Nia Peeples

Last updated

Nia Peeples
Nia Peeples.png
Peeples in 2013
Born
Virenia Peeples

(1961-12-10) December 10, 1961 (age 62)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1981–present
Television The Party Machine with Nia Peeples
Fame
Spouses
(m. 1984;div. 1986)
(m. 1989;div. 1993)
Lauro Chartrand
(m. 1997;div. 2004)
(m. 2004)
Children2

Virenia "Nia" Peeples (born December 10, 1961) is an American R&B and dance music singer and actress. Peeples is known for playing Nicole Chapman on the TV series Fame ; Pam Fields on the drama Pretty Little Liars ; Karen Taylor Winters on The Young and the Restless and Sydney Cooke on Walker, Texas Ranger . Her most recent television role was Grace's mom, Susan, on The Fosters .

Contents

Early life

Peeples was born December 10, 1961, in Hollywood, California, [1] the daughter of Elizabeth Joan (née Rubic), a flamenco dancer, and Robert Eugene Peeples. [2] She was raised in West Covina. Her maternal grandparents were immigrants from the Philippines. [2] Her father, who was originally from Mississippi, was of Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry. [2] Peeples attended UCLA during which time[ when? ] she performed as Liberace's opening act in Las Vegas on weekends.[ citation needed ]

Personal life

Peeples lives in Malibu, California, and has one son Christopher (b. 1989 with ex-husband Howard Hewett) and one daughter Sienna (b. 1998) with her former husband, Lauro Chartrand.[ citation needed ]

She operates an internet based organization called Elements of Life, which promotes fitness, inspiration, healthy lifestyle changes and emotional well-being. She worked with business coach Amy Applebaum on its development. [3]

On August 11, 2015, Peeples filed for divorce from her surfer husband Sam George.[ citation needed ] Peeples filed in Los Angeles County, 20 days before the couple's eighth wedding anniversary. Peeples is seeking[ needs update ] to keep the couple's home, a Malibu manufactured home with an ocean view that's valued at $875,000. Also listed among the couple's community assets is a Las Vegas condo worth $91,000.[ citation needed ]

Career

Music

Peeples started her career as part of the performance group The Young Americans. In 1988 she hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Trouble", [4] which climbed to #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. [5] Her most successful pop single is "Street Of Dreams", which hit #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991. [5] She made a music video in 1986 for "All You Can Dream", directed by Alan Bloom and conceptualized by Keith Williams, for the purposes of promoting the values of UCLA. On February 4, 2009, Peeples presented Debbie Allen with a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball 10th anniversary show. Peeples also attends and performs at the annual live Fame Reunion concerts overseas. [6]

Acting

Notably, Peeples portrayed performing arts student Nicole Chapman on the hit TV series Fame . In 1987, she was in the movie North Shore as Kiani. She also hosted the short-lived American version of Top of the Pops in 1987, a weeknight dance music program called The Party Machine with Nia Peeples (1991), and portrayed Texas Ranger Sydney Cooke in the CBS hit series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1999 to 2001. In 2004, she appeared in the Andromeda episode "The Spider's Stratagem", as arms smuggler and love-interest Rox Nava. Peeples joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 2007, playing the role of Karen Taylor, and was released from the role in the spring of 2009. In 2010, she was cast in ABC Family's TV series Pretty Little Liars , based on the book series by Sara Shepard. [7] Peeples was featured on the July 7, 2013 episode of Celebrity Wife Swap , in which she traded places with singer Tiffany. [8]

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
US
[5]
US
R&B

[10]
US
Dan

[4]
AUS
[11]
CAN
[12]
1988"Trouble"35711Nothin' But Trouble
"High Time"10
1989"I Know How (To Make You Love Me)"28
1991"Street of Dreams"12737423Nia Peeples
1992"Kissing the Wind"768676
"Faces of Love"8859
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981A Single LightDeaf GirlTV movie
1984FameNicole ChapmanShort
1987 North Shore Kiani
1989 DeepStar Six Scarpelli
SwimsuitMaria DetneyTV movie
Nasty Boys Serena CruzTV movie
1990 Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced SingerCathy ReddingTV movie
1992 I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore Theresa Garabaldi
1994My Name Is KateAnnieTV movie
Improper Conduct Bernie
XXX's & OOO'sSasha TownesTV movie
1995Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14Allie ThompsonTV movie
Mr. Stitch Dr. Elizabeth EnglishTV movie
1996TerminalJanet ReardonTV movie
Bloodhounds IINikki CruiseTV movie
1997 Tower of Terror Jill PerryTV movie
Odd JobsAssassinTV movie
1998 Blues Brothers 2000 Lt. Elizondo
Poodle Springs AngelTV movie
Heroes: The Mystique, the Movies, the MenSpecial Guest HostTV movie
2000Alone with a StrangerBeth Jenkins
The RiffHeather Anderson
2001BruisedMichelleShort
2002 Half Past Dead 49er Six
The Chang Family Saves the WorldPearl EmpressTV movie
2005Inside OutMaria
Sub Zero Kelli ParisVideo
2006Connors' WarAmandaVideo
Special UnitTaraTV movie
House BrokenMs. HawkhauserTV movie
2007Arwin!Ms. HawkhauserTV movie
2009The OutsideJoanne Blakey
Citizen Jane EvelynTV movie
2011 Battle of Los Angeles Capt. Karla SmaithVideo
2012 Werewolf: The Beast Among Us VodamaVideo
23 Minutes to SunriseRachel
2013Dante's Hell AnimatedBeatrice (voice)Short
2014 Lap Dance Kelly
2015 Lavalantula Olivia WestTV movie
2017Alaska Is a DragLucy
MnemosyneClaudia
2018MistrustKristen Rhodes
2019The Untold StoryCatarina
Dying for a BabyBlancheTV movie
Badland WivesMadam RosieTV movie

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981The Music ShoppeDarcieMain cast
1983 Tales of the Gold Monkey Zita HenriquesEpisode: "The Sultan of Swat"
Hardcastle and McCormick WaitressEpisode: "Flying Down to Rio"
Days of Our Lives MalloryRegular cast
General Hospital Carla EscobarRegular cast
1983–86 Fame Nicole ChapmanMain cast: season 4-6
1984 T.J. Hooker Maria DominguezEpisode: "Gang War"
1985 Dance Fever HerselfEpisode: "Don Stroud, Nia Peeples, Nicholas Campbell"
1987–88 Top of the Pops Herself/hostMain host: season 24
1988 Soul Train HerselfEpisode: "Johnny Mathis/Nia Peeples/Tracie Spencer"
1989 Matlock Morgan GerardEpisode: "The Starlet"
1989–90 Nasty Boys Serena CruzMain cast
1991 The Party Machine with Nia Peeples Herself/hostessMain host
1992 Soul Train HerselfEpisode: "Nia Peeples/Eric B. & Rakim"
1993 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Sierra SmithEpisode: "Treasure of Sierra Smith" & "Chicago Story"
Return to Lonesome Dove Augostina VegaMain cast
1994 Highlander: The Series'NefertiriEpisode: "Pharaoh's Daughter"
Touched by an Angel Angela EvansEpisode: "Fallen Angela"
ABC Afterschool Specials HerselfEpisode: "I Hate the Way I Look"
1995 Marker LisaEpisode: "The Pilot" & "Snowballs in Hawaii"
Courthouse Veronica GilbertMain cast
The Puzzle Place HerselfEpisode: "Gotta Dance"
1997 Crisis Center Lily GannonMain cast
Early Edition Sister MaryEpisode: "Angels and Devils"
1998Real LifeMayaEpisode: "Unaired Pilot"
1999–2001 Walker, Texas Ranger Sydney CookeMain cast: season 7-8
2002 Where Are They Now? HerselfEpisode: "Dance"
2004 Andromeda Rox NavaEpisode: "The Spider's Stratagem"
The Division Sandra PrestissEpisode: "Zero Tolerance: Part 1 & 2"
2005 Barbershop Det. HahannaRecurring cast
2007–09 The Young and the Restless Karen Taylor Regular cast
2010–17 Pretty Little Liars Pam FieldsMain cast: season 1, recurring cast: season 2-4 & 6, guest: season 5 & 7
2013 Celebrity Wife Swap HerselfEpisode: "Nia Peeples/Tiffany"
2014 Longmire Adele ChapmanEpisode: "Wanted Man"
2016 Unsung HerselfEpisode: "Howard Hewett"
2017–18 The Fosters Susan MullenRecurring cast: Season 5
2020Pretty Little Wine Moms Re-WatchNiaEpisode: "The Pilot"
Homeward Bound: Surviving the CoronavirusNiaEpisode: "Wet Suits, Mary Poppins and Pretty Little Wine Moms"

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tatyana Ali</span> American actress and singer

Tatyana Marisol Ali is an American actress and singer best known for her role as Ashley Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1990 to 1996. She starred as Tyana Jones on the TV One original series Love That Girl!, and played a recurring role as Roxanne on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2007 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany Darwish</span> American singer (born 1971)

Tiffany Renee Darwish, known mononymously as Tiffany, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and former teen icon. Her 1987 cover of the Tommy James and the Shondells song "I Think We're Alone Now" spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was released as the second single from her debut studio album Tiffany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debbie Gibson</span> American singer and actress (born 1970)

Deborah Ann Gibson is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Lee</span> American singer (born 1944)

Brenda Mae Tarpley, known professionally as Brenda Lee, is an American singer. Primarily performing rockabilly, pop, country and Christmas music, she achieved her first Billboard hit aged 12 in 1957 and was given the nickname "Little Miss Dynamite". Some of Lee's most successful songs include "Sweet Nothin's", "I'm Sorry", "I Want to Be Wanted", "Speak to Me Pretty", "All Alone Am I" and "Losing You". Her festive song "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", recorded in 1958, topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, making Lee the oldest artist ever to top the chart and breaking several chart records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobbie Gentry</span> American singer-songwriter

Bobbie Gentry is a retired American singer-songwriter. She was one of the first female artists in America to compose and produce her own material.

Catherine Roseanne Dennis is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. She was discovered as a teenager by music manager Simon Fuller, which led to her featuring on the hit dance single "C'mon and Get My Love" with D Mob in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tammin Sursok</span> South African-born Australian-American actress, model and singer (born 1983)

Tammin Sursok is a South African-born Australian-American actress, model and singer. She is best known for her roles on television as Dani Sutherland on Home and Away, Colleen Carlton on The Young and the Restless, and Jenna Marshall on Pretty Little Liars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Underwood</span> American singer (born 1983)

Carrie Marie Underwood is an American singer. She rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of American Idol in 2005. Underwood's single "Inside Your Heaven" made her the first country artist to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the only solo country artist in the 2000s to have a number-one song on the Hot 100. Her debut album, Some Hearts (2005), was bolstered by the successful crossover singles "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and "Before He Cheats", becoming the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history. She won three Grammy Awards for the album, including Best New Artist. The next studio album, Carnival Ride (2007) had one of the biggest opening weeks of all time by a female artist and won two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Play On (2009), produced the single "Cowboy Casanova", which had one of the biggest single-week upward movements on the Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Douglas</span> American singer

Carol Douglas is an American singer whose hit "Doctor's Orders" (1974) was a pioneering track in the disco genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Sledge</span> American singer–songwriter and producer (born 1959)

Kathy Sledge is an American singer–songwriter and producer. Sledge is best known as the youngest and founding member of Sister Sledge, an American vocal group which is made up of her sisters that formed in 1971. As a member of the group, Sledge sang lead on their biggest hits "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family"; the latter of which received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Help Me Make It Through the Night</span> 1970 country song by Kris Kristofferson

"Help Me Make It Through The Night" is a country music ballad written and composed by Kris Kristofferson and released on his 1970 album Kristofferson. It was covered later in 1970 by Sammi Smith, on the album Help Me Make It Through the Night. It has been covered since by many other artists from Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley and Joan Baez.

Wilma Cosmé, better known by her stage name Sa-Fire, is an American singer. Sa-Fire is one of the few freestyle singers to cross over into the pop world. She has been featured in various magazines, such as Us Magazine, Billboard, Vogue, Elle, and most recently in the December 2011 issue of Signature Hits Magazine. She was the first Latina to grace the cover of Spin Magazine. Sa-Fire has also appeared on television programs such as American Bandstand, The Pat Sajak Show, The Joan Rivers Show, Latin Connection, MTV International, The Party Machine with Nia Peeples, PM Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, TMZ, The View, MTV, and Telemundo. Sa-Fire has performed throughout the United States, Japan, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America. She has won numerous awards for her work, including six New York Music Awards, three Desi Awards, an ASCAP Award for writing "Thinking of You," and the LGBT Lifetime Achievement Award. She has sold over 1.9 million records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colbie Caillat</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1985)

Colbie Marie Caillat is an American singer-songwriter. She rose to fame through social networking website Myspace. At that time, she was the number one unsigned artist of her genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Liar</span> 2009 single by Miranda Lambert

"White Liar" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Miranda Lambert. It was released in August 2009 as the second single from her album Revolution. Lambert performed "White Liar" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on October 6, 2009, and on the 2009 CMA Awards on November 11, 2009. In December 2009, the song became Lambert's second Top 10 hit and reached a peak of number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of February 6, 2010. The song was written by Lambert and Natalie Hemby.

<i>Revolution</i> (Miranda Lambert album) 2009 studio album by Miranda Lambert

Revolution is the third studio album by American country music singer Miranda Lambert. It was released on September 29, 2009, via Columbia Records Nashville. The album includes the singles "Dead Flowers", "White Liar," "The House That Built Me," "Only Prettier" and "Heart Like Mine," all of which have charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery teen drama television series based on the novel series of the same name written by Sara Shepard. Developed by I. Marlene King, the series was broadcast on Freeform between June 8, 2010, and June 27, 2017, comprising 160 episodes over seven seasons. Set in the fictional Rosewood, Pennsylvania, the plot follows five best friends whose secrets are consistently threatened by the anonymous "A", who begins harassing them after the disappearance of their clique leader. Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse, and Janel Parrish lead the ensemble cast, alongside Holly Marie Combs, Ian Harding, Bianca Lawson, Laura Leighton, Chad Lowe, Nia Peeples, Tyler Blackburn, and Andrea Parker.

<i>Pretty Little Liars</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of Pretty Little Liars, based on the books of the same name by Sara Shepard, premiered on June 8, 2010 and concluded on March 21, 2011 on ABC Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jar of Hearts</span> 2010 single by Christina Perri

"Jar of Hearts" is the debut single by American singer Christina Perri. The song was released onto iTunes July 27, 2010, a week after its debut on So You Think You Can Dance. The song was included on Perri's debut EP, The Ocean Way Sessions (2010), and appeared on Perri's debut studio album, Lovestrong (2011). The song was co-written by Perri, Drew Lawrence, and Barrett Yeretsian. Perri drew inspiration for the song from a real-life experience with a love interest who wanted to rekindle a broken relationship. After its debut, the song was released onto iTunes where it later rose to the Top 20 spot in one week.

The Strange Familiar is an American pop rock band from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The group was originally formed in 2006 by the husband and wife singer-songwriter team Jeff Andrea and Kira Leyden, former members of the popular Akron, OH band Jaded Era. Their first single, "Courage Is...", gained them significant attention after it was heavily promoted on ABC Family to launch a brand new series. In 2012, the band was featured on mtvU, Season 3 of the hit series The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. Other members include fellow Ohio natives Frank Freeman (bass) and Nicholas Sainato (drums).

<i>Nothin But Trouble</i> (Nia Peeples album) 1988 studio album by Nia Peeples

Nothin' But Trouble is the debut studio album by American singer and actress Nia Peeples. It was released on August 30, 1988 by Mercury Records. Peeples decided to venture into the music industry after she came to recognition as a regular cast in the musical television series Fame. She worked with Steve Harvey, Howard Hewett, Doc Powell and Tony Prendatt on the album. Musically, Nothin' But Trouble is a dance-pop and R&B album with influence of other popular genres at the time, such as freestyle and new jack swing.

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. New York: Billboard. p. 503. ISBN   9780823085545.
  2. 1 2 3 "Nia Peeples 2003 Philippine Daily Inquirer Interview - Fame Episode Guide" . Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  3. "Nia's Elements of Life |". Niaselementsoflife.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Billboard > Artists / Nia Peeples > Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Billboard > Artists / Nia Peeples > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  6. "The Carnival: Getting The "Groove On" For 10 Years". Hollywire.com. February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  7. "ABC Family Announces Pick-Up Of Dramas Huge And Pretty Little Liars" (PDF) (Press release). ABC Family. January 27, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 7, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
  8. "Nia Peeples, Tiffany". Celebrity Wife Swap . Season 2. Episode 6. July 7, 2013. ABC.
  9. "Billboard > Artists / Nia Peeples > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  10. "Billboard > Artists / Nia Peeples > Chart History > Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  11. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 215.
  12. "RPM 100 Singles > Nia Peeples". RPM Magazine. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2013.