Cynthia Gibb was born on December 14, 1963, in Bennington, Vermont, USA, to a ballet dancer and teacher. Her early dance training greatly contributed to her fresh-faced beauty, qualities that ultimately led to her securing a modeling contract with New York's Eileen Ford Agency at the tender age of 14.
Within a year, she found herself gracing the covers of prominent publications such as "Vogue" and "Young Miss." Her modeling career was short-lived, however, as she was soon discovered by filmmaker Woody Allen, who cast her in a minor role as an autograph seeker in his 1980 film Stardust Memories. This marked the beginning of her transition to an acting career.
Cynthia Gibb's high school education was marked by academic excellence, as she graduated with honors. Despite having a sister attend Yale University, Gibb opted for a career in acting due to the lack of financial aid available to her. Her early foray into the world of acting began with off-Broadway productions, including "Nathaniel."
Her breakthrough role came when she landed the recurring part of scatterbrained Suzi Wyatt Carter on the daytime television series Search for Tomorrow in 1981, at the age of 19. This was followed by her stint as drama major Holly Laird on the popular television series Fame, which she joined in 1982 and remained a part of for three seasons.
Between the show's first and second seasons, Gibb took on the role of a hockey coach's daughter in the 1986 film Youngblood, starring alongside Rob Lowe. The film's success was followed by her portrayal of a lay worker in the critically acclaimed film Salvador, which told the story of a real-life tragedy in El Salvador.
Gibb's subsequent film appearances include Modern Girls, Malone, and A Crime of Passion, among others. She has also made numerous television appearances, including the Hallmark Channel's Mary Christmas, opposite John Schneider, and A Nanny For Christmas, alongside Emmanuelle Vaugier, Dean Cain, and Sarah Thompson.
In addition to her film and television work, Gibb has appeared in several television movies, including A Family Lost, An Accidental Christmas, and Cinnamon, aka My Dog's Christmas Miracle, starring alongside Greg Evigan and Ashley Leggat.