Image of Nia Long

Nia Long

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.


Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
Born:
Oct 30, 1970 In Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
61
First Appeared:
In the movie Last Friday
Latest Project:
Movie You People 2023-01-20
Known For
Poster of Roxanne Roxanne
Poster of Beaches
Poster of The Best Man
Filmography
Movie Last Friday Debbie (rumored) 2025
Movie Missing Grace Allen 2023-01-19
Movie You People Fatima 2023-01-20
Movie Look Both Ways Lucy Galloway 2022-08-16
Movie The Banker Eunice Garrett 2020-03-06
Movie Life in a Year Catherine 2020-11-27
Movie Fatal Affair Ellie 2020-07-16
Movie 47 Meters Down: Uncaged Jennifer 2019-08-15
Movie Roxanne Roxanne Ms. Peggy 2017-01-22
Movie Beaches Hillary Whitney 2017-01-21
Movie Lemon Cleo 2017-01-22
Series Uncle Buck Cindy Russell 2016-06-14
Movie Keanu Hannah 2016-04-21
Movie The Single Moms Club May Miller 2014-03-14
Series The Divide Billie Page 2014-07-16
Movie The Best Man Holiday Jordan Armstrong 2013-11-15
Series House of Lies Tamara 2012-01-08
Movie Mooz-lum Safiyah 2011-02-11
Movie Good Hair Herself 2009-10-09
Series NCIS: Los Angeles Shay Mosley 2009-09-22
Movie Gospel Hill Mrs. Palmer 2008-02-09
Series The Wendy Williams Show Unknown 2008-07-14
Series Big Shots Katie Graham 2007-09-27
Movie Are We Done Yet? Suzanne Persons 2007-04-04
Movie Premonition Annie 2007-02-08
Movie Big Momma's House 2 Sherri 2006-01-26
Movie Are We There Yet? Suzanne Kingston 2005-01-20
Movie Baadasssss! Sandra 2004-05-28
Series America Beyond the Color Line Herself 2004-02-03
Movie Alfie Lonette 2004-10-22
Series Boston Legal Unknown 2004-10-03
Series The Tony Danza Show Unknown 2004-09-13
Series Everwood Unknown 2002-09-16
Movie Sightings: Heartland Ghost Lou 2002-10-27
Movie The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy Leslie 2000-02-01
Movie Boiler Room Abbie Halpert 2000-02-18
Movie Big Momma's House Sherry Pierce 2000-05-31
Series 106 & Park Unknown 2000-09-11
Movie If These Walls Could Talk 2 Karen 2000-03-05
Movie Stigmata Donna Chadway 1999-09-02
Series Judging Amy Unknown 1999-09-19
Movie In Too Deep Myra 1999-08-25
Movie The Secret Laughter of Women Nimi Da Silva 1999-11-26
Series Third Watch Sasha Monroe 1999-09-23
Movie The Best Man Jordan Armstrong 1999-10-22
Movie Held Up Rae 1999-10-08
Movie Butter Carmen Jones 1998-10-13
Movie Love Jones Nina Mosley 1997-03-14
Movie Soul Food Robin (Bird) 1997-09-26
Movie Hav Plenty Trudy 1997-09-11
Series Moesha Unknown 1996-01-23
Movie Friday Debbie 1995-04-26
Series Live Shot Ramona Greer 1995-08-29
Series ER Unknown 1994-09-19
Movie Made in America Zora Mathews 1993-01-06
Series Living Single Unknown 1993-08-29
Series Late Night with Conan O'Brien Unknown 1993-09-13
Movie Boyz n the Hood Brandi 1991-07-12
Series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Lisa Wilkes 1990-09-10
Movie Buried Alive Fingers 1989-09-01
Movie The B.R.A.T. Patrol Darla Perkins 1986-10-26