Jessica Betts

Carol Denise Betts (previously Nash, née Ensley; born February 23, 1970) (), known professionally as Niecy Nash, is an American actress. Her career began in the late 1990s, with appearances in the films ''Boys on the Side'' (1995) and ''Cookie's Fortune'' (1999). She garnered recognition for her portrayal of Deputy Raineesha Williams in the comedy series ''Reno 911!'' (2003–2009, 2020–2022), along with hosting the Style Network show ''Clean House'' (2003–2010), for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award.

Nash received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for starring as Denise "Didi" Ortley in the comedy-drama series '' Getting On'' (2013–2015). She has also portrayed Lolli Ballentine in the sitcom ''The Soul Man'' (2012–2016), and Denise Hemphill in the horror-comedy series ''Scream Queens'' (2015–2016). From 2017 to 2022, she played Desna Simms in the crime comedy-drama ''Claws'' (2017–2022). She currently stars as Detective Lois Tryon in the horror drama series '' Grotesquerie'' (2024–present).

Nash collaborated with director Ava DuVernay in the drama films '' Selma'' (2014) and ''Origin'' (2023), and the miniseries ''When They See Us'' (2019), for which she was nominated for another Primetime Emmy Award. Nash also played feminist leader Florynce Kennedy in the miniseries ''Mrs. America'' (2020), and starred in the miniseries '' Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story'' (2022), winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress as well as receiving a Golden Globe nomination.

Early life

Nash was born Carol Denise Ensley, in Palmdale, California, on February 23, 1970. She was raised in South Central Los Angeles. At the age of five, Nash developed an interest in entertainment after watching actress Lola Falana on television. When she was fifteen, Nash witnessed her mother get shot by an abusive boyfriend. She became a spokesperson for M.A.V.I.S. (Mothers Against Violence In Schools), the organization founded by her mother after the 1993 shooting death of Nash's younger brother, Michael. M.A.V.I.S.'s mission is to inform the public of the violence children encounter on school campuses. Nash graduated from Gardena High School, then later California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Carson, California.

Career

Early works

Nash made her professional acting debut in the 1995 comedy-drama film, ''Boys on the Side'' starring Whoopi Goldberg. On television, she later guest-starred in ''NYPD Blue'', ''Judging Amy'', '' Reba'', '' Girlfriends'', '' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', and '' ER''. She also appeared in the 1999 comedy film ''Cookie's Fortune'' directed by Robert Altman, and had a recurring role on the CBS drama series '' City of Angels'' in 2000.

From 2003 to 2009, she played the roles of Deputy Raineesha Williams and T.T. on the Comedy Central comedy series ''Reno 911!''. She hosted ''Clean House'' on the Style Network from 2003 to 2010, as well as providing the voice of Mrs. Boots on the ABC Family animated series ''Slacker Cats'', and starred as Rhonda, opposite Jerry O'Connell, in the short-lived Fox sitcom '' Do Not Disturb'' in 2008. She guest-starred on ''The Bernie Mac Show'' as Bernie's sister Bonita from 2003 to 2005. Nash won a Daytime Emmy in 2010 as the producer/host of ''Clean House: The Messiest Home in the Country'' in the category of Outstanding Special Class Special. On August 4, 2010, Nash announced that she was leaving ''Clean House'', and that the show would continue without her.

Nash appeared on the tenth season of ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars'' beginning in March 2010, where she was partnered with Louis van Amstel. On May 11, Nash and van Amstel were eliminated from the competition, taking fifth place. In 2011, she got her own reality show, ''Leave It To Niecy'', on TLC, about her life with her new husband and stepson, but it was quickly cancelled. In that same year she was in a TLC wedding special. She also appeared in the films '' Code Name: The Cleaner'' (2007), '' Reno 911!: Miami'' (2007), ''Cook Off!'' (2007), '' Not Easily Broken'' (2009), ''G-Force'' (2009), and '' Trust Me'' (2013).

2012–present

In 2012, Nash began starring opposite Cedric the Entertainer in the TV Land sitcom ''The Soul Man'', a spinoff of ''Hot in Cleveland''. The series ran five seasons and ended in 2016. In 2013, she began starring opposite Laurie Metcalf in the HBO comedy series '' Getting On''. She received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination for her role on the show in 2015 and 2016, as well as a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016. For her performance, Nash received positive critical reception, followed by more serious roles.

In 2014, Nash played Richie Jean Jackson, the wife of Dr. Sullivan Jackson, in the historical drama film '' Selma'', directed by Ava DuVernay. DuVernay cast Nash after seeing her on the series ''Getting On''. The film received acclaim from critics; on Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 99%, based on 205 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. ''Selma'' was listed on many critics' top ten lists. Also that year, Nash joined the cast of the Fox comedy series ''The Mindy Project'' in a recurring role as Dr. Jean Fishman, a rival of the title character.

From 2015 to 2016, Nash co-starred on the Fox horror-comedy series ''Scream Queens'' as a security guard, and then FBI Agent Denise Hemphill. She appeared in another Fox comedy, ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'', as Andre Braugher's sister. Also in 2016, she was cast in the leading role in the Fox comedy pilot ''The Enforcers''. The pilot, however, was not ordered to series. Nash later had a recurring role as Louise Bell in the Showtime period drama ''Masters of Sex''.

In 2017, Nash was cast in a leading role in the TNT crime comedy-drama series ''Claws'', produced by Rashida Jones, about a South Florida nail salon. Also in 2017, Nash appeared in Mary J. Blige's music video for " Strength of a Woman". For her dramatic turn in ''Claws'', Nash has received critical praise. She received a Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, as well as another nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.

In July 2018, Nash received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the television category. In August 2018, it was announced that Nash would star in and produce ''Naked With Niecy Nash'', a late-night talk show for TNT. Later that year, Ava DuVernay cast her in the Netflix limited drama series ''When They See Us''. For her performance, she received critical praise and a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.

In 2020, Nash starred in Netflix drama film, '' Uncorked'', directed by Prentice Penny, and had a recurring role in the Netflix comedy-drama ''Never Have I Ever'', created by Mindy Kaling. Also that year, she played civil rights advocate Florynce Kennedy in the Hulu miniseries ''Mrs. America''. Later in 2020, Nash signed on to host her own syndicated daytime talk show for CBS Television Distribution. Nash reprised her role as Deputy Raineesha Williams in the seventh season of ''Reno 911!'' which aired on Quibi. She starred in the Lifetime movie '' Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story'' playing Gloria Williams, her abductor. She also appeared in the 2021 Paramount+ movie ''Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon''. The eighth season of the series, titled ''Reno 911! Defunded'', premiered on The Roku Channel in February 2022. During season five of ''The Masked Singer'', Nash served as a guest host while regular series host Nick Cannon recovered from COVID-19. On April 28, 2021, Fox announced that it had ordered a revival of ''Don't Forget the Lyrics'' with Nash as host. It premiered on May 23, 2022.

Nash guest-starred on two episodes of '' The Rookie'', titled "Simone" and "Enervo", which served as a backdoor pilot centered on her character and aired on April 24 and May 1, 2022. On May 13, 2022, the spinoff, titled '' The Rookie: Feds'', was ordered. The series premiered on September 27, 2022. In July 2022, Nash signed a first-look television deal with Entertainment One. Also that year, she played the title character's mother in the drama film, ''Beauty''.

In late 2022, Nash starred as Glenda Cleveland in the Netflix true-crime limited series '' Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story''. She received positive reviews for her performance. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries, and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. Additionally, she received nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. The following year, she starred in the biographical drama film ''Origin'' by Ava DuVernay, based on the life of Isabel Wilkerson. It premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2023, and began a limited theatrical release in January 2024.

Personal life

In February 1993, Nash's brother Michael Ensley was shot and killed at the age of 17 by a 16-year-old gunman at Reseda High School in California. In the aftermath, Nash began telling jokes to help her mother cope with depression. "That is when I knew I had a gift to do comedy. I decided I was going to go out and spread this around as a means to help the other people who are suffering."

Nash was married for 13 years to Don Nash, an ordained minister. They filed for divorce in June 2007, and have three children together.

In September 2010, Nash became engaged to Jay Tucker. Nash participated in a TLC reality show that followed the preparations for the wedding. On May 28, 2011, they were married at the Church Estate Vineyard in Malibu. On October 30, 2019, Nash announced her pending divorce from Tucker via Instagram. On June 21, 2020, the divorce was finalized.

On August 29, 2020, Nash married singer Jessica Betts, whom Nash refers to as her "hersband". Nash has not elected to label herself or identify with any sexual orientation. She said in an appearance on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' that she did not feel that she was "coming out" as she was not sexually repressed prior to her marriage to Betts.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Niecy
1970 births
20th-century African-American people
20th-century African-American actresses
20th-century American actresses
20th-century American comedians
21st-century African-American people
21st-century African-American actresses
21st-century American actresses
21st-century American comedians
21st-century American LGBTQ people
Actresses from California
African-American female comedians
African-American comedians
African-American LGBTQ people
American women comedians
American film actresses
American bisexual actresses
American LGBTQ comedians
American LGBTQ actresses
American television actresses
American voice actresses
Bisexual comedians
California State University, Dominguez Hills alumni
Comedians from California
GLAAD Media Awards winners
LGBTQ people from California
Living people
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners
Participants in American reality television series
Entertainers from Compton, California
People from Palmdale, California