- Was Armand Assante's girlfriend off and on for four years. She was seriously involved with Armand while she was filming her first feature, Neil Simon's California Suite (1978).
- Gloria gave George Clooney his first job in Hollywood. She was producing and starring in the play "The Biz", written by Frank Conn (who was Gloria's boyfriend at the time and the ex-husband of Didi Conn) and directed by George's cousin, Miguel Ferrer. Gloria's son, Adam Gifford (who was 12 years younger than George) shared the same role. Denise Crosby (Bing Crosby's granddaughter and Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) star) was also in the cast.
- She studied classical piano for 13 years and performed many concerts while studying ballet for 11 years as well.
- Among her former and famous students are Jenna Elfman, Carlos Bernard, Brian Klugman, Patty Jenkins, Brian Dannelly, Ethan Peck, Bianca Lawson, Jennifer Aspen, academy award-nominated director Alonso Mayo, Catherine Bell, and many others.
- Gloria was the girlfriend of Troy Donahue for a long time a few years before his death, and was instrumental in getting him representation with her agent, Josh Schiowitz.
- Her first starring role was "The Bride" in Federico García Lorca's "Blood Wedding", which she performed her first quarter in college, when she had just turned 17 years old.
- She was the first black actress to star in "Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune" for the Philadelphia Theatre Company, directed by stage and television director Sheldon Epps.
- Studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas and taught there for five years.
- Son is actor Adam Gifford
- Gloria was romantically involved with playwright Sir Arnold Wesker ("Roots", "The Kitchen", "Chips With Everything", "The Merchant", "Lady Othello"), who wrote a play and a screenplay about their relationship. Sir Arnold Wesker also wrote about their friendship, extensively, in his published diary of the Broadway play, he wrote that starred Zero Mostel.
- She co-starred opposite Tobey Maguire twice: in a television movie, Tales from the Whoop: Hot Rod Brown Class Clown (1990) and in his television series, Great Scott! (1992).
- She directed Stephen Adly Guirgis play "Our Lady of 121st Street" in its Los Angeles theatrical production debut, which won L.A. Times and L.A. Weekly Critic's Choice and was nominated for theatre awards. It was double cast - she directed 32 actors - it was standing room only at the Matrix Theatre.
- She directed ten Italian actors in staged improvisations on Italian national television in the live show "The Marquette" (2007).
- Gloria took over for Nichelle Nichols in John Patrick Shanley's "Italian American Reconciliation" opposite Joe Pantoliano, Elizabeth Peña, Leo Rossi and Patti D'Arbanville. Nichelle opened the play, did one week and Gloria took over in four days. Director was Sam Shepard's sister, Roxanne Rogers.
- Has directed many Theater productions.
- Acclaimed acting teacher.
- Gloria was Sally Kirkland's alternate in Frank Strausser's play "The Powder Room" at the now defunct Court Theatre in Los Angeles. This was also Lana Clarkson's last production.
- Executive Director of The Gloria Gifford Conservatory.
- Born on the same day as Sylvester Stallone.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content