Gabrielle Ruiz

Gabrielle Ruiz is an American actress and dancer born on December 12, 1984, in Edinburg, Texas, to Eduardo and Sylvia Ruiz, both of Mexican heritage. She is widely recognized for her portrayal of Valencia Perez on the CW musical comedy-drama series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and for a Broadway career spanning from 2008 to 2014.

Ruiz developed an early interest in performance through dance, receiving training at Melba's School of Dance and through the Texas Association for Teachers of Dance. She also studied voice and participated in the Texas All-State Choir. After completing her secondary education in public schools, she enrolled at Oklahoma City University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance in 2007. During her time at OCU, she was a member of the American Spirit Dance Company, OCU Rhythms, and the Alpha Phi women's fraternity, and participated in numerous college musicals and work-study programs.

Following her graduation, Ruiz built a Broadway career that included productions of In the Heights, A Chorus Line, Evita, and If/Then. Her work in In the Heights proved consequential beyond the stage: Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical's creator, observed her performance there and referred her to the producers of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. On the strength of his recommendation, Ruiz secured an audition and ultimately landed the role of Valencia Perez, which became her breakthrough in television.

On August 4, 2016, Ruiz married Philip Pisanchyn in a private ceremony held at a villa on Saint Martin. The couple divides their time between New York City and Los Angeles. On April 28, 2021, Ruiz gave birth to a daughter named Mercedes.