Theatre Gershon attended the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School in New York, working first with
David Mamet and later with
Harold Guskin and
Sandra Seacat, whom she has described in interviews as "a huge influence." Her first professional acting was in stage productions of
Camille and
The Substance of Fire. She is one of the founding members of the New York-based theater group
Naked Angels. She has appeared on Broadway three times: as
Sally Bowles in the revival of
Cabaret; in the revival of the sex farce
Boeing-Boeing; and as Rosie Alvarez in the 2010 revival of
Bye Bye Birdie at the
Roundabout Theatre Company.
Film Gershon's break came with a
bit part in
Pretty in Pink (1986), which led to more substantial roles in
Sweet Revenge with
Nancy Allen,
Cocktail with
Tom Cruise and
Elisabeth Shue, and
John Sayles' urban drama
City of Hope (1991). Also in 1991, she appeared in the action film
Out for Justice opposite
Steven Seagal, where she played Patti Madano, sister of the film's villain, Richie Madano (
William Forsythe). Gershon also worked in television, with a recurring role on
Melrose Place playing a prostitute working for a
Heidi Fleiss-esque Hollywood
madam. In 1996, she played Corky, an
ex-con who gets mixed up in an affair with Violet (played by
Jennifer Tilly) in the crime film
Bound. In 1997, she co-starred with
John Travolta and
Nicolas Cage in
Face/Off. for her roles in films such as
Bound (in which she played a
butch lesbian),
Prey for Rock & Roll, and
Showgirls (in which she played a
bisexual showgirl, and which is regarded as a
camp classic). She was ranked #51 on the
Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2004. In 2011, Gershon appeared alongside
Matthew McConaughey in
Killer Joe, a dark comedy/thriller featuring director
William Friedkin. In 2017, Gershon starred in
Bad Kids of Crestview Academy directed by
Ben Browder,
Lost Cat Corona directed by Anthony Tarsitano, the romantic comedy-drama
Permission opposite
Dan Stevens and
Rebecca Hall directed by Brian Crano, Gershon co-starred alongside
Nicolas Cage in the thriller
Inconceivable,
thriller film directed by Jonathan Baker, That same year, she starred in
9/11 directed by Martin Guigui revolving around the
September 11 attacks opposite
Whoopi Goldberg,
Luis Guzmán and
Charlie Sheen. The film was panned by critics and faced controversy for Sheen's history with the
911 Truth movement, a
conspiracy theory. Gershon stated she was unaware of Sheen's comments during production of the film and would have spoken with Sheen and Guigui before agreeing to star. In 2018, Gershon starred in the adventure drama
American Dresser directed by Carmine Cangialosi, which was critically panned. Gershon then starred in the drama film
After Everything directed by
Hannah Marks and Joey Power, opposite
Maika Monroe and
Jeremy Allen White. The film had its world premiere at
South by Southwest in March 2018, and was released in October 2018, to critical acclaim. She also had a small role in comedy
Blockers directed by
Kay Cannon, which was released on April 6, 2018, to critical and commercial success. In 2020, Gershon starred in the sports film
Cagefighter: Worlds Collide directed by Jesse Quinones. Gershon next starred in ''
Rifkin's Festival'' directed by
Woody Allen. Following backlash for starring in the film, Gershon defended her decision to star in the film stating: "I don't believe that to be true. You should really do all of the research and read all of the articles before believing that. It's really important to make up your own mind and not go by what the masses claim. I've done extensive research and I can say with very clear conscience that I'm so happy to be working with him. This man is not a sexual predator." Gershon also called working on the film "a dream come true". In 2021 Gershon starred in
With/In an anthology film set during the
COVID-19 pandemic directing from a screenplay she wrote.
TV and online work She portrayed Nancy Barbato,
Frank Sinatra's 1st wife in the
made-for-TV biopic
Sinatra, in 1992. Gershon next had a recurring role on
Melrose Place playing a prostitute working for a
Heidi Fleiss-esque Hollywood
madam. Gershon next starred in the lead role of Glenn Hall in
ABC's detective series
Snoops created by
David E. Kelley, which was cancelled after one season. Gershon has made numerous guest and recurring appearances on various shows including
HBO's comedy series
Curb Your Enthusiasm,
FX's comedy-drama
Rescue Me, ABC's
Ugly Betty,
USA Network's
Psych, A recurring role on HBO's
How to Make It in America. Gershon voiced the role of Six in the adult animation series
Tripping the Rift. Gershon also voiced the role of
Catwoman in the 2007 animated series
The Batman. From 2017 to 2018, Gershon voiced the role of Langwidere in
Lost in Oz. In 2013, Gershon starred in the television film
House of Versace as
Donatella Versace, which premiered on
Lifetime. Gershon's performance earned praise from fashion critic
Cathy Horyn. That same year, Gershon began starring in the
Crackle action series
Cleaners. In 2015, Gershon made a guest appearance on
Glee in the
sixth and final season as Blaine's mother. From 2015 to 2017, Gershon had a recurring role on
Amazon Prime Video's
Red Oaks. She also appeared in two episodes of
Elementary. That same year, Gershon had a recurring role on
Z Nation. In 2016, Gershon guest starred on
Empire. In 2017, Gershon guest starred on the HBO comedy series
Crashing. That same year, Gershon had a recurring role in
Brooklyn Nine-Nine as the villainous Lt. Melanie Hawkins. Gershon was cast in the
E! dark comedy pilot
#Fashionvictim opposite
Willa Fitzgerald, which was not picked up to series. Since 2018, Gershon has had a recurring role on
The CW drama
Riverdale portraying the role of Jughead Jones's mother, Gladys. That same year, Gershon made a guest appearance on
Younger. In 2020, Gershon had a recurring role on
New Amsterdam. Gershon has appeared in two videos on
Funny or Die parodying former
Republican vice presidential nominee
Sarah Palin, titled "Gina Gershon Strips Down Sarah Palin", and "Gina Gershon Does Sarah Palin 2". In 2016, Gershon parodied
Melania Trump in a Funny or Die video "A Message from Melania Trump". Gershon additionally has played Trump on an episode of
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, An Off-Broadway play, "The 1st Annual Trump Family Special". and in an episode of
CBS All Access's
The Good Fight.
Music Gershon played
Jaw harp on "
I Can't Decide", a song on the
Scissor Sisters 2006 release
Ta-Dah. She also played Jaw harp on the song "I Do It For Your Love",
Paul Simon's collaboration with
Herbie Hancock on his album
Possibilities, in a duo with bassist
Christian McBride on the song "Chitlins and Gefiltefish", on McBride's 2011 album
Conversations with Christian, and on "Maria" from her album
In Search of Cleo. She had a
cameo role in
The Cars' music video "
Hello Again" (1984) alongside
Andy Warhol, and appeared in
Lenny Kravitz's music video "
Again" (2000).
Books Gershon and her brother Dann Gershon's first book written for adults,
In Search of Cleo: How I Found My Pussy and Lost My Mind, is the true story of the hunt for her runaway cat and was released on October 11, 2012. In March 2026 she released her autobiography
Alphapussy. ==Personal life==