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Renée O'Connor is an American actress, producer and director best known for playing the role of Gabrielle on the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess from 1995 to 2001.
Evelyn Renée O'Connor was born in Austin, Texas. Her first role was at age eight as a caterpillar during a Theater on Wheels production. At age twelve, she began studying acting at Houston's Alley Theatre, and later attended The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. She transferred back to Taylor High School to graduate with her friends.
O'Connor began her television career at the age of sixteen with commercials for McDonald's and Exxon. A string of other commercials followed (as well as a string of odd jobs, such as Porky Pig at Astroworld and an aerobics instructor in L.A.). In 1989, she landed a recurring role in a serial called Teen Angel, featured on the "New Mickey Mouse Club." This led to another Disney serial called Match Point and an episode of Tales from the Crypt (directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger), though her role was later cut. O'Connor then portrayed an imperiled student on the NBC special "The Flood", Cheryl Ladd's daughter in Danielle Steel's "Changes", a woman captured by Shawnee Indians in ABC's Follow the River, an actress who hires Rockford as her bodyguard in The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise, Julia Wilkes in Disney's "The Adventures of Huck Finn", and the daughter of a murdered couple in an episode of NYPD Blue.
Reneé as Gabrielle on the TV series Xena: Warrior PrincessO'Connor came to the attention of Xena: Warrior Princess executive producers Robert G. Tapert and Sam Raimi with an "over-the-top" audition that won her the role of the young Deianeira in their two-hour "Action Pack" adventure "Hercules and the Lost Kingdom". They were so impressed by her performance opposite Hercules: The Legendary Journeys star Kevin Sorbo that they signed her for a starring role in "Darkman II: The Return of Durant." She was later cast as Gabrielle, Xena's sidekick on Xena: Warrior Princess. From 1995 to 2001, during the filming of Xena, O'Connor lived in Auckland, New Zealand, where she still owns a home.
Since leaving Xena, O'Connor began a film production company, ROC Pictures. Her first independent production was Diamonds and Guns, a romantic comedy about two friends who go to Las Vegas to find true love. It was shot digitally. O'Connor raised funds for the movie by selling autographed photos and a few of her personal paintings on eBay.
Renée O'Connor is an active supporter the Alissa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation working each year at the Southern California Firefighters Burn Relay which benefits the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. For more information about the Alissa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and the work they do visit their site at: http://www.aarbf.org/). Recently Renée set up "The Renée O'Connor Outreach Fund" to raise money for families in need and to support families who's medical bills have become too overwelming due to serious illness.
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