Gabrielle Carteris was voted Saturday the new president of SAG-AFTRA, marking the first time in the organization’s history that it will be represented by three women as its top union officers.
Carteris was elected president by acclamation by the national board. Also voted into office today was Rebecca Damon, who will serve as executive vice president; Jane Austin was elected secretary-treasurer last year.
Carteris is filling a seat last held by the late Ken Howard. Her successor died on March 23, before he could finish his two-year term that started on Aug. 20, 2015.
“I am deeply honored to be chosen by the SAG-AFTRA National Board to serve the union and its members as president,” Carteris said. “Ken was a great union leader, friend and mentor. He left big shoes to fill, but with the support of the national board of directors and the membership, I am committed to improving the lives of all SAG-AFTRA members.”
Carteris was previously elected to her first term as executive vice president at the inaugural SAG-AFTRA Convention in 2013 and reelected at the convention in 2015. A working actress, she recently had a recurring role on the primetime series “Code Black,” and formerly hosted her own talk show, “Gabrielle.” She’s best known for playing the role of Andrea Zuckerman on “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Carteris also served as an alternative national board member of the Screen Actors Guild from 2008 to 2009, and in 2010 she began a three-year term as a national board member. Her previous American Federation of Television and Radio Artists service includes two consecutive terms on the AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board and the AFTRA National Board as well as three terms as an AFTRA convention delegate. In 2011, she was elected Los Angeles Local president and and national second vice president. Additionally, she was a part of the G1 (Group for One Union) that helped to develop the plan to merge SAG and AFTRA; during the organization’s transition year, she served as national vice president, Los Angeles.
“I congratulate Gabrielle Carteris on her election… Gabrielle and I have worked closely together for many years, including most recently on the successful commercials contract negotiations,” SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White said. “I know she understands the needs and aspirations of our members…
“I also congratulate Rebecca Damon on her election as executive vice president,” White continued. “She is a deeply experienced and effective leader who will work with president Carteris and the national board to engage and empower members throughout the country.”
Damon is a working actress and voiceover performer as well as a SAG- AFTRA National Board member. She is a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Board Member and a founding member of the President’s Forum for One Union and G1. She also is the chair of the Government Review Committee and MOVE NY Committee and serves on the Executive, Finance and Government Affairs and Public Policy committees. She sits on the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement and is the chair of the MORE Committee, advocating for education and empowerment for performers around the world. Damon also is a former Screen Actors Guild New York Division Vice President.
