Real Name : Deborah Ann Gibson
Birth : 31 August 1970, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Height : 5' 6"
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Deborah Gibson is a creative force in the entertainment industry who does it all! She has single handedly transcended music and entertainment trends and fads. Deborah stands poised at the top, embarking on the second phase of her hugely successful pop career. Deborah Gibson exploded on the pop music scene at the tender age of 16. She quickly became the youngest person ever to write, produce and perform a #1 single ("Foolish Beat"), a record which she still proudly holds to this day. Deborah has sold over 16 million albums worldwide to date. Her extraordinary career has garnered her #1 Billboard hits, Platinum albums, ASCAP Songwriter of the Year honors, sold-out audiences around the world and rave reviews for her starring roles on Broadway. Growing up in Long Island, Deborah began performing with her sisters in Community Theatre at the age of five. At age five, she wrote her first composition. By age eight, she was performing as part of the children's chorus at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC with artists such as 'Plácido Domingo' (qv). By the time she was twelve years old, she was already a professional Broadway actress pursuing a recording career. The dream was realized by sixteen, when Deborah was signed to Atlantic Records. Her first single "Only In My Dreams" went right to the top of the charts around the world. Following were several more top five hits and the #1 single "Foolish Beat". Her debut album "Out of the Blue" sold over five million copies. With this, Deborah established herself as a household name and immediately confirmed that position with her triple platinum follow up #1 album "Electric Youth" and the #1 single "Lost In Your Eyes". Deborah's recording legacy includes 1990's Gold album "Anything Is Possible", 1993's "Body Mind Soul", 1995's "Think With Your Heart", 1997's "Deborah" and 2001's "M.Y.O.B.". In 1992, Deborah returned to her theatrical roots by taking a star turn in the Broadway production of Les Miserables as "Eponine". She broke box office records in the London West End production of "Grease" as "Sandy", then took the stage in the U.S. Broadway Tours of "Grease" and Funny Girl playing "Rizzo" and "Fanny Brice" respectively. Deborah returned to Broadway as "Belle" in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast", followed by her critically acclaimed performance as 'Gypsy Rose Lee' (qv) to 'Betty Buckley (I)' (qv)'s "Mama Rose" in Gypsy at the Paper Mill Playhouse. In February 2000, Deborah starred as "The Narrator" in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Then, in December 2001, Deborah starred, in a 3 month engagement, as "Cinderella" in the national production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella to Eartha Kitt's "Fairy Godmother". In October, 2002, Deborah graced the stage as "Velma Kelly" in Boston's North Shore Theatre's production of "Chicago", a role she will do again at the Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City, July, 2003. Deborah returned to Broadway in February 2003, for a 4 month stint as the "saucy, sexy Sally Bowles" at Studio 54 in "Cabaret". In May, 2004, Deborah joined Reprise starring as "Marta" in "Company" and then in August, 2004, as "Maggie" in "Brigadoon" with rave reviews. Adding to her accomplishments, Deborah is also composer and lyricist on her own Broadway musical, Skirts. Deborah Gibson considers herself to be the traditional "All Around Entertainer", and continues to be a driving force in the entertainment industry. For more than 20 years, Deborah Gibson has proven she's an entertainer of immeasurable talent. From singer, songwriter and musician to actor and dancer, she embodies what it truly means to be an entertainer. Gibson exploded on the pop music scene at the tender age of 16. A music prodigy, she quickly became the youngest person ever to write, produce and perform a number one single, ("Foolish Beat"), a record she still holds today in the Guinness Book of World Records. To date, Gibson has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide. After conquering the pop world, she set her sights on the theater. Gibson took a star turn in the Broadway production of "Les Miserables" as Eponine. She broke box office records in the London West End production of "Grease" as Sandy, and then took the stage in the U.S. Broadway tours of "Grease" and "Funny Girl" playing Rizzo and Fanny Brice. Gibson also wowed critics as Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," Gypsy Rose Lee in "Gypsy," The Narrator in the national tour of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Cinderella in the national production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella," Velma Kelly in "Chicago," and Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of "Cabaret." Gibson is now the composer and co-lyricist on a new musical in pre-production for Broadway: "The Flunky", written by Jimmy Van Patten. Gibson continues to dazzle with entertainment magic. She has bridged the gap between Pop Music and Broadway with her one-woman show "Pop Goes Broadway." She brings the best of both worlds to the stage singing some of her biggest pop hits and reprising her starring roles on Broadway. The "Original Pop Princess" is ready to pass the torch to the next generation of musical sensations. Her passion to mentor and foster young performers and songwriters has led her to create "Deborah Gibson's Electric Youth," a series of performing arts camps and songwriting/recording intensives. From number one hits and platinum albums to starring roles on Broadway, film and TV, Gibson is a true entertainer with talent and charisma.
Biography written by: Elizabeth Neff
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- 10th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration (2007) (TV) [Herself]
- 1988 World Series Video: Los Angeles Dodgers vs Oakland A's (1988) (V) [Herself]
- 51st Annual Drama Desk Awards (2006) (TV)
- Body/Antibody (2007) [The Caseworker] <6>
- Bubblegum Babylon (2002) (TV) [Herself]
- Celeste in the City (2004) (TV) [Monica] <8>
- Coffee Date (2006) [Melissa] <6>
- Debbie Gibson: Live Around the World (1990) (V)
- Desperately Seeking Roger (1991) (TV) [Herself]
- Don't Unplug the Arts (2009) [Herself]
- Dying for a Smoke (1992) (V) [Herself]
- Ghost Busters (1984) (uncredited) [Birthday Girl in Tavern on the Green]
- Greatest Ever 80s Movies (2007) (TV) [Herself]
- Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies (2006) (TV) (uncredited) [Herself]
- Happy Birthday, Bugs!: 50 Looney Years (1990) (TV) (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- Idols (1991) (TV) (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1997) (TV) [Herself]
- Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus (2009) (V) [Emma] <1>
- Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II (1997) (V) [Herself (segment "Liberian Girl")]
- MTV20: Everybody Talk About Pop Music! (2001) (TV) [Herself]
- My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (1999) [Melissa Stevens] <2>
- My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception (1999) [Lisa Weinstein (bride)] <1>
- Playboy: Celebrity Centerfolds (2006) (TV) [Herself]
- Playboy: Hef's Halloween Spooktacular (2005) (V) [Herself]
- QTN Holiday Reel (2005) (TV) [Herself] <15>
- Soulkeeper (2001) [Herself] <8>
- Sweet Liberty (1986) (uncredited)
- Teen Queens (2001) (TV)
- Teen Vid II (1991) (V) [Herself]
- The 15th Annual American Music Awards (1988) (TV) (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- The 16th Annual American Music Awards (1989) (TV) [Herself - Host]
- The 19th Annual American Music Awards (1992) (TV) (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- The 28th Annual American Music Awards (2001) (TV) [Herself]
- The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards (1991) (TV) [Herself - Presenter]
- The Child Star Jinx (2005) (TV) (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- The GQ Men of the Year Awards (2003) (TV) [Herself]
- The Making of Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009) (V) [Herself]
- The Manhattan Project (1986) (uncredited) [Extra]
- Voices that Care (1991) (TV) [Herself - Choir Member]
- "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s" (2006) [Herself]
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.1)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.10)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.11)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.12)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.13)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.14)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.15)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.16)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.17)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.2)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.3)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.4)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.5)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.6)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.7)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.8)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "American Juniors" (2003) {(#1.9)} [Herself - Judge] <2>
- "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) {East Side Story (#1.13)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Debbie Gibson] <18>
- "Celebrity Profile" (1999) {Jennifer Love Hewitt} [Herself] <12>
- "Criss Angel Mindfreak" (2005) {Celebrity Seance (#2.20)} [Herself]
- "Dancing with the Stars" (2005/I) {Round 3 (#4.4)} [Herself]
- "Deal or No Deal" (2005) {(#3.25)} [Herself]
- "E! True Hollywood Story" (1996) {Paula Abdul} [Herself]
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2007-09-03)} [Herself]
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2007-10-05)} [Herself]
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2007-12-28)} [Herself]
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2008-01-17)} [Herself]
- "Entertainment Tonight" (1981) {(2008-04-30)} [Herself]
- "Good Day Live" (2001) {(2003-07-02)} [Herself]
- "Good Morning America" (1975) {(2006-08-22)} [Herself - Musical Guest]
- "Hollywood Squares" (1998) {(2003-09-22)} [Guest Appearance]
- "Hollywood Squares" (1998) {(2003-09-23)} [Guest Appearance]
- "Hollywood Squares" (1998) {(2003-09-24)} [Guest Appearance]
- "Hollywood Squares" (1998) {(2003-09-25)} [Guest Appearance]
- "Hollywood Squares" (1998) {(2003-09-26)} [Guest Appearance]
- "Howard Stern" (1994) {(1995-10-11)} [Herself]
- "Howard Stern" (1994) {(1998-01-07)} [Herself]
- "Howard Stern" (1994) {(1998-01-08)} [Herself]
- "Howard Stern" (1994) {(2001-05-16)} [Herself]
- "Howard Stern" (1994) {(2005-03-02)} [Herself]
- "I Love 1980's" (2001) [Herself]
- "I Love the '80s Strikes Back" (2003) {1983 (#1.4)} [Herself]
- "iVillage Live" (2006) {(2007-05-04)} [Herself - Guest]
- "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (2003) {(2005-07-05)} [Herself]
- "Kidsongs" (1994) {Mind Your Manners (#2.10)} [Herself]
- "MADtv" (1995) {(#11.8)} [Herself]
- "MADtv" (1995) {(#7.1)} [Herself]
- "Maggie Bloom" (2000) [Maggie Bloom] <1>
- "Más vale tarde" (2007) {(#1.13)} [Herself] <3>
- "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" (2004) {(2004-03-09)} [Herself]
- "Retrosexual: The 80's" (2004) [Herself]
- "Rita Rocks" (2008) {Old Friends (#1.14)} [Cindy Schotz]
- "Showbiz Today" (1984) {(1997-10-13)} [Herself]
- "Skating with Celebrities" (2006) {(#1.2)} [Herself]
- "Skating with Celebrities" (2006) {(#1.4)} [Herself]
- "Skating with Celebrities" (2006) {Debut (#1.1)} [Herself]
- "Step by Step" (1991) {Roadie (#5.8)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Christi Rose]
- "Street Justice" (1991) {Backbeat (#1.16)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Gabrielle]
- "That '80s Show" (2002) {Beach Party (#1.12)} [Janice]
- "The New Hollywood Squares" (1986) {(#2.76)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Guest Appearance]
- "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (1996) {(1997-10-15)} [Herself]
- "The Tony Danza Show" (2004) {(#2.78)} [Herself]
- "The Tony Danza Show" (2004) {(2006-05-12)} [Herself]
- "The Wayne Brady Show" (2002) {(2004-03-23)} [Herself]
- "The Word" (1990) {(#4.10)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- "Top of the Pops" (1964) {(1988-01-28)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- "Top of the Pops" (1964) {(1988-05-26)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- "Top of the Pops" (1964) {(1989-05-04)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- "Top of the Pops" (1964) {(1993-07-29)} (as Debbie Gibson) [Herself]
- "Top Ten" (2000) {Pop Princesses} [Herself]
- "VH-1 Where Are They Now?" (1999) {80s Teen Idols (#3.4)} [Herself]
- "VH-1 Where Are They Now?" (1999) {Teen Idols (#2.14)} [Herself]
- "VH1's Karaoke Cabaret" (1999) [Herself - Guest]
- "Weakest Link" (2001) {Music Makers} [Herself - Contestant]
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- "Movieline" (USA), October 1995, Vol. VII, Iss. 2, pg. 26, "Soundtracks & Scores"
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- "Courier Post" (USA), 16 April 2008, by: Raquel Maria Dillon, "Singer Debbie Gibson Seeks Restraining Order Against Fan"
- "Playboy" (USA), March 2005, Vol. 52, Iss. 3, pg. 132+134+147, by: David Hochman, "Debbie Does Playboy"
- "Spin" (USA), March 1988, Vol. three, Iss. ten, pg. 23-25, by: John Leland, "Baby It's You: Coming clean about a Debbie Gibson jones."
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- "Playboy" (USA), March 2005, Vol. 52, Iss. 3, pg. 132-139, by: Guido Argentini, "Debbie Does Playboy"
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- "Hitkrant" (Netherlands), 17 September 1988, Iss. 37
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- "Between The Lines" ISBN 0890157359by Debbie Gibson with Mark Bego
- "Debbie Gibson: Electric Star" ISBN 0553283790by Randi Reisfeld
- "Debbie Gibson" ISBN 0711921466UK Photo Biography, with poster ISBN 0874497493Written by Gary Poole
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- Vocalist on the 1998 Concept Recording of "Z: The Masked Musical"
- Appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care."
- (album) Out of the Blue (Atlantic Records, 1987)
- (album) Electric Youth (Atlantic Records, 1989)
- (album) Anything is Possible (Atlantic Records, 1990);
- (album) Body Mind Soul (Atlantic Records, 1993);
- (album) Greatest Hits (Atlantic Records, 1995);
- (album) Think With Your Heart (SBK Records, 1995);
- (album) Deborah (Espiritu Records, 1996)
- OTHER RECORDINGS:
- Fatal Beauty soundtrack (Atlantic Records, 1988); Wonder Years soundtrack (Atlantic Records, 1989); A Very Special Christmas 2 (A&M Records, 1992); Grease -- Original London Cast Recording (Epic Records, 1993)
- Theatre appearances:
- Les Miserables (Eponine, 1992); Grease, London Revival (Sandy, 1993); Grease!, US Revival (Rizzo, 1995-1996); Funny Girl (Fanny Brice, 1996)
- Les Miserables (Broadway, "Eponine", January 7, 1992 - March 29, 1992)
- Grease (London West End, "Sandy Dumbrowski", July 1993 - April 1994)
- Grease! (U.S. National Tour, "Betty Rizzo", October 1995 - March 1996)
- Funny Girl (U.S. Pre-Broadway Tour, "Fanny Brice", October/November 1996)
- (home video) "Out of the Blue" (1988, Atlantic Video) 4 videos and interview clips
- (home video) "Live - In Concert - The Out Of The Blue Tour" (March 1989, Atlantic Video)
- (home video) "Live Around The World" (November 1990, A
- Vision)
- TV commercial for Caboodles makeup organizers (1991)
- TV commercial for Commodore computers
- TV commercial for Oxydol laundry detergent
- TV commercial for Wendy's Hamburgers
- (November 2000 - March 2001) Starred as the title character (opposite Earth Kitt's Fairy Godmother) in the US tour of "Cindrella."
- (June 1999 - February 2000) Starred as the Narrator in the Papermill Playhouse/US Tour production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
- (September-October 1998) Starred as Louise/Gypsy opposite Betty Buckley's Mama Rose in "Gypsy" at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ.
- (September 1997 - June 1998) Starred as Belle in the Broadway production of "Beauty and the Beast."
- (album) MYOB - Golden Egg Records - 2001
- TV commercials for Cingular (voice)
- TV commercials for Sonicare (voice)
- Was in 'Michael Jackson (I)' (qv)'s Liberian Girl music video.
- Les Miserables - Broadway - Jan. 1992 - March 1992 - Starred as Eponine
- Grease - US National Tour - Oct. 1995 - March 1996 - Starred as Rizzo
- Grease - London's West End - July 1993 - April 1994 - Starred as Sandy
- Funny Girl - National Tour - Sept. - Nov. 1996 - Starred as Fanny Brice
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast - Broadway - Sept. 1997 - June 1998 - Starred as Belle
- Gypsy - Papermill Playhouse, NJ - Sept. 9 - Oct. 25, 1998 - Starred as Gypsy Rose Lee
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - US National Tour - June 1999 - February 2000 - Starred as The Narrator
- Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella - US National Tour - Nov. 28, 2000 - March 4, 2001 and July 24, 2001 - August 12, 2001 - Starred as Cinderella
- Chicago - The North Shore Theatre, Boston, MA - Oct. 29 - Nov. 24, 2002 - Starring as Velma Kelly
- Cabaret - Studio 54 Broadway, New York, NY - Feb. 21 - June 15, 2003 - Starring as Sally Bowles
- Chicago - The Lyric Theatre Oklahoma City, OK - July 8 - 12, 2003 - Starring as Velma Kelly
- Company - Ralph Freud Playhouse, James West Alumni Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA - May 18 - June 6, 2004 - Starring as Marta
- Brigadoon - Ralph Freud Playhouse, James West Alumni Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA - August 17 - August 29, 2004 - Starring as Maggie
- Prince's Trust Concert - Performed for Prince Charles and Lady Diana
- Special Olympics - Opening Ceremonies
- The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" at St Paul's Cathedral for Her Royal Highness the Queen Mother
- Co-host on The View
- Released a CD of previously unreleased songs titled "Memory Lane Vol. 1" in 2005 available exclusively on her website www.deborah-gibson.com.
- Released a Broadway CD titled "Colored Lights" in late 2003.
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- (February 2003) Playing the role of Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret on Broadway
- (February 2005) Posed nude in an eight-page pictorial for the March 2005 issue of Playboy magazine.
- (January 2007) Working on new music with Grammy Award-winning producer 'Neal Pogue' (qv).
- (2007) Co-hostess, with 'Frankie Avalon' (qv), of an infomercial for TimeLife's "Dick Clark's American Bandstand - 50th Anniversity Collection".
- (2009) Appeared in an infomercial, hosted by 'Joan Lunden' (qv), for the Murad "Resurgence" skin care system.
- (2009) Appeared in an infomercial, hosted by 'Montel Williams' (qv), for his Living Well "Pain Relief" spray formula.
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- I've learned to have a sense of humor about myself. Lord knows everyone else does!
- "Kids can see you don't have to have a sexy costume or shave your head or do crazy things to be successful. You just work at it and be normal." (1989, in reference to her success)
- That it's been almost two decades since "Out Of the Blue" and ''Weird Al' Yankovic' (qv) has yet to parody even
- one
- of my songs makes me feel curiously left-out.
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- Graduated with honors from Calhoun High School in Merrick, New York.
- Childhood friend of 'Ricki Lake' (qv)
- (February 2001) Released her 7th album, "MYOB" (Mind Your Own Business).
- Does not drink or smoke.
- Does Yoga religiously.
- Was the youngest person to write, produce, and perform a number one hit, "Foolish Beat". She was 17.
- A Finnish rap-band, Raptori, composed a song about her. Its name is "Debi Gibson"
- Dated 'Darren Day (I)' (qv).
- Is the subject of the 'Pixies' (qv) song "Make Believe", which resulted from an obsession of Pixies drummer 'David Lovering' (qv). It was written by 'Frank Black (I)' (qv) and sung by Lovering.
- Has been typecast as not one but two fictional pop stars on series television: "Gabrielle" on _"Street Justice" (1991)_ (qv); and "Christi Rose" on _"Step by Step" (1991)_ (qv). In 2005, years after both shows were cancelled, she was asked for both "Christi's" and "Gabrielle's" autographs (plus her own) at the famous Tower Records store on Sunset Boulevard in West Los Angeles. She cheerfully obliged.
- Has written an early-1990s autobiography, "Between the Lines," the title of which is taken from the last song on her first album. Unfortunately, the book does not exist in audio format.
- Drives a mini cooper
- Auctioned her first car, a 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner, for charity.
- Wrote her first song, "Make Sure You Know Your Classroom", when she was five years old.
- Friend of 'Barry Williams (I)' (qv).
- Signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records when she was 16 years old.
- Won the "ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award" in 1989, an award she shared with 'Bruce Springsteen' (qv).
- Lived in Bensonhurst in Brooklyn before her family moved to Long Island.
- Launched "Camp Electric Youth" (named after her second album), an organization to acquaint girls to show biz [2008].
- Lives in Los Angeles.
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