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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.

Michael

2025

as Katherine Jackson

You People

2023

as Fatima

Missing

2023

as Grace

The Best Man: The Final Chapters

2022

as Jordan Armstrong

Look Both Ways

2022

as Lucy Galloway

Life in a Year

2020

as Catherine

Fatal Affair

2020

as Ellie

#blackAF

2020

as Lavette

The Banker

2020

as Eunice Garrett

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

2019

as Jennifer

Dear White People

2017

as Neika Hobbs

Roxanne Roxanne

2017

as Ms. Peggy

Lemon

2017

as Cleo

Beaches

2017

as Hillary Whitney

Uncle Buck

2016

as Cindy Russell

Keanu

2016

as Hannah

The Divide

2014

as Billie Page

The Single Moms Club

2014

as May Miller

The Best Man Holiday

2013

as Jordan Armstrong

The Goldbergs

2013

as Lucy Somers

House of Lies

2012

as Tamara

The Enduring Significance of 'Boyz n the Hood'

2011

as Self

Mooz-lum

2011

as Safiyah

Good Hair

2009

as Self

The Cleveland Show

2009

as Roberta Tubbs (voice)

NCIS: Los Angeles

2009

as Shay Mosley

Gospel Hill

2008

as Mrs. Palmer

Big Shots

2007

as Katie Graham

Are We Done Yet?

2007

as Suzanne Persons

Premonition

2007

as Annie

Big Momma's House 2

2006

as Sherri

Are We There Yet?

2005

as Suzanne Kingston

Alfie

2004

as Lonette

Boston Legal

2004

as Vanessa Walker

Baadasssss!

2004

as Sandra

America Beyond the Color Line

2004

as Self

Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend

2003

as Self

Sightings: Heartland Ghost

2002

as Lou

Everwood

2002

as Cassie

106 & Park

2000

Big Momma's House

2000

as Sherry Pierce

If These Walls Could Talk 2

2000

as Karen

Boiler Room

2000

as Abbie Halpert

The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy

2000

as Leslie

The Secret Laughter of Women

1999

as Nimi Da Silva

The Best Man

1999

as Jordan Armstrong

Held Up

1999

as Rae

Third Watch

1999

as Sasha Monroe

Judging Amy

1999

as Andrea Solomon

Stigmata

1999

as Donna Chadway

In Too Deep

1999

as Myra

Butter

1998

as Carmen Jones

Soul Food

1997

as Robin (Bird)

Hav Plenty

1997

as Trudy

Love Jones

1997

as Nina Mosley

Moesha

1996

Live Shot

1995

as Ramona Greer

Friday

1995

as Debbie

ER

1994

as Christy Wilson

Living Single

1993

Made in America

1993

as Zora Mathews

Boyz n the Hood

1991

as Brandi

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

1990

as Lisa Wilkes

Buried Alive

1989

as Fingers

The B.R.A.T. Patrol

1986

as Darla Perkins

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954

as Darla Perkins