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Nia Long
Actor, ProducerBorn October 30, 1970 (55 years)
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
Featured Videos
Nia Long Filmography
| 2026 | Michael · as Katherine Jackson |
| 2023 | You People · as Fatima |
| 2023 | Missing · as Grace |
| 2022 | The Best Man: The Final Chapters (TV Series) · as Jordan Armstrong |
| 2022 | Look Both Ways · as Lucy Galloway |
| 2022 | Let the World See (TV Series) · as Mamie Till-Mobley |
| 2020 | Life in a Year · as Catherine |
| 2020 | Fatal Affair · as Ellie Warren |
| 2020 | #blackAF (TV Series) · as Lavette |
| 2020 | The Banker · as Eunice Garrett |
| 2019 | 47 Meters Down: Uncaged · as Jennifer |
| 2018 | The Goldbergs: 1990-Something · as Lucy Somers |
| 2017 | Lemon · as Cleo |
| 2017 | Dear White People (TV Series) · as Neika Hobbs |
| 2017 | Roxanne Roxanne · as Ms. Peggy |
| 2017 | Beaches · as Hillary Whitney |
| 2016 | Uncle Buck (2016) (TV Series) · as Cindy Russell |
| 2016 | Keanu · as Hannah |
| 2015 | Empire (2015) (TV Series) · as Giuliana |
| 2014 | Hand of God (TV Series) · as Izzy |
| 2014 | The Divide (TV Series) · as Billie Page |
| 2014 | The Single Moms Club · as May Miller |
| 2013 | The Best Man Holiday · as Jordan Armstrong |
| 2012 | House of Lies (TV Series) · as Tamara |
| 2010 | Chase (2010) (TV Series) · as Melissa Randolph |
| 2010 | |
| 2010 | Boston's Finest · as Taylor Sanchez |
| 2009 | The Cleveland Show (TV Series) · as Roberta Tubbs (voice) |
| 2009 | NCIS: Los Angeles (TV Series) · as Shay Mosley |
| 2008 | The Wendy Williams Show (TV Series) |
| 2008 | Gospel Hill · as Mrs. Palmer |
| 2007 | Big Shots (TV Series) · as Katie Graham |
| 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 (TV Series) · as Vanessa Walker |
| 2003 | Baadasssss! · as Sandra |
| 2002 | Sightings: Heartland Ghost · as Lou |
| 2002 | Everwood (TV Series) · as Cassie |
| 2000 | The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy · as Leslie |
| 2000 | 106 & Park (TV Series) |
| 2000 | Big Momma's House · as Sherry Pierce |
| 2000 | If These Walls Could Talk 2 · as Karen |
| 2000 | Boiler Room · as Abbie Halpert |
| 1999 | The Best Man · as Jordan Armstrong |
| 1999 | |
| 1999 | Third Watch (TV Series) · as Sasha Monroe |
| 1999 | Judging Amy (TV Series) · as Andrea Solomon |
| 1999 | Stigmata · as Donna Chadway |
| 1999 | In Too Deep · as Myra |
| 1998 | The Secret Laughter of Women · as Nimi Da Silva |
| 1998 | |
| 1997 | Soul Food · as Robin (bird) |
| 1997 | Hav Plenty · as Trudy |
| 1997 | Love Jones · as Nina Mosley |
| 1996 | Moesha (TV Series) · as Babysitter |
| 1995 | Live Shot (TV Series) · as Ramona Greer |
| 1995 | Friday · as Debbie |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Christy Wilson |
| 1993 | Living Single (TV Series) · as Stacey |
| 1993 | Made in America · as Zora Mathews |
| 1991 | Boyz n the Hood · as Brandi |
| 1990 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series) · as Lisa Wilkes |
| 1989 | Buried Alive · as Fingers |
| 1986 | The B.R.A.T. Patrol · as Darla Perkins |
| 1985 | 227 (TV Series) · as Girl |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Darla Perkins |
| 1952 | Guiding Light (TV Series) · as Kathryn Speakes |
| 2025 | |
| 2025 | Number One on the Call Sheet (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | The Jennifer Hudson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2020 | The Drew Barrymore Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2019 | The Kelly Clarkson Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2019 | Tamron Hall (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2018 | Strahan, Sara & Keke (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2018 | Uncensored (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2017 | Steve (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2016 | Harry (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2016 | 24th Annual Trumpet Awards · as Self - Host |
| 2016 | The 42nd Annual People's Choice Awards · as Self |
| 2014 | Unsung Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2014 | 45th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2014 | 19th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2013 | Black Girls Rock! 2013 · as Self |
| 2013 | The Arsenio Hall Show (2013) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2013 | BET Awards 2013 · as Self |
| 2013 | Real Husbands of Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2012 | Larry King Now (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2012 | Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D · as Self |
| 2011 | Oprah's Lifeclass (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | The Chew (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2011 | Dish Nation (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2011 | BET Awards 2011 · as Self |
| 2011 | Big Morning Buzz Live (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | Black Girls Rock · as Self - Host |
| 2010 | The Talk (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | Access Hollyood Live (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2010 | BET Awards 2010 · as Self |
| 2009 | Good Hair · as Self |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2008 | Celebrity Ghost Stories (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | 38th NAACP Image Awards · as Self - Presenter |
| 2007 | Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2006 | Rachael Ray (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Made In Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | 2nd Annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors · as Self |
| 2005 | The Martha Stewart Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Insider (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The Tony Danza Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2004 | The N Word · as Self |
| 2004 | 35th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2004 | Tavis Smiley (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2003 | Friendly Fire: Making an Urban Legend · as Self |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | America Beyond The Color Line (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Last Call with Carson Daly (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | 32nd NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 2000 | 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards · as Self |
| 2000 | 31st NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1999 | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1998 | The 12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | 29th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1996 | Access Hollywood (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1996 | The Daily Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | Extra (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | 26th NAACP Image Awards · as Self |
| 1993 | The Jon Stewart Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1992 | Late Show with David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | LIVE with Kelly and Mark (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | People's Choice Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Presenter |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2024 | Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story · as Executive Producer |
| 2020 |