profile

Nia Long

1970-10-30 (54 years old) in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

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.

Movies

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Michael
0 %|Oct 1, 2025
Music, Drama, History
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You People
56.68 %|Jan 20, 2023
Romance, Comedy
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Missing
74.42 %|Jan 19, 2023
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
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Look Both Ways
69 %|Aug 16, 2022
Romance, Drama, Comedy
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Life in a Year
83 %|Nov 27, 2020
Drama, Romance
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Fatal Affair
56 %|Jul 16, 2020
Thriller
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The Banker
76 %|Mar 6, 2020
Drama
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47 Meters Down: Uncaged
56.95 %|Aug 15, 2019
Horror
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Roxanne Roxanne
60.38 %|Jan 22, 2017
Drama
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Lemon
45.769999999999996 %|Jan 22, 2017
Drama, Comedy
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Beaches
61 %|Jan 21, 2017
Drama, TV Movie
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Keanu
60.709999999999994 %|Apr 29, 2016
Action, Comedy, Crime
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The Single Moms Club
60 %|Mar 14, 2014
Drama, Comedy
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The Best Man Holiday
66 %|Nov 15, 2013
Comedy
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Mooz-lum
51 %|Feb 11, 2011
Drama
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Good Hair
65 %|Oct 9, 2009
Documentary, Comedy
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Gospel Hill
47 %|Feb 9, 2008
Drama, Mystery, Thriller
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Are We Done Yet?
57.89 %|Apr 4, 2007
Family, Comedy
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Premonition
62.95 %|Feb 8, 2007
Thriller, Drama, Mystery
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Big Momma's House 2
58 %|Jan 26, 2006
Comedy, Crime
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Are We There Yet?
56.43 %|Jan 20, 2005
Family, Adventure, Comedy, Romance
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Alfie
58 %|Oct 22, 2004
Comedy, Drama, Romance
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Baadasssss!
64 %|May 28, 2004
Drama
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Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend
45 %|Sep 2, 2003
Documentary
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Sightings: Heartland Ghost
48 %|Oct 27, 2002
Horror, Thriller, TV Movie
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Big Momma's House
58 %|May 31, 2000
Crime, Comedy
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If These Walls Could Talk 2
66 %|Mar 5, 2000
Romance, Drama
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Boiler Room
67.16 %|Feb 18, 2000
Crime, Drama, Thriller
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The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
63.2 %|Feb 1, 2000
Comedy, Drama, Romance
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The Secret Laughter of Women
47 %|Nov 26, 1999
Comedy, Drama, Romance
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The Best Man
66.8 %|Oct 22, 1999
Drama, Comedy
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Held Up
55 %|Oct 8, 1999
Comedy
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Stigmata
62.68 %|Sep 2, 1999
Horror, Thriller, Fantasy
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In Too Deep
64 %|Aug 25, 1999
Drama, Action, Thriller, Crime
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Butter
32 %|Oct 13, 1998
Action, Thriller
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Soul Food
63.25 %|Sep 26, 1997
Comedy, Drama
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Hav Plenty
58 %|Sep 11, 1997
Comedy, Romance
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Love Jones
74 %|Mar 14, 1997
Comedy, Drama, Romance
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Friday
71.57 %|Apr 26, 1995
Comedy
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Made in America
55 %|Jan 6, 1993
Comedy
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Boyz n the Hood
76 %|Jul 12, 1991
Crime, Drama
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Buried Alive
39 %|Sep 1, 1989
Horror, Thriller
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The B.R.A.T. Patrol
56 %|Oct 26, 1986
Comedy, Family, Adventure

Series

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The Best Man: The Final Chapters
84 %|Dec 22, 2022
Drama, Comedy
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#blackAF
68 %|Apr 17, 2020
Comedy
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The Kelly Clarkson Show
62 %|Sep 9, 2019
Talk
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Dear White People
62 %|Apr 28, 2017
Comedy, Drama
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Uncle Buck
58 %|Jun 14, 2016
Comedy
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The Divide
70 %|Jul 16, 2014
Drama
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The Goldbergs
76 %|Sep 24, 2013
Family, Comedy
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House of Lies
65 %|Jan 8, 2012
Comedy, Drama
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Celebrity Ghost Stories
73 %|Oct 3, 2009
Reality, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Talk
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The Cleveland Show
58 %|Sep 27, 2009
Animation, Comedy
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NCIS: Los Angeles
75.49000000000001 %|Sep 22, 2009
Action & Adventure, Drama, Crime, Mystery
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Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
49 %|Jul 16, 2009
Talk, Comedy
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The Wendy Williams Show
66 %|Jul 14, 2008
Talk
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Big Shots
70 %|Sep 27, 2007
Drama
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Boston Legal
78.71000000000001 %|Oct 3, 2004
Comedy, Drama
actor
The Tony Danza Show
61 %|Sep 13, 2004
Talk
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America Beyond the Color Line
60 %|Feb 3, 2004
Documentary
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Everwood
76 %|Sep 16, 2002
Drama, Family
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106 & Park
60 %|Sep 11, 2000
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Third Watch
79 %|Sep 23, 1999
Drama, Crime
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Judging Amy
75 %|Sep 19, 1999
Drama
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The Daily Show
64 %|Jul 22, 1996
News, Comedy
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Moesha
68 %|Jan 23, 1996
Comedy, Family
actor
Live Shot
0 %|Aug 29, 1995
Drama
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ER
78 %|Sep 19, 1994
Drama
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Late Night with Conan O'Brien
70.95 %|Sep 13, 1993
Comedy, Talk
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Living Single
84 %|Aug 29, 1993
Comedy
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
79 %|Sep 10, 1990
Comedy, Family
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The Wonderful World of Disney
76 %|Oct 27, 1954
Action & Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Kids, Family