Robin Simone Givens (born November 27, 1964) is an American film, television, and stage actress.

Early life

Givens was born in New York City, the daughter of Ruth Roper (née Newby) and Reuben Givens. Givens's mother and father divorced when she was two. She and her sister Stephanie were raised by their mother in New Rochelle, New York. Givens graduated in 1980 from New Rochelle Academy (closed 1987). Still at 15, she enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College. She later claimed she studied various medical courses at Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, although Harvard's registrar office only confirmed that she took one class in 1984.