Who is Robin Givens? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Robin Simone Givens

Age: 59 Years, 59 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Mike Tyson (m. 1988–1989), Svetozar Marinkovic (m. 1997–1998)

father: Reuben Givens

mother: Ruth Roper

children: Michael Givens, William Givens Jensen

Partner: Murphy Jensen (1999–2002)

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'5" (165 cm), 5'5" Females

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: Sarah Lawrence College

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1

Is Robin Givens still acting?

Yes, Robin Givens is still active in the entertainment industry, appearing in various television shows and films.
2

What are some of Robin Givens' notable acting roles?

Some notable acting roles of Robin Givens include her portrayal of Darlene Merriman on the sitcom "Head of the Class" and her role in the film "Boomerang" alongside Eddie Murphy.
3

Has Robin Givens written any books?

Yes, Robin Givens has authored a book titled "Grace Will Lead Me Home: A Novel."
4

Does Robin Givens have any upcoming projects?

As of the latest information available, Robin Givens has several upcoming projects in development, including new film and television roles.
5

What causes does Robin Givens support?

Robin Givens is known for supporting various charitable causes, including organizations focused on domestic violence awareness and prevention.

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Childhood & Early Life

Robin Simone Givens was born on November 27, 1964, in New York City, to Reuben Givens and Ruth Roper (née Newby). When she was two years old, her parents divorced following which she and her sister Stephanie were brought up by their mother in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, New York. She was raised as a Catholic.

Her mother motivated the two siblings in creative pursuits. With time Givens developed interest in acting and took acting classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Robin Givens graduated from New Rochelle Academy. Thereafter she studied at the Sarah Lawrence College and graduated in 1984. She also enrolled at the Harvard Medical School and studied there for two years, however, she did not complete her graduation.

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Career

Robin Givens played her first credited role in 1985 in an episode of the sitcom ‘The Cosby Show’. She first starred in the NBC aired 1986 made-for-television drama film ‘Beverly Hills Madam’. Her real breakthrough came when she portrayed spoilt rich girl, Darlene Merriman, in all five seasons (1986–1991) of the ABC aired sitcom series ‘Head of the Class’.

She appeared in several other television productions. These include starring in miniseries ‘The Women of Brewster Place' (1989) with Oprah Winfrey; television movies like ‘A Face to Die For’ (1996), ‘The Expendables’ (2000) and ‘Hollywood Wives: The New Generation’ (2003); and series like ‘Sparks’ (1996–1998).

Robin Givens featured in recurring roles in series ‘The Game’ (2008), ‘Tyler Perry's House of Payne’ (2008) and ‘Chuck’ (2011), and since 2017 appears in the recurring role of Mayor McCoy in ‘Riverdale’. She will star as Stephanie Carlisle in the upcoming drama series ‘Ambitions’, set to premiere on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2019.

Starting from ‘A Rage in Harlem’ (1991), Givens has starred in many big-screen flicks. These include the hit rom-com ‘Boomerang’ (1992) with Eddie Murphy; superhero-comedy-parody ‘Blankman’ (1994); and Christian drama ‘God's Not Dead 2’ (2016).

She posed nude for Playboy magazine in 1994. (In)The Empire Magazine's list of 100 Sexiest Stars in Film History ranked her #88 in May 1995.

She replaced television personality Mother Love in 2000 to host talk show ‘Forgive or Forget’.

Robin also thrived onstage performing in an Off Broadway production of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ in 2001; as Roxie Hart in the Broadway play ‘Chicago’ from February to April 16, 2006; in the I'm Ready Productions play ‘Men, Money & Golddiggers’ in 2007; and in ‘A Mother's Prayer’ in 2009.

She released her autobiography ‘Grace Will Lead Me Home’ in June 2007. She is associated with the National Domestic Violence Hotline as a spokesperson.

Family & Personal Life

Robin Givens met Mike Tyson in March 1986 and married him on February 7, 1988. The marriage hit the rocks following a May 1988 miscarriage. Givens filed for divorce in October that year and alleged spousal abuse. On the other hand Tyson alleged that she was interested in his money and not in him. Tyson’s 1989 biography ‘Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Mike Tyson’ however mentioned that he punched Givens.

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Divorce of Givens and Tyson was finalized in 1989 on Valentine's Day. Givens denied that she received any divorce settlement amount which was reported by newspapers to be over $10 million. Split with Tyson garnered her negative press, especially among the African-American community. She was even described as America’s most hated woman in an article.

Robins Givens’ second marriage with her tennis instructor, Svetozar Marinković was also short-lived from 1997 to 1998.

Meanwhile she adopted a son, Michael, in 1993. She also had a second son, William, in 1999 born through her ex-boyfriend, Murphy Jensen.

Robin Givens has been on the the wrong side of law a few times. She was ticketed for critically injuring an 89-year-old pedestrian, Maria Antonia Alcover, while driving her sister’s SUV in January 2004. In June 2004 Alcover filed a civil lawsuit against the two sisters for an undisclosed amount.

According to a Forbes magazine article dated May 7, 2009, Internal Revenue Service was suing Givens for unpaid federal income taxes that amounted to $292,000 including penalties and interests.

Facts About Robin Givens

Robin Givens is a talented actress who has appeared in numerous television shows and movies, including her breakout role in the sitcom "Head of the Class."

In addition to her acting career, Robin Givens is also a published author, having written a memoir titled "Grace Will Lead Me Home" which details her personal struggles and triumphs.

Robin Givens is a dedicated philanthropist who has worked with various charitable organizations to support causes such as domestic violence awareness and education for underprivileged children.

Despite facing challenges in her personal life, Robin Givens has remained resilient and focused on her career, continuing to pursue her passion for acting and making a positive impact in the entertainment industry.

In recent years, Robin Givens has expanded her career to include producing and directing projects, showcasing her versatility and commitment to storytelling in different roles behind the camera.

Robin Givens Biography

You wanted to know

Is Robin Givens still acting?

What are some of Robin Givens' notable acting roles?

Has Robin Givens written any books?

Does Robin Givens have any upcoming projects?

What causes does Robin Givens support?