Gabrielle Dennis is an American actress and comedian best known for recurring role as Janay Brice on The CW/BET comedy-drama series The Game, and for starring in the sketch comedy HBO show A Black Lady Sketch Show.
Early life and education Dennis was born and raised in Cincinnati. She began studying dance at the age of four. She attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, and by the fifth grade she got her first acting gigs.
Dennis attended Howard University, majoring in communications with a minor in theatre. After graduation, she took a job as a news station camera operator.
Career Dennis has a background in dance, theatre, stand-up comedy, and singing.
In 2008, Dennis won the role of Janay Brice on The CW comedy series The Game. After the show was canceled, fans campaigned for its return where Dennis was able to reprise her role for two more seasons on BET. During her stint on The Game she landed roles in the direct-to-DVD film Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, and The Marc Pease Experience. She played Denise Roy on Spike's Blue Mountain State.
Dennis has since guest-starred on several series including Franklin & Bash, Bones, Justified, and Baby Daddy. In 2015, she landed the role of Pippy Rosewood, the toxicology expert and lesbian sister of Beaumont Rosewood (Chestnut) for Fox's Rosewood.
Dennis was in a recurring role as Candace on the hit show Insecure.
Dennis is in a recurring role as Tasha on the Netflix series The Upshaws.
Dennis played Whitney Houston in the BET miniseries, The Bobby Brown Story, which debuted in the United States and internationally in September 2018.Pederson, Erik (March 12, 2018). "'The Bobby Brown Story': BET Miniseries Finds Its Whitney Houston". Deadline Hollywood
In 2018, she began starring as Tilda Johnson in the Marvel Comics-based series Luke Cage (2018).
She has also appeared in Old Spice commercials with comedian/actor Deon Cole.
In 2023, Dennis began playing the leading role of Cass in the Apple TV+ series The Big Door Prize.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 A Mom for Christmas Christmas Box TV movie 2004 He Can Get It Kyra Video 2005 The Wickeds Kate Video 2006 Let's Talk Khalil's Wife Short 2008 Drifter Miranda Learning How to Speak Student Short After School Robert's Wife 2009 Timer Girlfriend Slinging Mud Guidance Counselor Short Bring It On: Fight to the Finish Treyvonetta Video Tracey Janky Promoters Female Fan 2011 Holly's Holiday Deena TV movie Politics of Love Chelsea He's Mine Not Yours Brooke 2012 Back Then Bobby Jo 2013 Reporting Live Guidance Counselor What Would You Do for Love Paula TV movie 2014 Black Coffee Morgan The Fright Night Files Serena TV movie - Short 2015 My First Love Carmen Video; also executive producer Call Me King Leena 2017 Girls Trip Herself 2022 A Madea Homecoming Laura Wendell & Wild Wilma Elliot (voice) 2025 One of Them Days Shayla
Television Year Title Role Notes 1998–2000 Teen Summit Herself/Host Main Host 2004 The New Detectives Girlfriend Episode: "Vanished" 2005 Minding the Store Herself Episode: "Hot Girls of Comedy" Ballin Herself/Host Main Host 2006 Herself/Cast Member Main Cast 2007 Campus Ladies Lena Episode: "Barri & Joan Rush a Black Sorority" 2008 Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Mock Trainer's Assistant Episode: "Sensitivity Training" Wizards of Waverly Place Candace Episode: "Quinceanera" My Name Is Earl Sassy Black Episode: "We've Got Spirit" 2008–12 Janay Brice Recurring Cast: Season 2–5 2009 Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Herself Episode: "Lie Detectors" 2010 Southland Michelle Hill Episode: "The Runner" Blue Mountain State Denise Roy Main Cast: Season 1 2012 Franklin & Bash Nicole Toomin Episode: "Summer Girls" 2014 Justified Gloria Recurring Cast: Season 5 Baby Daddy Valerie Banks Episode: "Curious Georgie" 2015 Bones Alana Jackson Episode: "The Psychic in the Soup" 2015–16 Born Again Virgin Kelly/Bryn Episode: "Pilot" & "Call a Spade a Spade" 2015–17 Rosewood Pippy Rosewood Main Cast 2017 Tia Mowry at Home Herself Episode: "Booze and Bites" Face Value Herself/Team Captain Episode: "Justin Hires Vs. Gabrielle Dennis" Lady Dynamite Jessica Hu Episode: "Souplutions" 2017–18 Insecure Candice Peña Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3 2018 Luke Cage Tilda Johnson Main Cast: Season 2 The Bobby Brown Story Whitney Houston Episode: "Part I & II" Hell's Kitchen Herself/Restaurant Patron Episode: "Families Come to Hell" 2018–19 S.W.A.T. Briana Harrelson Recurring Cast: Season 1 & 3, Guest: Season 2 2019 Rel Shannon Episode: "Cleveland" American Soul Tina Turner Episode: "Proceed with Caution" 2019–23 A Black Lady Sketch Show Herself/Cast Member Main Cast 2021–26 The Upshaws Tasha Lewis Recurring Cast: Season 1-3, Guest: Season 4-5 2022 All American Lareesha Episode: "Turn Down for What" 2023–2024 The Big Door Prize Cass Main Cast; 20 episodes 2026NemesisDr. Candice StilesMain Cast Source
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