Niecy Nash

Carol Denise "Niecy" Nash (née Ensley;[2] born February 23, 1970) is an American comedian, model, actress, and producer, best known for her performances on television.
Nash hosted the Style Network show Clean House from 2003 to 2010, for which she won an Emmy Award in 2010. As an actress, she played the role of Deputy Raineesha Williams in the Comedy Central comedy series Reno 911! (2003–2009). Nash received two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nominations for her performance as nurse Denise "DiDi" Ortley in the HBO comedy Getting On (2013–2015). She also starred as Lolli Ballantine on the TV Land sitcom The Soul Man (2012–2016), and played Denise Hemphill in the Fox horror-comedy anthology series, Scream Queens (2015–2016).[3] In 2017, she began starring as Desna Simms, a leading character, in the TNT crime comedy-drama, Claws.
Nash has also played a number of roles in films and has made many guest appearances on television shows. In 2014, Nash played the role of civil rights activist Richie Jean Jackson in the historical drama film Selma directed by Ava DuVernay. In 2018, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
== Early life ==
Carol Denise Ensley was born in Compton, California. In addition to her acting endeavors, she is the spokesperson of M.A.V.I.S. (Mothers Against Violence In Schools). M.A.V.I.S. was 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 attended California State University, Dominguez Hills.[1]
== Career ==
=== Early works ===
Nash made her professional acting debut in the 1995 film Boys on the Side.[1] On television, she later guest-starred in NYPD Blue, Judging Amy, Reba, Girlfriends, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and ER. She also appeared in 1999 film Cookie's Fortune, and had a recurring role of CBS drama series, City of Angels, in 2000.
From 2003 to 2009, Nash played the role of Deputy Raineesha Williams and T.T. on the Comedy Central comedy series Reno 911!. In addition, Nash 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 also has 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.[4] On August 4, 2010 Nash announced she was leaving Clean House on the Style Network but the show will continue without her.[5]
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, 2010, Nash and van Amstel were eliminated from the competition, taking fifth place.[6]In 2011 she got her own reality show Leave It To Niecy on TLC about her life with her new husband and step-son but it was quickly cancelled. In that same year she was in a TLC wedding special.[7][8][9] She also appeared in films Code Name: The Cleaner (2007), Reno 911!: Miami (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 Landsitcom The Soul Man, a spinoff from Hot in Cleveland.[10] In 2013, she also began starring opposite Laurie Metcalf in the HBO comedy series Getting On.[11]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,[12] and well as Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2016.[13]
In 2014, Nash played Richie Jean Jackson, the wife of Dr. Sullivan Jackson, in the historical drama film Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay.[14] Selma 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.[15] Selma was listed on many critics' top ten lists.[16] Also that year, she joined the cast of Fox comedy series, The Mindy Project in a recurring role as Dr. Jean Fishman, a rival of title character.[17]
In 2015, Nash was cast in the Fox horror-comedy anthology series, Scream Queens,[3] as security guard, and then FBI Agent, Denise Hemphill. She appeared in another Fox comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Andre Braugher's sister.[18] The following year, she was cast in the leading role in the Fox comedy pilot The Enforcers.[19][20] The pilot was not ordered to series. She also was cast in a recurring role as Louise Bell in the Showtime period drama Masters of Sex.[21]
In 2017, Nash was cast in a leading role in the TNT crime comedy-drama series, Claws produced by Rashida Jones about South Florida nail salon.[22][23] Also in 2017, Nash appeared in Mary J. Blige's music video "Strength of a Woman".[24]For her dramatic turn in Claws, Nash has received critical praise.[25][26] She received Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedyand well as another nomination at 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.[27][28] Later that year, Ava DuVernay cast her in the Netflix limited drama series Central Park Five.[29] In August 2018, announced that Nash will star and produce Naked With Niecy Nash, a late-night talk show for TNT.[30][31] She went to star in the another Netflix feature drama film, Uncorkeddirected by Prentice Penny.[32][33]
== Personal life ==
Nash was married for 15 years to Don Nash, an ordained minister, before filing for divorce in June 2007. They have three children; Dominic, Donielle, and Dia.[34][not in citation given] Niecy Nash became engaged to Jay Tucker on September 4, 2010.[35] Nash participated in a TLC reality show that followed the preparations for the wedding.[36] Nash and Tucker were married on Saturday May 28, 2011 at the Church Estate Vineyard in Malibu.[37]
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1995	Boys on the Side 	Woman at Diner 	
1999	Cookie's Fortune 	Wanda Carter 	
1999	The Bachelor 	African-American Bride 	
2003	Malibu's Most Wanted 	Gladys 	
2004	Hair Show 	Debra 	
2005	Jepardee! 	Keisha Jenkins 	Short film
2005	Guess Who 	Naomi 	
2005	Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie	Mama Robin 	Voice
2007	Code Name: The Cleaner 	Jacuzzi 	
2007	Reno 911!: Miami 	Deputy Raineesha Williams	
2007	Cook Off! 	Ladybug Briggs 	
2008	Horton Hears a Who! 	Miss Yelp 	Voice
2009	Not Easily Broken 	Michelle 	
2009	The Proposal 	Stewardess 	Uncredited cameo
2009	G-Force 	Rosalita 	
2013	Trust Me 	Angie 	
2013	Nurse 3D 	Regina 	
2014	Walk of Shame 	Bus Driver 	
2014	Selma 	Richie Jean Jackson 	Black Film Critics Circle for Best Ensemble
Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
Nominated — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2017	Downsizing 	Leisureland Salesperson 	
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
1995 	Party of Five 	Nurse 	Episode: "Spring Breaks: Part 1"
2000 	City of Angels 	Eveline Walker 	Recurring role, 4 episodes
2000 	Popular 	Teacher 	Episode: "Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle"
1998, 2001 	Rude Awakening 	Gaynielle 	Episodes: "Naked Again" and "Altar Ego"
2001 	Kate Brasher 	Jane Clark 	Episode: "Tracy"
2001 	One on One 	Darla 	Episode: "Fifteen Candles"
2001 	NYPD Blue 	Tonya Dunbar 	Episode: "Baby Love"
2001 	Judging Amy 	Officer Letitia Sitz 	Episode: "Beating the Bounds"
2002 	Reba 	Maya 	Episode: "He's Having a Baby"
2002 	Girlfriends 	Lashelle 	Episode: "Just Dessert"
2002 	For Your Love 	Clerk 	Episode: "The Blast from the Past"
2002 	Presidio Med 	Nurse 	Episode: "Milagros"
2002 	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Snuff Film Processor 	Episode: "Snuff"
2003 	Kid Notorious 	Tollie Mae 	Voice role, 9 episodes
2003 	That's So Raven 	Madame Cassandra / Shirley	Episode: "Psychics Wanted"
2003 	ER 	Judith Anderson 	Episode: "Missing"
2004 	Half & Half 	Carla 	Episode: "The Big Mother of a Mother's Day Rides Again Episode"
2004 	Monk 	Varla Davis 	Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Girl Who Cried Wolf"
2003–2005 	The Bernie Mac Show 	Benita 	Recurring role, 3 episodes
2005 	My Name Is Earl 	Rhonda Gibbs 	Episode: "Cost Dad the Election"
2006 	The Boondocks 	Cookie Freeman (voice) 	Episode: "Wingmen"
2006 	Minoriteam 	Fasto's Mama 	Voice role, 5 episodes
2007 	Slacker Cats 	Mrs. Boots 	Voice role, 2 episodes
2008 	Do Not Disturb 	Rhonda 	Series regular, 7 episodes
2008 	Pretty/Handsome 	Regina 	TV pilot
2008 	The Mighty B! 	Miriam Breedlove (voice) 	Episodes: "Bee Patients"/"To Bee or Not to Bee" and "Something's Wrong with This Taffy"/"Name Shame"
2003–2009 	Reno 911! 	Deputy Raineesha Williams 	Series regular, 88 episodes
Gracie Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series(2009)
2010 	Dancing with the Stars 	Herself 	Contestant, 16 episodes
2010 	Gary Unmarried 	Charleen 	Episodes: "Gary Tries to Find Something for Mitch" and "Gary Unmarried?"
2010 	The Cleveland Show 	Janet (voice) 	Episode: "Another Bad Thanksgiving"
2010 	RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 	Herself 	Episode: "The Snatch Game"
2003–2010 	Clean House 	Host 	Host, 148 episodes
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special (2010)
Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle Program (2009–10)
Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special(2009)
2011 	The LeBrons 	Gloria (voice) 	Voice role, 7 episodes
2007–2012 	American Dad! 	Lorraine (voice) 	Voice role, 5 episodes
2013 	Ben and Kate 	Roz 	Episode: "Father-Daughter Dance"
2012–2016 	The Soul Man 	Lolli Ballentine 	Series regular, 54 episodes
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (2014–15)
2013–2015 	Getting On 	Didi Ortley 	Series regular, 18 episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2015–16)
Nominated – Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
2014 	The Mindy Project[38] 	Dr. Jean Fishman 	Recurring role, 4 episodes
2015–2016 	Scream Queens 	Denise Hemphill 	Recurring role
2016 	Brooklyn Nine-Nine 	Debbie Holt 	Episode: "The Cruise"
2016 	The Enforcers 	M.J. 	Pilot
2016 	Masters of Sex 	Louise Bell 	Recurring role; 5 episodes
2017 	Modern Family 	Joan[39] 	Episode: "All Things Being Equal"
2017–present	Claws 	Desna Simms 	Lead role; 20 episodes
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2019) 
Nominated – NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Nominated – Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress, Drama Series(2018)
2017 	Angie Tribeca 	Pandora 	Episode: "Go Get 'Em, Tiger"
2017 	Drop the Mic 	Herself 	Episode: "Niecy Nash vs. Cedric the Entertainer / Liam Payne vs. Jason Derulo"
2018 	A.P. Bio 	Kim 	Episode: "Teacher Jail"