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.
Acted Movies
Director: Kenya Barris
Writers: Jonah Hill,
Cast: David Duchovny, Deon Cole, Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London, Molly Gordon, Nia Long, Sam Jay, Travis "Taco" Bennett,
Director: Nicholas D. Johnson
Writers: Will Merrick,
Cast: Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Megan Suri, Nia Long, Rick Chambers, Storm Reid, Tim Griffin, Tracy Vilar,
Director: Wanuri Kahiu
Writers: April Prosser,
Cast: Aisha Dee, Amanda Knapic, Andrea Savage, Danny Ramirez, David Corenswet, Lili Reinhart, Luke Wilson, Nia Long, Sahara Ale, Sarah J. Bartholomew,
Director: Mitja Okorn
Writers: Will Matthews,
Cast: Cara Delevingne, Chris D'Elia, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jaden Smith, JT Neal, Michelle Giroux, Nia Long, Peter MacNeill, RZA, Stony Blyden,
Director: George Nolfi
Writers: Stan Younger,
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Colm Meaney, Gregory Alan Williams, James DuMont, Jessie T. Usher, Nia Long, Nicholas Hoult, Paul Ben-Victor, Samuel L. Jackson, Taylor Black,
Director: Tyler Perry
Writers: Tyler Perry,
Cast: Amy Smart, Cocoa Brown, Eddie Cibrian, Nia Long, Ryan Eggold, Terry Crews, Tyler Perry, Wendi McLendon-Covey, William Levy, Zulay Henao,
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Writers: Malcolm D. Lee,
Cast: Harold Perrineau, John Michael Higgins, Melissa De Sousa, Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Regina Hall, Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard,
Director: Charles Shyer
Writers: Charles Shyer,
Cast: Jane Krakowski, Jeff Harding, Jude Law, Kevin Rahm, Marisa Tomei, Nia Long, Omar Epps, Renée Taylor, Sienna Miller, Susan Sarandon,
Director: Mario Van Peebles
Writers: Mario Van Peebles,
Cast: David Alan Grier, Joy Bryant, Khleo Thomas, Mario Van Peebles, Nia Long, Ossie Davis, Paul Rodríguez, Saul Rubinek, T.K. Carter, Terry Crews,
Director: Ben Younger
Writers: Ben Younger,
Cast: Bill Sage, Giovanni Ribisi, Jamie Kennedy, Nia Long, Nicky Katt, Ron Rifkin, Scott Caan, Taylor Nichols, Tom Everett Scott, Vin Diesel,
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Writers: Malcolm D. Lee,
Cast: Harold Perrineau, Jim Moody, Malcolm D. Lee, Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Regina Hall, Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard,
Director: F. Gary Gray
Writers: Ice Cube,
Cast: Anna Maria Horsford, Chris Tucker, DJ Pooh, Faizon Love, Ice Cube, John Witherspoon, Nia Long, Paula Jai Parker, Regina King, Tommy Lister Jr.,
Director: Richard Benjamin
Writers: Holly Goldberg Sloan,
Cast: Clyde Kusatsu, David Bowe, Jeffrey Joseph, Jennifer Tilly, Nia Long, Paul Rodríguez, Peggy Rea, Ted Danson, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Smith,
Director: John Singleton
Writers: John Singleton,
Cast: Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Meta King, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Regina King, Tyra Ferrell, Whitman Mayo,