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Nika King

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Nika King
Born
Shenika Williams[1]
Other namesNika Williams[2]
EducationMiami Carol City Senior High School
Alma materUniversity of Florida
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
Years active2002–present

Shenika Williams, known professionally as Nika King, is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role as Leslie Bennett on the HBO television series Euphoria (2019–present). After starting her acting career in 2002, King moved to Los Angeles and became a stand-up comedian.

Early life

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King has five siblings. She grew up in Miami and, when King was a child, her parents and uncle were addicted to drugs.[3] She attended Miami Carol City Senior High School, where she was president of her class, and graduated from University of Florida with a degree in theater.[4] King briefly lived in New York City to become an actor, but soon moved back to Miami due to feeling overwhelmed. She then worked as a drama and dance teacher and a basketball coach at Miami Carol City Senior High School for two years. Although she initially planned to quit after her first year, she decided to stay for another year after the September 11 attacks.[5]

Career

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While in Miami, King made her first acting appearance in the television movie Miss Miami in 2002, where she played the chief of police. After quitting her job as a teacher, King moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time and enrolled at The Groundlings School. She performed with Elite Delta Force 3, an all-Black female sketch comedy group, before transitioning into stand-up comedy.[5] She had a recurring role on the OWN television series Greenleaf from 2016 to 2017 as Ramona Chapman.[6] She also made guest appearances on various television series, including 2 Broke Girls, Hannah Montana, Best Friends Whenever, and NCIS: Los Angeles.[7][4]

In 2019, King began starring in the HBO teen drama television series Euphoria as Leslie Bennett, the widowed single mother of teenage drug addict Rue and Rue's sister, Gia.[8] Sam Levinson, the show's creator, envisioned Leslie as a representation of his own mother.[9] King originally joined the cast of the series in a supporting role, but was soon given a leading role.[10] For her role on the show, she drew on experiences her mother had when she was addicted to drugs and worked with a private acting coach.[11][12] She signed a contract with Paradigm Talent Agency for representation in 2020, and signed a contract with Wonder Street for management in 2022.[7][13] She directed the upcoming short film For Sale.[14]

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, King launched the startup Jeli Life, an online mentorship program for marginalized communities in the entertainment industry. She also founded the 501(c)(3) organization Rose of Sharon, which focuses on improving mental health in the Black community.[14][15]

Personal life

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King's mother is a three-time cancer survivor.[5]

Filmography

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† Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Miss Miami Chief of Police
2004 50 First Dates Salon Patron
2006 Living the Dream Candy
2007 Universal Remote Woman arguing
2008 Nora's Hair Salon II Client #1
2009 B-Girl Serena
2013 Noise Matters Tracy
2014 American Weapon Kia
2019 Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History Josephine Baker Television film
2023 65 Alya
2024 Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot Donna Martin

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 CSI: Miami Delicious Episode: "Body Count"
2006 Wild 'N Out Herself Episode: "Wayne Brady"
2006 All of Us Clarinetta Episode: "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roberto"
2006 Hannah Montana Coach Lewis Episode: "Mascot Love"
2007 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz Actress Episode: "Episode #1.3"
2009 iCarly Pretend MMA Fighter #1 Episode: "iFight Shelby Marx"
2010 Castle Angel Santana Episode: "The Late Shaft"
2011 Glory Daze Stewardess Kim Episode: "Some Like It Hot Tub"
2011 Modern Family Shopper Episode: "Go Bullfrogs!"
2012 Partners Danni Episode: "Pilot"
2013 The First Family Bailiff Ziggy Episode: "The First Trial"
2013 Stevie TV Various 2 episodes
2013 2 Broke Girls Veronica Episode: "And the Cronuts"
2016 NCIS: Los Angeles Clementine Episode: "Granger, O."
2016 Best Friends Whenever Detective Zoe Walters Episode: "Working Nine to Fudge"
2016–2017 Greenleaf Pastor Ramona Chapman 3 episodes
2018 Laff Mob's Laff Tracks 2018 Episode: "First Class"
2016–2018 Funny Married Stuff Nika Main role; 8 episodes
Web series; also producer and writer
2019–present Euphoria Leslie Bennett Main role; 14 episodes

References

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  1. ^ King, Nika [@iamnikaking] (August 29, 2019). "Before Nika King it was Shenika Williams". Retrieved February 22, 2024 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ Hagwood, Rod Stafford (August 23, 2022). "'Euphoria' star Nika King joins forces with chef mom for Fort Lauderdale venture". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Rodriguez, Karla (February 18, 2022). "Nika King Gets Personal, Unpacks Her 'Dream Role' on HBO's 'Euphoria'". Complex. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Toni (June 16, 2019). "Who Is Nika King? Zendaya's Mom On 'Euphoria' Talks About New Show". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Tanya Sam (November 12, 2021). "Nika King on Following Your Dreams". Money Moves (Podcast). iHeart. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Copelton, Melissa (January 9, 2022). "A Complete Viewer's Guide to 'Euphoria': Cast, Plot, Season 2 and More". Life & Style. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Petski, Denise (August 5, 2020). "Nika King Signs With Paradigm". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Kelly, Lauren (January 14, 2022). "Actress Nika King chats season 2 of HBO's Emmy-winning drama series 'Euphoria'". KPRC. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  9. ^ Desta, Yohana (February 14, 2022). "On Euphoria, the Moms Are Going Through It Too". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  10. ^ Wollstein, Noa (July 31, 2019). ""Euphoria's" Nika King Talks Strong Women, Hope, And Season Two". Bust. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Ellis, Maddie (March 2, 2022). "'Euphoria' star Nika King on portraying the mom of a drug addict: 'I was born to play this role'". Today. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Piña, Christy (February 7, 2022). "'Euphoria' Star Nika King on Working Through Trauma in Mother-Daughter Intervention Episode". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  13. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 17, 2022). "'Euphoria' Star Nika King Signed By Wonder Street". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "'Euphoria' star Nika King says show's message is anti-drug, talks intervention episode with character 'Rue'". WGN9. February 18, 2022. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Nika King Talks Intensity of 'Euphoria', Helping Others" (Video). NBC10 Philadelphia. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
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