Niecy Nash
Carol Denise Betts (previously Nash, née Ensley; born February 23, 1970)[1] (/ˈniːsi/) is an American actress and television host. Her acting 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.
Niecy Nash
Niecy Nash-Betts
Actress, television host
1995–present
3
Nash received two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for starring in the comedy-drama series Getting On (2013–2015). She also starred in the sitcom The Soul Man (2012–2016), and horror-comedy series Scream Queens (2015–2016),[2] From 2017 to 2022, she played a leading role in the crime comedy-drama Claws (2017–2022).
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[edit]
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.[3] 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 attended California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.[4]
Personal life[edit]
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.[53] 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."[54]
Nash was married for 13 years to Don Nash, an ordained minister; they filed for divorce in June 2007. They have three children together.[55]
In September 2010, Nash became engaged to Jay Tucker.[56] Nash participated in a TLC reality show that followed the preparations for the wedding.[57] On May 28, 2011, they were married at the Church Estate Vineyard in Malibu.[58] On October 30, 2019, Nash announced her pending divorce from Tucker via Instagram.[59] On June 21, 2020, the divorce was finalized.[60]
On August 29, 2020, Nash married singer Jessica Betts.[61][62] She has chosen not to label her sexual orientation, and does not feel that she is coming out now, as she didn't feel sexually repressed before.[63]