Nia Long

Nia Long

Birthdate
October 30, 1970 (54 years old)
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Acting

Details

Birthdate
October 30, 1970 (54 years old)
Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Known For
Acting

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.

Nia Long's LGBTQ+ Titles

If These Walls Could Talk 2
If These Walls Could Talk 2
Karen
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
Leslie

Acting (73)

2025
Michael as Katherine Jackson
2023
You People as Fatima
2023
Missing as Grace
2022
The Best Man: The Final Chapters as Jordan Armstrong (8 episodes)
2022
Look Both Ways as Lucy Galloway
2020
Life in a Year as Catherine
2020
Fatal Affair as Ellie
2020
#blackAF as Lavette (3 episodes)
2020
The Banker as Eunice Garrett
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show (1 episode)
2019
47 Meters Down: Uncaged as Jennifer
2017
Dear White People as Neika Hobbs (1 episode)
2017
Roxanne Roxanne as Ms. Peggy
2017
Lemon as Cleo
2017
Beaches as Hillary Whitney
2016
Uncle Buck as Cindy Russell (8 episodes)
2016
Keanu as Hannah
2014
The Divide as Billie Page (8 episodes)
2014
The Single Moms Club as May Miller
2013
The Best Man Holiday as Jordan Armstrong
2013
The Goldbergs as Lucy Somers (1 episode)
2012
House of Lies as Tamara (8 episodes)
2011
The Enduring Significance of 'Boyz n the Hood' as Self
2011
Mooz-lum as Safiyah
2009
Good Hair as Self
2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories as Self (1 episode)
2009
The Cleveland Show as Roberta Tubbs (voice) (21 episodes)
2009
NCIS: Los Angeles as Shay Mosley (30 episodes)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest (1 episode)
2008
The Wendy Williams Show (1 episode)
2008
Gospel Hill as Mrs. Palmer
2007
Big Shots as Katie Graham (11 episodes)
2007
Are We Done Yet? as Suzanne Persons
2007
Premonition as Annie
2006
Big Momma's House 2 as Sherri
2005
Are We There Yet? as Suzanne Kingston
2004
Alfie as Lonette
2004
Boston Legal as Vanessa Walker (3 episodes)
2004
The Tony Danza Show as Self (1 episode)
2004
Baadasssss! as Sandra
2004
America Beyond the Color Line as Self (1 episode)
2003
Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend as Self
2002
Sightings: Heartland Ghost as Lou
2002
Everwood as Cassie (1 episode)
2000
106 & Park (1 episode)
2000
Big Momma's House as Sherry Pierce
2000
Boiler Room as Abbie Halpert
1999
The Secret Laughter of Women as Nimi Da Silva
1999
The Best Man as Jordan Armstrong
1999
Held Up as Rae
1999
Third Watch as Sasha Monroe (45 episodes)
1999
Judging Amy as Andrea Solomon (6 episodes)
1999
Stigmata as Donna Chadway
1999
In Too Deep as Myra
1998
Butter as Carmen Jones
1997
Soul Food as Robin (Bird)
1997
Hav Plenty as Trudy
1997
Love Jones as Nina Mosley
1996
The Daily Show as Self (1 episode)
1996
Moesha (2 episodes)
1995
Live Shot as Ramona Greer (13 episodes)
1995
Friday as Debbie
1994
ER as Christy Wilson (1 episode)
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest (2 episodes)
1993
Living Single (1 episode)
1993
Made in America as Zora Mathews
1991
Boyz n the Hood as Brandi
1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Lisa Wilkes (16 episodes)
1989
Buried Alive as Fingers
1986
The B.R.A.T. Patrol as Darla Perkins
1954
The Wonderful World of Disney as Darla Perkins (1 episode)

Production (2)

2024
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2020
Fatal Affair • Producer
• Producer