
Robin Givens
Actress, Author, and Domestic Abuse Awareness Advocate
A successful actress, Robin Givens long oscillated between a glamorous movie star life and the domestic abuse she suffered at home. Today, she speaks out about the abuse she suffered, urging men, women, and the African American community to educate themselves about domestic violence. Robin Givens began her acting career with an appearance on The…
Categories :
Full Bio
A successful actress, Robin Givens long oscillated between a glamorous movie star life and the domestic abuse she suffered at home. Today, she speaks out about the abuse she suffered, urging men, women, and the African American community to educate themselves about domestic violence.
Robin Givens began her acting career with an appearance on The Cosby Show. The following year, she landed her breakthrough role as “Darlene Merriman” on the hit ABC series Head of the Class (1986-1991). During that time she co-starred with Oprah Winfrey in the miniseries The Women of Brewster Place (1989). Givens then starred in several back-to-back movies including the critically acclaimed A Rage in Harlem (1991) with Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover, and Gregory Hines under the direction of Bill Duke; Boomerang, opposite Eddie Murphy in 1992; Foreign Student (1992); and Blankman, with Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier (1994).
In 1995, Givens was listed among Empire magazine’s “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History.” She has worked with Tyler Perry on The Family That Preys Together (1998) and the TBS series Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, and has had a recurring role on USA Network’s Burn Notice. Most recently, Givens guest-starred on the hit series Chuck, the CW’s Nikita, Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva, and BET’s Reed Between the Lines with Malcolm Jamal Warner. She also starred in the Fox pilot series Tagged in 2011.
Givens has worked extensively on stage including a successful stint on Broadway in the leading role of “Roxie Hart” in the Broadway production of “Chicago” (2006), and has performed in the Off-Broadway production of “The Vagina Monologues” (2006). She recently garnered rave reviews for her starring role in the acclaimed production of “Blues for an Alabama Sky,” opposite Kadeem Hardison and Kevin T. Carroll at The Pasadena Playhouse under artistic director Sheldon Epps.
Her 2007 biography Grace Will Lead Me Home poignantly and intelligently recounts her abusive marriage and the strength it took to finally leave her husband.
Givens is co-chair of Women Who Care.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
Grace Will Lead Me Home
Robin Givens may be best known for her abusive marriage and its cataclysmic ending. But in her vividly evoked, intelligent memoir Grace Will Lead Me Home, she makes it clear there is much more to her life. She recounts the legacy of life-threatening domestic violence that has haunted her family for three generations and how she has managed to survive, and, ultimately, thrive.
In this poignant presentation based on her book, Robin Givens shares her story with audiences around the country, urging men, women, and the African American community to educate themselves about domestic violence and put an end to the destructive cycle.
The Art of Living
The Art of Living emphasizes the connection between theater and life. In this presentation with Robin Givens, audiences will explore the critical elements of acting techniques cast against the backdrop of our universal life experiences with the goal of becoming more confident, content, and fulfilled. The Art of Living is about the quality of art as it relates to the quality of life, and the importance of practice in becoming more at peace, more confident, and more secure with ourselves.
Videos
"Why I stayed": Actress Robin Givens opens up about her abuse
Books
News
Testimonials
GET IDEAS

1 HOUR OR LESS