/season-01/episode-06-mothers-day-mayhem-notsofun-house/vdka24592416|work=DisneyNow|date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907163557/https://disneynow.com/shows/spidey-and-his-amazing-friends/season-01/episode-06-mothers-day-mayhem-notsofun-house/vdka24592416|archive-date=September 7, 2021|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Broadway/national tour roles

! Title

! Role

! Theater performed

If/Then

| Featured, understudy Anne & Elena

| Richard Rodgers Theater

Evita

| Featured

| Marquis Theater

In the Heights