LisaRaye McCoy

LisaRaye McCoy (born September 23, 1967),[3][4][5][6] known as LisaRaye, is an American actress, model, businesswoman and fashion designer. McCoy is best known for portraying Diana "Diamond" Armstrong in the 1998 film The Players Club, Neesee James on the UPN/The CW sitcom All of Us from 2003 until 2007 and Keisha Greene in the VH1 romantic comedy series Single Ladies which originally aired from 2011–2014.[7] She is also the ex-wife of Michael Misick, the first-ever Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, during that time she served as First Lady of Turks and Caicos.[8][9]
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
McCoy was born in Chicago, Illinois.[10][11][12][13] McCoy is the daughter of David Ray McCoy (1935–1988), a Chicago businessman,[14] and Katie McCoy,[15] a former professional model. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, McCoy attended St. James College Prep, Kenwood Academy and later Thornridge High School; graduating in 1985.[16] After high school, McCoy attended Eastern Illinois University before pursuing an acting career.[17]
=== Career ===
McCoy made her acting debut as the lead in Reasons, an independent film directed by Monty Ross. McCoy is perhaps best known for her role as Diamond in The Players Club, directed and written by Ice Cube.[18] She also appeared in The Wood, opposite Omar Epps, Rhapsody, All About You, and Go for Broke. In 2003, McCoy starred as Neesee James in the UPN/ The CW sitcom All of Us, where she played Duane Martin's ex-wife. The series ended in 2007.[19] McCoy began her career as a model for fashion, but before that she was married to Archie Amerson. She did shows in churches and high schools in her native Chicago. In addition to acting, McCoy has also appeared in dozens of music videos, including "Know Filter 2" by Shleah, Tugoa, T.Lee, "Download" by Lil' Kim, Changing Faces's "Same Tempo", Ginuwine's "Last Chance", Ludacris' "Number 1 Spot", Calvin Richardson's "True Love," Sisqó's "Incomplete", Lil Jon and Ice Cube's "Roll Call", "I Don't Wanna See" and " I Really Want to Sex Your Body," by Link, Tupac Shakur's "Toss It Up", "Never Be The Same Again" by Ghostface Killah & Carl Thomas, ""Unpredictable" by Jamie Foxx, Ooohhhwwweee" by Master P, "Slip N' Slide by Danny Boy, and "Are You in the Mood" by Teddy & Dru Down. She also had a cameo in Seven's music video "Girls" & Jaheim's music video "Back Tight Wit You"[18][20] McCoy also recorded the single "Would You?" with rapper Benzino.[21] In 2005, McCoy launched two fashion lines: Luxe & Romance, a lingerie line that was introduced during New York's Fashion Week, and Xraye, a jeans line for women.[22] In 2011, she launched her jean collection "The LisaRaye Collection" in partnership with PZI Jeans, and a hair line, "LisaRaye Glamour." That same year, she was the Ambassador/Grand Marshal for the 70th Magic City Classic parade and football game in Birmingham, Alabama.
== Personal life ==
McCoy has a daughter named Kai Morae Pace (b. 1989) from a previous relationship with Kenji Pace. In 1992, McCoy married Tony Martin. They divorced in 1994. In April 2006, McCoy married Michael Misick, who had been elected the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (a position previously known as "Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands") in 2003. They were married in a lavish ceremony before 300 guests, followed by a three-week honeymoon to Jerusalem, Bali and Dubai.[23] During their marriage, McCoy's title was "First Lady of Turks and Caicos." In August 2008, Premier Misick released a statement announcing that he and McCoy were divorcing.[24] Misick resigned from office in March 2009 after an investigation found "clear signs of corruption" involving selling off public land to fund his own investments. He fled Turks and Caicos, and was eventually arrested in Brazil and extradited back to the islands to stand trial.[25]
== Filmography ==
Film and television roles
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1995 	Martin 	Party scene; first girl wearing black dress, later on girl on Tommy's back	TV, 1 episode: Swing Thing
1996 	Reasons 	 	
1996 	Moesha 	Girl in the black cap trying out for cheerleading 	TV, 1 episode: Friends
1997 	In the House 	Delivery Woman 	TV, 2 episodes, credited as Lisa Raye
1998 	The Parent 'Hood 	 	TV, 1 episode, credited as Lisa Raye
1998 	The Players Club 	Diana Armstrong/Diamond 	student/night stripper
1999 	The Wood 	Lisa 	Credited as Lisaraye
2000 	The Cheapest Movie Ever Made 	 	
2000 	Rhapsody 	Victoria 	Television movie
2001 	Date from Hell 	 	
2001 	All About You 	Lisa 	
2002 	Civil Brand 	Frances Shepard 	
2002 	Go for Broke 	Belinda/Star 	
2003 	Love Chronicles 	Marie Toursaant 	
2003 	Gang of Roses 	Marie 	
2003–2007	All of Us 	Neesee James 	88 episodes
2005 	Beauty Shop 	Rochelle 	Credited as Lisaraye McCoy
2005 	Envy 	 	
2005 	The Proud Family Movie 	Choreographer (Voice) 	Credited as LisaRaye McCoy
2009 	Contradictions of the Heart 	Kiki 	
2010 	Video Girl 	 	
2011 	Hawthorne 	Chandra 	TV, 1 episode: Just Between Friends
2011–2014	Single Ladies 	Keisha Greene 	41 episodes
2014 	Skinned[26][27][28][29][30] 	Mother 	Also Co-Director Debuted on TV One in 2016
2016 	Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story	Sylvia Rhone 	Television movie
2018 	The Proposal 	 	
== Award nominations ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Work 	Result 	Refs
2007	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	All of Us	Nominated