Niecy Nash | |
|---|---|
 Niecy at the Essence Festival 2025 Queer Space Event | |
| Born | Carol Denise Ensley (1970-02-23)February 23, 1970 (age 55) Palmdale, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Niecy Nash-Betts |
| Alma mater | California State University, Dominguez Hills |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Carol Denise Betts (previouslyNash, néeEnsley; born February 23, 1970)[1] (/ˈniːsi/), known professionally asNiecy Nash-Betts, is an American actress. Her career began in the late 1990s, with appearances in the filmsBoys on the Side (1995) andCookie's Fortune (1999). She garnered recognition for her portrayal of DeputyRaineesha Williams in the comedy seriesReno 911! (2003–2009, 2020–2022), along with hosting theStyle Network showClean House (2003–2010), for which she won aDaytime Emmy Award.
Nash received twoPrimetime Emmy Award nominations for starring as Denise "Didi" Ortley in the comedy-drama seriesGetting On (2013–2015). She also portrayed Lolli Ballentine in the sitcomThe Soul Man (2012–2016), and Denise Hemphill in the horror-comedy seriesScream Queens (2015–2016).[2] From 2017 to 2022, she played Desna Simms in the crime comedy-dramaClaws (2017–2022), winning aSatellite Award. In 2024 she played Detective Lois Tryon in the horror drama seriesGrotesquerie (2024) and currently stars as Emerald Greene in the legal drama seriesAll's Fair (2025–present).
Nash collaborated with directorAva DuVernay in the drama filmsSelma (2014) andOrigin (2023), and the miniseriesWhen They See Us (2019), for which she was nominated for another Primetime Emmy Award. Nash also played feminist leaderFlorynce Kennedy in the miniseriesMrs. America (2020), and starred as Glenda Cleveland in thefirst season of theNetflix anthology seriesMonster (2022), winning severals awards, including aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress as well as receiving aGolden Globe and aScreen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Nash was born Carol Denise Ensley, inPalmdale, California, on February 23, 1970. She was raised inCompton, California. At the age of five, Nash developed an interest in entertainment after watching actressLola Falana on television. When she was fifteen, Nash witnessed her mother get shot by an abusive boyfriend.[3] She became aspokesperson 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 theviolence children encounter on school campuses. Nash graduated fromGardena High School, then laterCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills, inCarson, California.[4]
Nash made her professional acting debut in the 1995 comedy-drama film,Boys on the Side starringWhoopi Goldberg.[4] On television, she later guest-starred inNYPD Blue,Judging Amy,Reba,Girlfriends,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, andER. She also appeared in the 1999 comedy filmCookie's Fortune directed byRobert Altman, and had a recurring role on theCBS drama seriesCity of Angels in 2000.[citation needed]
From 2003 to 2009, she played the roles of DeputyRaineesha Williams and T.T. on theComedy Central comedy seriesReno 911!. She hostedClean House on theStyle Network from 2003 to 2010, as well as providing the voice ofMrs. Boots on theABC Family animated seriesSlacker Cats, and starred as Rhonda, oppositeJerry O'Connell, in the short-livedFox sitcomDo Not Disturb in 2008. She guest-starred onThe Bernie Mac Show asBernie's sister Bonita from 2003 to 2005. Nash won a Daytime Emmy in 2010 as the producer/host ofClean House: The Messiest Home in the Country in the category of Outstanding Special Class Special.[5] On August 4, 2010, Nash announced that she was leavingClean House, and that the show would continue without her.[6]
Nash appeared on thetenth season of ABC'sDancing with the Stars beginning in March 2010, where she was partnered withLouis van Amstel. On May 11, Nash and van Amstel were eliminated from the competition, taking fifth place.[7] In 2011, she got her own reality show,Leave It To Niecy, onTLC, 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.[8][9][10] She also appeared in the filmsCode Name: The Cleaner (2007),Reno 911!: Miami (2007),Cook Off! (2007),Not Easily Broken (2009),G-Force (2009), andTrust Me (2013).[citation needed]
In 2012, Nash began starring oppositeCedric the Entertainer in theTV Land sitcomThe Soul Man, a spinoff ofHot in Cleveland.[11] The series ran five seasons and ended in 2016. In 2013, she began starring oppositeLaurie Metcalf in theHBO comedy seriesGetting On.[12] She received aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination for her role on the show in 2015 and 2016,[13] as well as aCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016.[14] For her performance, Nash received positive critical reception, followed by more serious roles.[15][16]
In 2014, Nash playedRichie Jean Jackson, the wife of Dr. Sullivan Jackson, in the historical drama filmSelma, directed byAva DuVernay.[17] DuVernay cast Nash after seeing her on the seriesGetting On.[16] The film received acclaim from critics; onRotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 99%, based on 205 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10.[18]Selma was listed on many critics' top ten lists.[19] Also that year, Nash joined the cast of the Fox comedy seriesThe Mindy Project in a recurring role as Dr. Jean Fishman, a rival of the title character.[20][21]
From 2015 to 2016, Nash co-starred on the Fox horror-comedy seriesScream Queens[2] as a security guard, and thenFBI Agent Denise Hemphill. She appeared in another Fox comedy,Brooklyn Nine-Nine, asAndre Braugher's sister.[22] Also in 2016, she was cast in the leading role in the Fox comedy pilotThe Enforcers.[23][24] The pilot, however, was not ordered to series. Nash later had a recurring role as Louise Bell in the Showtime period dramaMasters of Sex.[25]
In 2017, Nash was cast in a leading role in the TNT crime comedy-drama seriesClaws, produced byRashida Jones, about a South Florida nail salon.[26][27] Also in 2017, Nash appeared inMary J. Blige's music video for "Strength of a Woman".[28] For her dramatic turn inClaws, Nash has received critical praise.[29][30] She received aSatellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, as well as another nomination for theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.
In July 2018, Nash received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame in the television category.[31][32] In August 2018, it was announced that Nash would star in and produceNaked With Niecy Nash, a late-night talk show for TNT.[33][34] Later that year, Ava DuVernay cast her in theNetflix limited drama seriesWhen They See Us.[35] For her performance, she received critical praise and a nomination forPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.[36]
In 2020, Nash starred in Netflix drama film,Uncorked, directed byPrentice Penny,[37][38] and had a recurring role in the Netflix comedy-dramaNever Have I Ever, created byMindy Kaling.[39] Also that year, she played civil rights advocateFlorynce Kennedy in the Hulu miniseriesMrs. America.[40] Later in 2020, Nash signed on to host her own syndicated daytime talk show forCBS Television Distribution.[41] Nash reprised her role as Deputy Raineesha Williams in the seventh season ofReno 911! which aired onQuibi. She starred in the Lifetime movieStolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story playing Gloria Williams, her abductor.[42] She also appeared in the 2021Paramount+ movieReno 911! The Hunt for QAnon. The eighth season of the series, titledReno 911! Defunded, premiered onThe Roku Channel in February 2022. Duringseason five ofThe Masked Singer, Nash served as a guest host while regular series hostNick Cannon recovered fromCOVID-19. On April 28, 2021, Fox announced that it had ordered a revival ofDon't Forget the Lyrics with Nash as host.[43] It premiered on May 23, 2022.[44]
Nash guest-starred on two episodes ofThe 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, titledThe Rookie: Feds, was ordered.[45] The series premiered on September 27, 2022. In July 2022, Nash signed a first-look television deal withEntertainment One.[46] 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 seriesDahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. She received positive reviews for her performance.[47][48][49][50] She won thePrimetime 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 theNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special. Additionally, she received nominations for theScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie and theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.[51] The following year, she starred in the biographical drama filmOrigin by Ava DuVernay, based on the life ofIsabel Wilkerson. It premiered at the80th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2023, and began a limited theatrical release in January 2024.[52][53] In June of 2023, Nash was honored asThe Hollywood Reporter's Raising Our Voices Trailblazer at the second annual Raising Our Voices luncheon.[54]
In May 2025, it was announced that Nash would be one of the grand marshals at theL.A. Pride parade.[55]
In February 1993, Nash's brother Michael Ensley was shot and killed at the age of 17 by a 16-year-old gunman atReseda High School in California.[56] 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."[57]
Nash was married for 13 years to Don Nash, an ordainedminister. They filed for divorce in June 2007, and have three children together.[58]
In September 2010, Nash became engaged to Jay Tucker.[59] Nash participated in a TLC reality show that followed the preparations for the wedding.[60] On May 28, 2011, they were married at the Church Estate Vineyard in Malibu.[61] On October 30, 2019, Nash announced her pending divorce from Tucker via Instagram.[62] On June 21, 2020, the divorce was finalized.[63]
On August 29, 2020, Nash married singer Jessica Betts,[64][65] whom Nash refers to as her "hersband". Nash has not elected to label herself or identify with anysexual orientation. She said in an appearance onThe 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.[66]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Boys on the Side | Woman at Diner | |
| 1999 | Cookie's Fortune | Wanda Carter | |
| The Bachelor | African-American Bride | ||
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Gladys | |
| 2004 | Hair Show | Debra | |
| 2005 | Jepardee! | Keisha Jenkins | Short film |
| Guess Who | Naomi | ||
| Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie | Mama Robin | Voice | |
| 2007 | Code Name: The Cleaner | Jacuzzi | |
| Reno 911!: Miami | Deputy Raineesha Williams | ||
| Cook Off! | Ladybug Briggs | ||
| 2008 | Horton Hears a Who! | Miss Yelp | Voice |
| Mrs. C | Anesthesiologist | Short film | |
| 2009 | Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy | Herself | |
| Not Easily Broken | Michelle | ||
| The Proposal | Stewardess | Cameo appearance | |
| G-Force | Rosalita | ||
| 2013 | Trust Me | Angie | |
| Nurse 3D | Regina | ||
| 2014 | Walk of Shame | Bus Driver | |
| Selma | Richie Jean Jackson | ||
| 2017 | Downsizing | Leisureland Salesperson | |
| 2020 | Uncorked | Sylvia | |
| 2022 | Beauty | Beauty’s Mother | |
| 2023 | Origin | Marion Russell Wilkerson |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Party of Five | Nurse | Episode: "Spring Breaks: Part 1" |
| 1998 | Rude Awakening | Gaynielle | Episode: "Naked Again" |
| 1999 | Malcolm & Eddie | Jackie | Episode: "B.S. I Still Love You" |
| Time of Your Life | Clerk | Episode: "The Time She Came to New York" | |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Eveline Walker | Recurring cast (season 1) |
| Popular | Teacher | Episode: "Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle" | |
| Any Day Now | Miss Lavonde | Episode: "Lighten Up, Rene" | |
| 2001 | Rude Awakening | Caller #3 | Episode: "Altar Ego" |
| Kate Brasher | June/Jane Clark | Episode: "Tracy" | |
| One on One | Darla | Episode: "Fifteen Candles" | |
| That's Life | Darlene | Episode: "Plus One" & "Idiots" | |
| NYPD Blue | Tonya Dunbar | Episode: "Baby Love" | |
| Judging Amy | Letitia Sitz | Episode: "Beating the Bounds" | |
| 2002 | Reba | Maya | Episode: "He's Having a Baby" |
| Girlfriends | LaShelle | Episode: "Just Dessert" | |
| For Your Love | Clerk | Episode: "The Blast from the Past" | |
| Presidio Med | Nurse | Episode: "Milagros" | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Snuff film processor | Episode: "Snuff" | |
| 2003 | That's So Raven | Madame Cassandra / Shirley | Episode: "Psychics Wanted" |
| ER | Judith Anderson | Episode: "Missing" | |
| Kid Notorious | Tollie Mae (voice) | Main cast | |
| 2003–05 | The Bernie Mac Show | Benita | Guest cast (season 2-4) |
| 2003–09, 2020–22 | Reno 911! | Raineesha Williams | Main cast |
| 2003–10 | Clean House | Herself/host | Main cast (season 1-9) |
| 2004 | Half & Half | Carla | Episode: "The Big Mother of a Mother's Day Rides Again Episode" |
| Monk | Varla Davis | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Girl Who Cried Wolf" | |
| 2005 | My Name Is Earl | Rhonda Gibbs | Episode: "Cost Dad the Election" |
| 2006 | The Boondocks | Cookie Freeman (voice) | Episode: "Wingmen" |
| Minoriteam | Fasto's Mama (voice) | Recurring cast | |
| 2007 | Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Herself | Episode: "Dating for Publicity" |
| 2007–09 | Slacker Cats | Mrs. Boots (voice) | Recurring cast |
| 2007–13 | American Dad! | Additional voices (voice) | Recurring cast |
| 2008 | MADtv | Herself | Episode #14.1 |
| The Mighty B! | Miriam Breedlove (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| Chocolate News | Trina Harper | Episode: "Episode 2" | |
| Do Not Disturb | Rhonda Peet | Main cast | |
| 2009 | The Real Housewives of Atlanta | Herself | Episode: "New Attitude, Same ATL" |
| 2009–10 | Messiest Home | Herself | Recurring cast |
| 2010 | New Now Next Awards | Herself/host | TV special |
| RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself / guest judge | Episode: "The Snatch Game" | |
| Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business | Herself | Episode: "It's a Celebration" | |
| Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant (season 10) | |
| Gary Unmarried | Charleen | Episode: "Gary Tries to Find Something for Mitch" & "Gary Unmarried?" | |
| The Cleveland Show | Janet (voice) | Episode: "Another Bad Thanksgiving" | |
| 2011 | Way Black When: Primetime | Herself/host | Episode #1.6 |
| Annual Trumpet Awards | Herself/host | TV special | |
| The LeBrons | Gloria (voice) | Main cast | |
| 2012 | Celebrity Wife Swap | Herself | Episode: "Niecy Nash/Tina Yothers" |
| Leave It to Niecy | Herself | Main cast | |
| Let's Talk About Love | Herself | Main cast | |
| 2012–16 | The Soul Man | Lolli Ballentine | Main cast |
| 2013 | Life After | Herself | Episode: "Sheryl Lee Ralph: Life After Dreamgirls" |
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Herself | Episode: "Celebrity Week 4 & 5" | |
| Hollywood Game Night | Herself/panelist | Episode: "America's Got Game Night" | |
| Ben and Kate | Roz | Episode: "Father-Daughter Dance" | |
| 2013–15 | Getting On | Denise "Didi" Ortley | Main cast |
| 2014 | Exhale | Herself | Episode: "What Is Love?" |
| Family Game Night | Herself | Episode: "Celebrity Edition: Niecy Nash" | |
| Bad Teacher | Carla | Episode: "What's Old Is New" | |
| The Mindy Project | Jean Fishman | Recurring cast (season 3) | |
| 2015 | Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "Cheryl Hines vs. Niecy Nash/Duck Dynasty vs. Katy Mixon" |
| Hollywood Game Night | Herself / celebrity player | Episode: "Cedric Gives Niecy a Hand" | |
| 2015–16 | TripTank | Additional voices (voice) | Recurring cast |
| Scream Queens | Denise Hemphill | Recurring cast | |
| 2016 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Herself / celebrity player | Episode: "Kevin Pollak vs. Niecy Nash" |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Debbie Holt | Episode: "The Cruise" | |
| Masters of Sex | Louise Bell | Recurring cast (season 4) | |
| As the Fire Pit Burns | Jennifer Bowen-Brown | Main cast | |
| 2016–19 | Match Game | Herself / celebrity player | Recurring guest |
| 2017 | Drop the Mic | Herself | Episode: "Niecy Nash vs. Cedric the Entertainer" |
| Modern Family | Joan[67] | Episode: "All Things Being Equal" | |
| Angie Tribeca | Pandora | Episode: "Go Get 'Em, Tiger" | |
| 2017–22 | Claws | Desna Simms | Main cast |
| 2018 | Kevin Hart: What The Fit | Herself | Episode: "Firefighting with Niecy Nash" |
| Fresh Off the Boat | Wilhelmina | Episode: "Big Baby" | |
| A.P. Bio | Kim | Episode: "Teacher Jail" | |
| Speechless | Kiki | Episode: "J-i-Jingle T-h-Thon" | |
| 2018–19 | Family Guy | Sheila (voice) | Recurring cast (season 17), guest (season 18) |
| 2019 | Black Girls Rock! | Herself/host | TV special |
| When They See Us | Delores Wise | Main cast | |
| Marvel Rising: Playing with Fire | Shocktress (voice) | Episode: "Playing with Fire" | |
| 2020 | Behind Her Faith | Herself | Episode: "Niecy Nash" |
| I Can See Your Voice | Herself/panelist | 2 episodes | |
| The Masked Singer | Herself / guest panelist | Episode: "The Group A Finals - The Masked Frontier" | |
| Celebrity Game Face | Herself | Episode: "Sweatsuit Charades and Donut Holes" | |
| A Million Little Things | Gloria | Episode: "The Kiss" | |
| Mrs. America | Flo Kennedy | Recurring cast | |
| Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story | Gloria Williams | TV movie | |
| 2020–23 | Never Have I Ever | Jamie Ryan | Recurring cast; 16 episodes |
| 2021 | The Masked Singer | Herself | Host (season 5) |
| GLAAD Media Awards | Herself/host | TV special | |
| Q-Force | Caryn (voice) | Recurring cast | |
| The Problem with Jon Stewart | Thelma | Episode: "Guns" | |
| Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon | Raineesha Williams | TV movie | |
| 2022 | About Last Night | Herself | Episode: "Casey Wilson/Niecy Nash/Damion Lee/Sydel Curry Lee" |
| Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Herself/host | TV series; also executive producer | |
| Finding Your Roots | Herself | Episode #9.3 | |
| Celebrity Game Face | Herself | Episode: "Tournament of Losers" | |
| Monster | Glenda Cleveland | (season 1) | |
| Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist | Raineesha Williams | TV movie | |
| 2022–2023 | The Rookie | Simone Clark | Recurring cast (season 4-5) |
| The Rookie: Feds | Simone Clark | Main cast | |
| 2022–2024 | Don't Forget the Lyrics! | Herself/host | Main host |
| 2023 | Finding Your Roots | Herself | Episode: "Secret Lives" |
| Celebrity Family Feud | Herself | Episode #10.8 | |
| Agent Elvis | Bertie (voice) | Main cast | |
| Human Resources | Hope (voice) | Recurring cast (season 2) | |
| 2024 | We Are Family | Herself | Episode: "Hey Mama!" |
| Grotesquerie | Lois Tryon | Main cast[68] | |
| 2025 | All's Fair | Emerald Greene | Main cast[69] |
| 2026 | The Hunting Party | Erica Burke | season 2 episode 2 "Adrian Gallo" |
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Family Feud" | Jay-Z featuringBeyoncé | Herself |
| 2019 | "My Type (Claws Remix)" | Saweetie | Desna Simms |
| 2024 | "To the Moon" | Meghan Trainor | Boss |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Additional Voices (voice) |
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime Emmy Awards | ||||
| 2009 | Outstanding Lifestyle Program | Clean House | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Special Class Special | Nominated | |||
| 2010 | Outstanding Lifestyle Program | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Special Class Special | Won | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | ||||
| 2014 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Getting On | Nominated | [70] |
| 2016 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [71] | |
| 2019 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie | When They See Us | Nominated | [72] |
| 2023 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story | Won | |
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Best Supporting Actress - Television | Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story | Nominated | [73] |
| Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or Movie | Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story | Nominated | [74] |
| International | |
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| National | |
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| People | |
| Other | |
