LisaRaye McCoy

LisaRaye McCoy is the daughter of Chicago businessman David Ray McCoy and Katie McCoy, a former professional model. She is the older paternal half-sister of rapper and actress Da Brat, and also has half-sisters Jelahn McCoy and Cynthia McCoy Scott. McCoy has a daughter, Kai Morae Pace, with Kenji Pace.

McCoy was married to American football player Tony Martin from 1992 to 1994. She married Michael Misick, the first Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, in 2006. The marriage ended in divorce, with accounts dating its end to 2008 or 2010. During the marriage, she served as First Lady of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

McCoy began her screen career after attending a local audition in Chicago at the encouragement of a roommate. Her acting debut came as the lead in Reasons, a 1996 independent film directed by Monty Ross. She also appeared in television programs including Martin and In the House.

Her appearance in Tupac Shakur’s music video for “Toss It Up” helped bring her to the attention of rapper and actor Ice Cube, who cast her in The Players Club. McCoy played Diana “Diamond” Armstrong, a troubled stripper, in the 1998 film, which Ice Cube wrote and directed. She followed the role with appearances in The Wood, Rhapsody, All About You, Civil Brand, Go for Broke, Gang of Roses, Beauty Shop, and Envy.

McCoy also hosted Source: All Access, a program focused on hip-hop culture. Her performance in Civil Brand, a film about life in a women’s prison, was part of a production that received top awards at the American Black Film Festival and the Urbanworld Film Festival.

In 2003, McCoy joined the cast of the UPN and CW sitcom All of Us as Neesee James. She played Duane Martin’s ex-wife through the series finale in 2007 and received a 2007 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

McCoy later played Keisha Greene in the VH1 romantic comedy-drama series Single Ladies, which ran from 2011 to 2015. Her television work also included appearances in Hawthorne, Ballers, The Family Business, A House Divided, and Legacy.

She has appeared in music videos for artists including Lil’ Kim, Ginuwine, Jamie Foxx, Ludacris, Sisqó, Jaheim, and Michael Jackson. She was also a backup dancer in Jackson’s “Remember the Time” video.

In 2005, McCoy launched Luxe & Romance, a lingerie line, and Xraye, a women’s jeans line. She later introduced the LisaRaye Collection in partnership with PZI Jeans and launched LisaRaye Glamour, a hair line.

McCoy expanded her work behind the camera by directing Skinned and an episode of BET Her Presents: The Waiting Room. She was also credited as a co-director on the short film The Promise and as a producer on In the Gray.

Her other public projects have included hosting Murder in the Thirst and Asking for a Friend, co-hosting Cocktails with Queens, founding the Miss Rayediant Jewels teen pageant, and creating the “Life Rocks” Vision Board Workshops for young women.