Nia Long

New Pic! P. Diddy's Club Scare

Entertainment Tonight: Topstories - Found Aug. 2, 2008
... one of several celebrity guests in attendance at this party." Other stars at the club that night included Usher, Gabrielle Union and Nia Long .

Posted on August 2, 2008, 1:18 pm

Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Kevin Michael Richardson Join Cast of ...

BuddyTV - Found Jul. 15, 2008
... animated series Family Guy, is starting off with quite an ensemble, with Sanaa Lathan (Alien vs. Predator), Nia Long (Soul Food, Are We There...

Posted on July 15, 2008, 12:00 pm

Obama Absent, but Still the Buzz at BET Awards

FOXNews.com - Found Jun. 25, 2008
Actress Nia Long beamed about possible first lady Michelle Obama. Michelle is graceful, beautiful and not afraid to be exactly who she is, Long...

Posted on June 25, 2008, 7:34 am

Nia Long added to CFW 2008 line-up

Jamaica Gleaner - Found Jun. 11, 2008
Extra special treat for audience In addition to Nia Long, urban music and movie superstar-turned- fashion mogul Eve, Soul Food TV and big...

Posted on June 11, 2008, 5:54 am

Nia Long added to star-studded CFW line-up

Jamaica Observer - Found Jun. 11, 2008
Nia Long is the latest addition to the CFW runway celebrity line-up. One out of the galaxy of celebrities at this year's renewal, Nia Long has...

Posted on June 11, 2008, 2:00 am

Black Expo is Saturday

Hampton Roads Daily Press - Found 9 hours ago
... fun event.' According to Waller, this year's expo is scheduled to include celebrity appearances, including actors Nia Long and Lamman Rucker.

Posted on August 21, 2008, 4:21 am

FOX's Cleveland Goes to MIPCOM

Animation Magazine - Found 9 hours ago
... with Donna and finds a few surprises awaiting him, including a flirtatious new stepdaughter named Roberta (Nia Long), a five-year-old stepson...

Posted on August 21, 2008, 3:59 am

'Build The Dream' Radiothon

Radio and Records - Found 15 hours ago
... an impressive ensemble of celebrities which include Aretha Franklin, Samuel L. Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Nia Long, Ice Cube, Stephanie Mills...

Posted on August 20, 2008, 10:12 am

Steve Harvey, Doug Banks, Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden Participate ...

PR inside - Found Aug. 19, 2008
Dream Team of Participants Include: Aretha Franklin, Samuel L. Jackson, Musiq Soulchild, Nia Long, Ice Cube, Stephanie Mills, Cedric The...
Steve Harvey, Doug Banks, Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden Participate ... - Houston Chronicle
Steve Harvey, Doug Banks, Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden Participate ... - Globe Investor
Steve Harvey, Doug Banks, Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden Participate ... - Forbes.com
Clear Channel recruits ?King of Comedy? to promote MLK Memorial - Biz Journals
Explore All

Posted on August 19, 2008, 4:59 am

Entertainment News: Lil? Kim Could Be Featured In Playboy; ...

Bet.com - Found Aug. 15, 2008
Comedian and radio show host Mo?Nique will also appear, along with singer Talita Long, mother of actress Nia Long at the three-day African...

Posted on August 15, 2008, 6:19 am

Nia Long Biography

Nia Long
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Nia Long
Born Nitara Carlynn Long
October 30, 1970 (1970-10-30) (age 37)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress, Director
Domestic partner(s) Massai Z. Dorsey Sr. (2000-2001)
Kevin Phillips

Nitara Carlynn "Nia" Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress and occasional music video director. She is best known for her roles in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, Third Watch, Are We There Yet?.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Talita, a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry "Doc" Long, a high school teacher and poet.[1][2][3] Her grandparents are from Trinidad and Tobago.[4][5] Her stage name, Nia, is one of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which means "purpose" in Swahili. Her parents divorced when Long was two years old, and she and her mother moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where her mother studied fine arts. They subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when Long was seven. Long's father currently resides in New Jersey in the township of Ewing. Long's half sister is comedienne Sommore, star of The Queens of Comedy.

Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy[6] and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in 1989. Due to the lack of employment opportunities in the arts in Los Angeles when Long and her mother first arrived there, Long's mother took various low-paying jobs (despite having two master's degrees). The family suffered through financial struggle for years.

Career

For 15 years, Long was instructed by acting coach Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Her first notable role was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light. Long portrayed Kat from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 - 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Jada Pinkett-Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but she was late to auditions, thus leaving Nia to take the part. 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.

She appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies such as Boyz N the Hood, Friday, and Made in America. Long 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 Regina King has starred with her in two. Long starred alongside Michael Beach in Soul Food and in the TV series Third Watch.

She appears in the video for Kanye West's "Touch The Sky". She directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass". Long was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World 2000 by People. She also took last place in a poll by the readers of Black Men's Magazine for "The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year" in 2000. She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch. Long co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". She also made a guest appearance on the successful sitcom Living Single during its first season.

Personal life

With regard to being a working mother, she says "she is up for the challenge so long as it does not require disturbing her family's well-being". "If I’m gonna hustle, I want to hustle in one place... I uprooted everything, moved to New York for two years, moved back and it was great but I really, I’m enjoying the stability."[7]

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. Dorsey and Long were engaged to be married, but ended their relationship. She is currently in a live-in relationship with Kevin Phillips. They reside in Los Angeles, California.[8]

Filmography

Television Work

References

External links

Nia Long Videos and Clips

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Nia Long video Craig Ferguson Nia Long Oct 10  07 clip
Title: Craig Ferguson Nia Long Oct 10 07
Description: Craig Ferguson Nia Long Oct 10 07
Nia Long video Yes We Can Video: Nia Long on Barack Obama clip
Title: Yes We Can Video: Nia Long on Barack Obama
Description: Yes We Can Video: Nia Long on Barack Obama
Nia Long video Third Watch, TV, Nia Long, Ernest Waddell clip
Title: Third Watch, Ernest Waddell, TV, Nia Long
Description: Third Watch, TV, Nia Long, Ernest Waddell
Nia Long video Nia Long @ Essence Celebration on BlackTree TV clip
Title: Nia Long on BlackTree.TV
Description: Nia Long @ Essence Celebration on BlackTree TV
Nia Long video http://www.amnestyusa.org/torture

Nia Long urges viewers to stop torture. clip
Title: Nia Long says stop torture
Description: http://www.amnestyusa.org/torture Nia Long urges viewers to stop torture.
Nia Long video Nia Long at the Waist Deep movie premiere. clip
Title: Nia Long Waist Deep
Description: Nia Long at the Waist Deep movie premiere.
Nia Long video Nia Long at the Are We There Yet? movie premiere. clip
Title: Nia Long Are We There Yet?
Description: Nia Long at the Are We There Yet? movie premiere.
Nia Long video NIA LONG clip
Title: NIA LONG PORTFOLIO
Description: NIA LONG