Nia Long
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 30, 1970 (age 56)
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
Nia Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress and occasional music video director. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Third Watch, and the films Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, and Are We There Yet? Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Her family is of Afro-Trinidadian descent. Her name, Nia, is one of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which means purpose in Swahili. Long's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she and her mother moved to Iowa City, Iowa. They subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when Long was seven. Long's father currently resides in Trenton, New Jersey. Long's half-sister is comedienne Sommore, one of the stars of The Queens of Comedy. She attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from WestchesterHigh School in 1989. Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Her earliest role was in the Disney television movie, The B.R.A.T Patrol alongside Sean Astin, Tim Thomerson and Brian Keith. Her first notable role on television was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light. Long portrayed Kat from 1991 to 1994, then f rom 1994 - 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. In 2003, she joined the cast of the drama Third Watch, where she played NYPD Officer Sasha Monroe, continuing until the series finale in 2005. In 2005 and 2006, Long appeared on Everwood, and appeared on Boston Legal during its 2006-2007 season. Long also starred in Big Shots from 2007-2008 alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott. She also made a guest appearance on the successful sitcom Living Single during its first season. Long appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies including, Boyz n the Hood, Friday, and Made in America. She played a leading role, or a member of the primary ensemble, in several films, including Soul Food, Love Jones, Boiler Room, Big Momma's House, Are We There Yet?, and The Best Man. Ice Cube has starred with her in four films, while (fellow Westchester High alum) Regina King has starred with her in two. Long was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World in 2000 by People. She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch. In addition to her film credits, she directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass" and co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". She also appears in the video for Kanye West's, "Touch The Sky". Long and her former long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Massai Z. Dorsey have a son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, born on November 26, 2000.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Don't Ever Wonder
Movie
Are They Gone Yet?
Movie · as Suzanne Persons
Unsung Hollywood
TV · 1 ep
Get Lite
Movie
Michael
Movie · as Katherine Jackson
Number One on the Call Sheet
TV · as Self · 1 ep
You People
Movie · as Fatima
Missing
Movie · as Grace
Look Both Ways
Movie · as Lucy Galloway
The Best Man: The Final Chapters
TV · as Jordan Armstrong · 8 eps
The Jennifer Hudson Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
Life in a Year
Movie · as Catherine
The Banker
Movie · as Eunice Garrett
Fatal Affair
Movie · as Ellie Warren
#blackAF
TV · as Lavette · 3 eps
47 Meters Down: Uncaged
Movie · as Jennifer
The Kelly Clarkson Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Roxanne Roxanne
Movie · as Ms. Peggy
Beaches
Movie · as Hillary Whitney
Lemon
Movie · as Cleo
Dear White People
TV · as Neika Hobbs · 1 ep
Steve
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Keanu
Movie · as Hannah
Uncle Buck
TV · as Cindy Russell · 8 eps
Empire
TV · as Giuliana · 8 eps
The Single Moms Club
Movie · as May Miller
The Divide
TV · as Billie Page · 8 eps
The Best Man Holiday
Movie · as Jordan Armstrong
House of Lies
TV · as Tamara · 8 eps
Mooz-lum
Movie · as Safiyah
The Enduring Significance of 'Boyz n the Hood'
Movie · as Self
Good Hair
Movie · as Self
‘Friday’ Straight Up
Movie · as Self
NCIS: Los Angeles
TV · as Shay Mosley · 30 eps
Celebrity Ghost Stories
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Cleveland Show
TV · as Roberta Tubbs (voice) · 21 eps
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
Gospel Hill
Movie · as Mrs. Palmer
The Wendy Williams Show
TV · 1 ep
Are We Done Yet?
Movie · as Suzanne Persons
Premonition
Movie · as Annie
Big Shots
TV · as Katie Graham · 11 eps
Big Momma's House 2
Movie · as Sherri
Are We There Yet?
Movie · as Suzanne Kingston
Alfie
Movie · as Lonette
Baadasssss!
Movie · as Sandra
The Tony Danza Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Boston Legal
TV · as Vanessa Walker · 3 eps
America Beyond the Color Line
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend
Movie · as Self
Sightings: Heartland Ghost
Movie · as Lou
Everwood
TV · as Cassie · 1 ep
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
Movie · as Leslie
Big Momma's House
Movie · as Sherry Pierce
If These Walls Could Talk 2
Movie · as Karen
Boiler Room
Movie · as Abbie Halpert
106 & Park
TV · 1 ep
Stigmata
Movie · as Donna Chadway
In Too Deep
Movie · as Myra
The Best Man
Movie · as Jordan Armstrong
Held Up
Movie · as Rae
The Secret Laughter of Women
Movie · as Nimi Da Silva
Third Watch
TV · as Sasha Monroe · 45 eps
Judging Amy
TV · as Andrea Solomon · 6 eps
Butter
Movie · as Carmen Jones
Love Jones
Movie · as Nina Mosley
Soul Food
Movie · as Robin (Bird)
Hav Plenty
Movie · as Trudy
Moesha
TV · as Babysitter · 2 eps
The Daily Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
Friday
Movie · as Debbie
Live Shot
TV · as Ramona Greer · 1 ep
ER
TV · as Christy Wilson · 1 ep
Made in America
Movie · as Zora Mathews
Living Single
TV · as Stacey · 1 ep
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps
Boyz n the Hood
Movie · as Brandi
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
TV · as Claudia · 16 eps
Buried Alive
Movie · as Fingers
The B.R.A.T. Patrol
Movie · as Darla Perkins
People's Choice Awards
TV · as Self - Presenter · 1 ep
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV · as Darla Perkins · 1 ep