Simbi Khali

Simbi Khali (born April 28, 1971), sometimes credited as Simbi Kali Williams, is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Nina Campbell on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun.[3]

Simbi Khali
Born
Simbi Khaliebum Waters

(1971-04-28) April 28, 1971
Jackson, Mississippi
Other namesSimbi Kali[1]
Simbi Kali Williams
EducationDuke Ellington School of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
OccupationActress, voice actress, singer, songwriter, rapper
Years active1990–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2011)​
[2]

Her credits include the television show Martin and the feature films Vampire in Brooklyn, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, and Plump Fiction. On stage, Khali has appeared in Colored Museum, For Colored Girls..., A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Troilus and Cressida. She also had a career in voice acting, most notably Varesh Ossa in the video game Guild Wars Nightfall, and Amanda in the video game Detroit: Become Human.

Early life

Khali was born in Jackson, Mississippi,[3] the youngest of five girls and two boys. When she was two, Khali's family moved to Chicago's South Side.[4][5] Khali started singing at a young age.

She became interested in theatre at Chicago's ETA Creative Arts Foundation.[4] At age 15, she went to live in Alabama with her sister, Hamidah Elmore, and experienced her first "onstage rush" in a high school talent show.[5]

For her junior and senior years of high school, she moved to Washington DC to live with her mother Amerah Shabazz. She transferred to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where she committed to acting. Khali won admission to the California Institute of the Arts and graduated in 1993 with a degree in acting.[4]

Career

At a performance during her senior year at Cal Arts, she was spotted and signed by a talent agent. That summer, she performed as part of a Ben & Jerry's troupe that visited hospitals and other charities, passing out samples of ice cream. It paid well and gave her time to audition, leading to her first job in the FOX sitcom Martin.[5]

From 1993 to 1997, she played Sheneneh's vocal best friend in Martin. From 1996 to 2001, she played Nina Campbell in the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. She was initially cast a recurring character, but was bumped to a main character in season 3.

In 2016, Khali's career, performances, character portrayals and other accolades were officially recognized and commended by the Mississippi legislature.[3]

Personal life

Khali initially met actor Cress Williams at a Los Angeles club in 1994, then again in the fall of 1999 while filming the BET movie Masquerade. Within a month they were engaged, and they married in Malibu in the fall of 2000.[6] They divorced amicably in 2011.

They have two children: son Elijah Khali Thomas Williams (born July 20, 2004) and daughter Amika Khali Williams (born August 13, 2007).

Filmography

Television
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1993–1995 Martin Laquita 4 episodes
1994 The Sinbad Show Carmen Episode: "Girls Unda Hoodz"
1994 She TV Various 1 episode
1996–2000 3rd Rock from the Sun Nina Campbell Recurring (season 1–2)
Main cast (season 3–6)
2000 Men in Black: The Series Voice Episode: "The J is For James Syndrome"
2000 Masquerade Joi Scott TV Movie
2002 That '80s Show Venus Episode: "After the Kiss"
2004 The Bernie Mac Show Therapist Episode: "Five Stages of Bryana"
2009 Special Agent Oso Voice Episode: "Live and Jump Rope / A View to a Kitten"
2012 Weeds Mary Episode: "Unfreeze"
2017 Better Things Museum Director Episode: "Phil"

Film
Film roles
Year Film Role Notes
1995 Vampire in Brooklyn Nikki
1996 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Adrienne
1997 Plump Fiction Sister Sledge
2002 We Were Soldiers Alma Givens
2009 Mississippi Damned Anna
2017 Girl Minus Auntie Short film

Video games
Video game roles
Year Title Role
2006 Guild Wars Nightfall Varesh Ossa / Additional Voices
2008 The Incredible Hulk Ceres Leader
2018 Detroit: Become Human Amanda

References
  1. "Simbi Kali". Instagram. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  2. ""Sheneneh's Friend" Married A 90s Actor, But Many Are Stunned By His New Wife". iloveoldschoolmusic.com. ILoveOldSchoolMusic.com. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  3. Blackmon. "House Resolution 11" (PDF). MS LEG. Mississippi Legislature (2016 Regular Session). Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  4. Johnson, Allan (March 25, 1997). "Alienated". Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune Media Group (CTMG). Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  5. Winslow, Harriet (August 10, 1997). "Her Small Piece of the Rock". Washington Post. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  6. "Celebrities". Jet. USA: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. 98 (24): 46. November 20, 2000. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
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