Niecy Nash

Nash in 2013, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Carol Denise Ensley

Place of Birth: Compton, Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Birth: February 23, 1970

Ethnicity: African-American

Niecy Nash is an American comedian, actress, television host, and producer. She is known for her roles in television’s Clean House, Reno 911!, Getting On, The Soul Man, Scream Queens, Claws, When They See Us, Mrs. America, and Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, and the films Nurse 3D, Selma, and Beauty. She is also known as Niecy Nash-Betts.

Niecy is the daughter of Margaret Barnes and Arnold Ensley.

Niecy’s brother Michael was shot in 1993, by a classmate. Her mother subsequently founded M.A.V.I.S., Mothers Against Violence In Schools.

Niecy is married to singer Jessica Betts. She has three children with her former husband, ordained minister Don Nash.

A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2023) stated that Niecy’s genetic ancestry consists of:

*81% Africa
——–*40% Nigeria
——–*16% Cameroon, Congo & Western Bantu Peoples
——–*10% Benin & Togo
——–*7% Mali
——–*6% Senegal
——–*1% Ivory Coast & Ghana
——–*1% Eastern Bantu Peoples
*19% Europe
——–*6% England & North Western Europe
——–*6% Scotland
——–*5% Norway
——–*2% Ireland

Genetically, she was found to have a common ancestor with activist and professor Angela Davis.

Niecy’s biological paternal grandfather was Frank Jackson (the son of Wesley Jackson and Emma Smith). Frank was born in Covington, Tipton, Tennessee. Wesley was the son of Ruffin Jackson and Hanna Johnson.

Niecy’s paternal grandmother was Alice C. Mitchell (the daughter of John Mitchell and Jane “Janie/Jannie” Gates). Alice was born in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. Niecy had believed her biological grandfather to be her grandmother’s husband Arthur Ensley.

Niecy’s maternal grandfather was Joseph Daniel “Joe” Barnes, Jr. (the son of Joseph Daniel “Joe” Barnes, Sr. and Luella Holly).

Niecy’s maternal grandmother was named Mildred Marie Hamilton.