Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Nika King (birthname: Shenika Williams) is an actor best known for her co-starring role as Leslie in HBO’s hit series, Euphoria (2019-present), but began her career as a stand-up comic. King had her feature film debut in a supporting role in the Adam Sandler comedy, 50 First Dates (2004), co-starring Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, and Dan Aykroyd under Peter Segal’s direction, and which grossed nearly $200 million (on a $75 million budget) for Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions and Columbia Pictures and distributor Sony Pictures Releasing.
King alternated as an actor between supporting roles in minor feature films and guest roles in episodic television, including CSI: Miami (2003), All of Us (2006), Hannah Montana (2006), Modern Family (2011), 2 Broke Girls (2013), NCIS: Los Angeles (2016), and Greenleaf (2016-2017), as well as portraying Josephine Baker in the television movie, Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History (2019).
King’s first big-screen role in a major release in 19 years arrived with a supporting part in co-directors/co-writers/co-producers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods sci-fi thriller produced with Sam Raimi and Columbia Pictures, 65 (2023), starring Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, and Chloe Coleman, earning a weak $60.7 million for Sony Pictures Releasing.
Nika King then had her first starring role in a wide-release feature in director/co-writer/co-producer Joshua Weigel’s drama, Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (2024), co-starring Demetrius Grosse and Elizabeth Mitchell and distributed by Angel Studios.
Nika King was born and raised in Miami, Florida by her parents. King has five siblings. King was president of her class at Miami Carol City Senior High School, from which she graduated. King then attended the University of Florida, earning a BA in Theater. King moved to Los Angeles in 2002 after being a teacher at her alumni high school. King studied comedy in Los Angeles at The Groundlings School. King’s height is 5’ 10”.
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Tough Childhood: Nika King has said that she overcame a difficult childhood, which involved a household where both of her parents as well as her uncle were addicted to drugs.
Survivor: King’s mother is a three-time cancer survivor.