Who is LisaRaye McCoy?
American actress, producer, director, model, businesswoman and fashion designer LisaRaye McCoy, was born in Chicago, Illinois USA, on 23 September 1967, making Libra her zodiac sign. She’s perhaps known best for two things: being former first lady of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and for portraying the lead character Diamond in the 1998 comedy movie “The Players Club”, which Ice Cube wrote and directed, and which also starred Dick Anthony Williams and Judyann Elder. It follows the life of a stripper, and the film won a 1999 Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Soundtrack.
LisaRaye’s today highly active in the movie industry, and is currently shooting for the upcoming movies “Lunar Lockdown” and “Scarlett”.
Education and early life
LisaRaye was raised in Chicago alongside her paternal half-sister Shawntae Harris-Dupart – aka Da Brat – by her mother Katie McCoy who was a professional model, and father David Ray McCoy who was a businessman.
LisaRaye studied at St. James College Prep prior to moving to Kenwood Academy, and then to Thornridge High School. She was interested in several activities during her time at Thornridge, as she danced, sang, and acted in several school plays.
Upon matriculating in 1986, LisaRaye enrolled at Eastern Illinois University, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1990; she worked a couple of jobs to financially support herself in the following five years, prior to launching her acting career.
Roles in TV series
LisaRaye’s debut TV series role was playing Swinger Woman in the 1995 episode “Swing Thing” of the romantic comedy “Martin”, and the year 1997 saw her play Delivery Woman in two episodes of the comedy “In the House”.
From 2003 through 2007, she starred as Neesee James in the popular comedy “All of Us”, created by Betsy Borns, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, and which also starred Duane Martin and Khamani Griffin. It follows the life of a TV reporter whose estranged wife has moved back in with him; the series was nominated for 12 awards.
In 2011, LisaRaye played Chandra in the episode “Just Between Friends” of the drama “Hawthorne”, and from 2011 through 2015, she starred as Keisha Greene in all the 43 episodes of the romantic comedy “Single Ladies”, created by Stacy A. Littlejohn, and which also starred Travis Winfrey and Charity Shea. It follows the lives of three friends from Atlanta, Georgia who come from different backgrounds.
LisaRaye could then have been seen appearing in an episode or two of the sports comedy “Ballers”, the drama “Tales” and the comedy “South Side”.
Since 2019, she’s been playing Alexis in the popular drama “A House Divided”, which stars Demetria McKinney, Paula Jai Parker and Brad James, and follows the wealthy Sanders family who’ve just lost their matriarch.
Roles in movies
LisaRaye’s debut film appearance was in the 1996 action “Reasons”, while some of her following roles were in the 1999 romantic comedy “The Wood”, and in 2000 the action comedy “The Cheapest Movie Ever Made” and the romantic drama “Rhapsody”.
In 2003, she portrayed Maria in the western action “Gang of Roses”, which Jean-Claude La Marre wrote and directed, and which starred Stacey Dash, Lil’ Kim and Monica Calhoun; it follows the lives of members of an all-female gang. Some of LisaRaye’s other notable performances in the decade were in the 2005 animated adventure comedy “The Proud Family Movie” (voice role), the 2005 drama “Envy”, and the 2009 music video “Lil’ Kim: Download feat. T-Pain and Charlie Wilson”.
The year 2014 saw her play Sugar in the popular drama “Lap Dance”, written and directed by Greg Carter, and which starred James Remar, Stacey Dash and Briana Evigan; it follows an aspiring actress who’s begun working as an exotic dancer.
LisaRaye’s three most recent film roles have been in the comedy “You Married Dat”, the biographical sports drama “The Royal”, and the romantic drama “Single Not Searching”, all released in 2022.
Other credits
LisaRaye produced the 2021 short movie “In the Gray”, and directed the 2012 short action film “The Promise”, the 2015 romantic movie “Skinned” and a 2022 episode of the drama series “BET Her Presents: The Waiting Room”.
Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “The Big Scoop with Coop”, “Asking for a Friend” and “Dish Nation”.
Awards and nominations
LisaRaye was nominated for a 2007 Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, for her performance in “All of Us”.
Love life and relationships
LisaRaye’s been in several relationships, and has also been married twice. She dated YouTuber and motivational speaker Kenji Pace in the second half of the ‘80s, and gave birth to their daughter Kai Morae Pace on 5 December 1989.
LisaRaye and American former professional Football Player Tony Derrick Martin exchanged vows in 1992, but divorced two years later.
She married Turks and Caicos Islander politician Michael Eugene Misick in April 2006, thus becoming the first lady, as Michael had been elected Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands three years earlier. LisaRaye and Michael divorced in 2008 – he resigned and fled the country in the following year, after an investigation showed ‘clear signs of corruption’; Michael was arrested in Brazil not long afterwards, and extradited back to his country to stand trial.
LisaRaye seems to be unattached as of April 2023, was previously married to Michael Eugene Misick, and has a daughter with former boyfriend Kenji Pace.
Interesting facts and hobbies
LisaRaye’s highly active on Instagram, as she’s posted over 1,500 pictures and videos onto the social media network, while she’s today followed by more than two million people; most of her Instagram content shows her during her everyday life.
She’s passionate about travelling and has been to many countries around the world, while she visited Kwanyako, Ghana in July 2021, and promised to donate money for the building of a women’s vocational center.
LisaRaye’s passionate about fashion, and reads various fashion magazines on a daily basis, while she’s also attended a number of fashion events.
Her favorite actress is Rosario Dawson, while some of her favorite movies include “Men in Black II”, “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Trance”.
Height, eyes and wealth
LisaRaye’s age is 55. Her eyes and hair are brown, she’s 5ft 6ins (1.69m) tall and weighs about 145lbs (65kgs).
LisaRaye’s net worth’s been estimated at over $12 million, as of April 2023.
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