Geena Davis is a highly acclaimed American actor, known for her roles in films such as "Thelma & Louise" and "A League of Their Own". With an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award to her name, she is recognized for her talent and contributions to the entertainment industry. Beyond acting, Davis is also an advocate for gender equality, leveraging her platform to promote positive change.
January 21, 1956: Birth of Geena Davis
On January 21, 1956, Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis was born. This marks the beginning of her life and eventual rise as a celebrated actor and activist.
December 1977: Relationship with Richard Emmolo Begins
Geena Davis began dating restaurateur Richard Emmolo in December 1977.
March 25, 1981: Marriage to Richard Emmolo
Geena Davis married Richard Emmolo on March 25, 1981.
1982: Acting Debut in Tootsie
Geena Davis made her acting debut in the film "Tootsie" in 1982, which went on to become the second most profitable film of that year and a cinematic classic.
February 1983: Separation from Richard Emmolo
Geena Davis and Richard Emmolo separated in February 1983.
June 1983: Role in "Buffalo Bill"
Geena Davis landed a regular role as Wendy Killian in the television series "Buffalo Bill," which aired from June 1983. Despite earning multiple Emmy nominations, the show was cancelled after two seasons.
March 1984: End of "Buffalo Bill"
The television series "Buffalo Bill," in which Davis played a significant role, ended in March 1984 after two seasons.
June 27, 1984: Divorce from Richard Emmolo
Geena Davis's divorce from Richard Emmolo was finalized on June 27, 1984.
1985: Meeting Jeff Goldblum
Geena Davis met her future husband, Jeff Goldblum, on the set of "Transylvania 6-5000" in 1985.
1985: Appearance in "Fletch"
Davis starred alongside Chevy Chase in the action-comedy "Fletch" in 1985, playing a colleague of an undercover reporter.
1986: Breakthrough with "The Fly"
Davis starred in the thriller "The Fly" in 1986, which achieved box office success and solidified her position as a rising star in the film industry.
November 1, 1987: Marriage to Jeff Goldblum
Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum married on November 1, 1987, after meeting on the set of "Transylvania 6-5000."
1987: Collaboration with Jeff Goldblum in "Earth Girls Are Easy"
In 1987, Davis appeared alongside Jeff Goldblum in the comedy "Earth Girls Are Easy." This marked their third film together, following "Transylvania 6-5000" and "The Fly."
1988: Rise to Prominence with "Beetlejuice"
Geena Davis' performance in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" in 1988 brought her widespread recognition. The film, a horror-comedy, was a commercial success and garnered positive reviews.
October 1990: Divorce Filing from Jeff Goldblum
Geena Davis filed for divorce from Jeff Goldblum in October 1990.
1990: Role in "Quick Change"
Davis appeared in the comedy "Quick Change" in 1990, starring as the girlfriend of a bank robber.
1991: Critical Acclaim for "Thelma & Louise"
Davis starred alongside Susan Sarandon in "Thelma & Louise" in 1991. Her performance received critical acclaim, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
1992: Success with "A League of Their Own"
In 1992, Davis starred in "A League of Their Own". The film was a commercial triumph, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Her performance garnered a Golden Globe Award nomination.
September 18, 1993: Marriage to Renny Harlin
On September 18, 1993, Geena Davis married filmmaker Renny Harlin after a five-month courtship.
1995: Box Office Setback with "Cutthroat Island"
Davis experienced a setback in 1995 with the box office failure of "Cutthroat Island". This marked a period of difficulty in her career.
1995: Release of Cutthroat Island
In 1995, Geena Davis starred in "Cutthroat Island," directed by her then-husband Renny Harlin. The film was intended to turn her into an action star but unfortunately flopped.
1996: Release of The Long Kiss Goodnight
Geena Davis starred in "The Long Kiss Goodnight" in 1996, another attempt to solidify her as an action star. This film, also directed by her husband at the time, achieved moderate success.
1996: Continued Career Challenges with "The Long Kiss Goodnight"
Geena Davis faced another box office disappointment in 1996 with the release of "The Long Kiss Goodnight". These setbacks contributed to a hiatus from her acting career.
August 26, 1997: Filing for Divorce from Renny Harlin
On August 26, 1997, Geena Davis filed for divorce from her husband, Renny Harlin, one day after his personal assistant gave birth to his child.
1997: Taking up Archery
Geena Davis took up archery in 1997.
June 1998: Divorce from Renny Harlin Finalized
Geena Davis's divorce from filmmaker Renny Harlin was finalized in June 1998.
1998: Beginning Relationship with Reza Jarrahy
Geena Davis began dating Reza Jarrahy, an Iranian-American craniofacial plastic surgeon, in 1998.
1998: Divorce from Renny Harlin
Geena Davis divorced her husband, director Renny Harlin, in 1998.
July 1999: Competing in U.S. Olympic Archery Team Trials
In July 1999, Geena Davis, one of 300 women vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic archery team, competed in the semifinals berth for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.
August 1999: Discussing Her Archery Journey
In August 1999, Geena Davis shared that she began pursuing archery in 1997 and hadn't been an athlete earlier in life.
1999: Starring Role in "Stuart Little"
In 1999, Geena Davis took on the role of the adoptive mother in "Stuart Little," which marked a return to family-friendly films in her career.
1999: Appearance in Stuart Little
Geena Davis appeared as Eleanor Little in the family comedy "Stuart Little" in 1999.
2000: Participating in the Sydney International Golden Arrow Competition
Geena Davis participated in the Sydney International Golden Arrow competition as a wild-card entry in 2000, although she didn't qualify for the U.S. Olympic archery team.
2000: Debut of The Geena Davis Show
Geena Davis starred in "The Geena Davis Show," a sitcom that premiered on ABC in 2000 but lasted only one season.
September 1, 2001: Alleged Marriage to Reza Jarrahy
Geena Davis reportedly married Reza Jarrahy on September 1, 2001, though this was later disputed.
April 2002: Birth of Daughter
Geena Davis and Reza Jarrahy welcomed a daughter in April 2002.
2002: Reprising Role in Stuart Little 2
Geena Davis reprised her role as Eleanor Little in "Stuart Little 2" in 2002.
May 2004: Birth of Twin Sons
Geena Davis and Reza Jarrahy welcomed twin sons in May 2004.
2004: Founding the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
In 2004, Geena Davis established the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which focuses on collaborating with the entertainment industry to increase the representation of female characters in media targeting children and to address gender inequality in Hollywood.
2004: Observing Gender Imbalance in Children's Media
In 2004, while watching children's television programs and videos with her daughter, Geena Davis became aware of the gender imbalance in on-screen representation.
2004: Launch of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
In 2004, Davis founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. This organization focuses on increasing the representation of women in the entertainment industry.
2005: Lead Role in "Commander in Chief"
Davis starred as the first female president of the United States in the television series "Commander in Chief" in 2005. This role was significant for its portrayal of women in positions of power.
2005: Final Reprisal in Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild
Geena Davis played Eleanor Little for the third time in "Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild" in 2005.
2005: Launching a Venture for Gender Balance in Media
In 2005, Geena Davis partnered with Dads and Daughters to establish a project aimed at promoting gender balance in the portrayal of characters in children's television and film programming.
2006: Golden Globe Win for Commander in Chief
Geena Davis won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of the first female president of the United States in the ABC series "Commander in Chief" in 2006.
2006: Golden Globe Win for "Commander in Chief"
Geena Davis won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for her role in "Commander in Chief" in 2006. The award recognized her powerful performance and the show's cultural impact.
May 2009: Receiving an Honorary Doctorate from Bates College
Geena Davis received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Bates College in May 2009 for her work in promoting gender equality in media.
2009: Starring Role in Accidents Happen
Geena Davis starred in the Australian-produced film "Accidents Happen" in 2009, playing a tough and foul-mouthed mother.
2009: Appearance in "Accidents Happen"
Davis appeared in the film "Accidents Happen" in 2009, continuing her work in film.
2011: Joining the FWD Campaign
Geena Davis joined the USAID and Ad Council's FWD campaign in 2011 to raise awareness about the East Africa drought.
2012: Role in Coma Miniseries
Geena Davis played a psychiatrist in the miniseries "Coma" in 2012.
2013: Appearance in In a World...
Geena Davis had a role as a powerful female movie executive in the critically acclaimed comedy "In a World..." in 2013.
2014: Recurring Role on "Grey's Anatomy"
Geena Davis began her recurring role as Dr. Nicole Herman in the popular medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" in 2014. This marked a return to television for Davis.
2014: Voice Acting in When Marnie Was There
Geena Davis lent her voice to the English version of Studio Ghibli's "When Marnie Was There" in 2014.
2015: Continued Appearances on "Grey's Anatomy"
Davis continued her recurring role as Dr. Nicole Herman on "Grey's Anatomy" in 2015.
2015: Launch of Bentonville Film Festival and Role in Grey's Anatomy
In 2015, Geena Davis established the Bentonville Film Festival, promoting diversity in film. She also played Dr. Nicole Herman in the TV series "Grey's Anatomy."
2015: Founding of the Bentonville Film Festival
Through her institute, Geena Davis launched the Bentonville Film Festival in 2015, further promoting her mission of diversity and inclusion in media.
2016: Reflections on Career Transition
In 2016, Geena Davis reflected on the decline of major film roles offered to her after her 40th birthday, despite continued work in the industry.
2016: Appearance in Me Him Her
Geena Davis appeared as the mother of a semi-famous television star in the comedy "Me Him Her" in 2016.
2016: Starring Role in The Exorcist TV Series
Geena Davis starred as the adult Regan MacNeil in the TV series "The Exorcist" in 2016, based on the 1973 film.
November 15, 2017: Separation from Reza Jarrahy
Reza Jarrahy filed for divorce from Geena Davis, listing their date of separation as November 15, 2017.
2017: Roles in "Marjorie Prime" and "The Exorcist"
In 2017, Davis appeared in the film "Marjorie Prime" and also took on the role of Regan MacNeil/Angela Rance in the horror television series "The Exorcist", showcasing her versatility as an actress.
2017: Roles in Marjorie Prime and Don't Talk to Irene
Geena Davis starred in two films in 2017: "Marjorie Prime," where she played the daughter of a character with Alzheimer's, and "Don't Talk to Irene," where she played the imaginary god of a 13-year-old girl.
May 2018: Reza Jarrahy Files for Divorce
In May 2018, Reza Jarrahy filed for divorce from Geena Davis, leading to a legal dispute over the validity of their marriage.
2018: Return to "Grey's Anatomy"
Geena Davis reprised her role as Dr. Nicole Herman on "Grey's Anatomy" in 2018, marking another appearance in the long-running series.
2018: Executive Producer of "This Changes Everything"
In 2018, Davis executive produced the documentary "This Changes Everything," which addresses gender disparity in Hollywood. The film amplifies her advocacy for gender equality in the film industry.
2018: Return to Grey's Anatomy and Production of This Changes Everything
In 2018, Geena Davis reprised her role in "Grey's Anatomy" and executive produced the documentary "This Changes Everything," addressing gender inequality in Hollywood.
2019: Receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Geena Davis was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar, in 2019, recognizing her significant contributions to humanitarian causes through her work on gender representation in media.
2019: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Geena Davis received the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy Awards in 2019, in recognition of her work with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The award highlighted her significant contributions to promoting gender equality.
2019: Voice Acting, Executive Production, and Role in GLOW
Geena Davis took on voice acting in "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power," executive produced "Mission Unstoppable," and joined the cast of "GLOW" in 2019.
2020: Brad Pitt Acknowledges Geena Davis in Oscar Speech
During his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor at the 2020 Academy Awards, Brad Pitt thanked Geena Davis and director Ridley Scott for giving him his breakthrough role in "Thelma & Louise" (1991).
December 2021: Divorce from Reza Jarrahy Finalized
Geena Davis's divorce from Reza Jarrahy was finalized in December 2021, with their sons' last names changed from "Davis-Jarrahy" to "Jarrahy" as part of the agreement.
October 2022: Publication of Dying of Politeness
Geena Davis published her memoir, "Dying of Politeness," in October 2022, detailing her personal and professional journey.
2022: Comic Book Appearance and Memoir Publication
Geena Davis's likeness was used for Poison Ivy in the "Batman '89" comic book series in 2022. Her memoir, "Dying of Politeness," was also published this year.
2022: Governors Award from the Primetime Emmy Awards
In 2022, Davis's work on gender representation in media was further recognized when she received the Governors Award from the Primetime Emmy Awards. This award solidified her legacy as a champion for diversity in the entertainment industry.
2022: Release of Memoir and Nickname Origin
In 2022, Geena Davis released her memoir, revealing that her nickname "Geena" was coined by her brother to avoid confusion with their Aunt Virginia, nicknamed "Ginny".