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.
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| Organization | Category | Movie |
|---|
Third Watch
as Sasha Monroe
Episodes: 45
First Aired: Sep 23, 1999
NCIS: Los Angeles
as Shay Mosley
Episodes: 30
First Aired: Sep 22, 2009
The Cleveland Show
as Roberta Tubbs (voice)
Episodes: 21
First Aired: Sep 27, 2009
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
as Lisa Wilkes
Episodes: 16
First Aired: Sep 10, 1990
Live Shot
as Ramona Greer
Episodes: 13
First Aired: Aug 29, 1995
Big Shots
as Katie Graham
Episodes: 11
First Aired: Sep 27, 2007
The Divide
as Billie Page
Episodes: 8
First Aired: Jul 16, 2014
House of Lies
as Tamara
Episodes: 8
First Aired: Jan 08, 2012
Uncle Buck
as Cindy Russell
Episodes: 8
First Aired: Jun 14, 2016
The Best Man: The Final Chapters
as Jordan Armstrong
Episodes: 8
First Aired: Dec 22, 2022
Judging Amy
as Andrea Solomon
Episodes: 6
First Aired: Sep 19, 1999
Boston Legal
as Vanessa Walker
Episodes: 3
First Aired: Oct 03, 2004
#blackAF
as Lavette
Episodes: 3
First Aired: Apr 17, 2020
Everwood
as Cassie
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 16, 2002
ER
as Christy Wilson
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 19, 1994
The Goldbergs
as Lucy Somers
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 24, 2013
Dear White People
as Neika Hobbs
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 28, 2017
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Darla Perkins
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 27, 1954
Moesha
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Jan 23, 1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Sep 13, 1993
The Tony Danza Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 13, 2004
106 & Park
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 11, 2000
Living Single
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 29, 1993
The Wendy Williams Show
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 14, 2008
America Beyond the Color Line
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 03, 2004
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 09, 2019
Celebrity Ghost Stories
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 03, 2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 16, 2009
The Daily Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 22, 1996
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