LisaRaye McCoy

Early life

McCoy was born in Chicago, Illinois.^[10][11][12] McCoy is the daughter of David Ray McCoy, a Chicago businessman,^[13] and Katie McCoy,^[14] a former professional model. Her paternal half-sisters are Jelahn McCoy and Cynthia McCoy Scott. McCoy is the paternal half-sister of Da Brat. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, McCoy attended St. James College Prep school, Kenwood Academy and later, Thornridge High School, graduating in 1986.^[15] After high school, McCoy attended Eastern Illinois University before pursuing an acting career.

Career

McCoy made her acting debut as the lead in Reasons, an independent film directed by Monty Ross. McCoy is perhaps best known for her role as Diamond in The Players Club, directed and written by Ice Cube.^[16] She also appeared in The Wood, opposite Taye Diggs, Rhapsody, All About You, and Go for Broke. In 2003, McCoy starred as Neesee James in the UPN/ The CW sitcom All of Us, where she played Duane Martin's ex-wife. The series ended in 2007.^[17] McCoy began her career as a model for fashion, but before that she was married to Archie Amerson. She did shows in churches and high schools in her native Chicago. In addition to acting, McCoy has also appeared in dozens of music videos, including "Know Filter 2" by Shleah, Tugoa, T.Lee, "Download" by Lil' Kim, Changing Faces's "Same Tempo", Ginuwine's "Last Chance", Ludacris' "Number 1 Spot", Calvin Richardson's “True Love”, Sisqó's "Incomplete", Lil Jon and Ice Cube's "Roll Call", "I Don't Wanna See" and "I Really Want to Sex Your Body”, by Link, Tupac Shakur's "Toss It Up", "Never Be The Same Again" by Ghostface Killah & Carl Thomas, "Unpredictable" by Jamie Foxx, ”Ooohhhwwweee” by Master P, “Slip N' Slide” by Danny Boy, and "Are You in the Mood" by Teddy & Dru Down. She also had a cameo in Seven's music video "Girls" & Jaheim's music video "Back Tight Wit You"^[16][18] McCoy also recorded the single "Would You?" with rapper Benzino.^[19] In 2005, McCoy launched two fashion lines: Luxe & Romance, a lingerie line that was introduced during New York's Fashion Week, and Xraye, a jeans line for women.^[20] In 2011, she launched her jean collection "The LisaRaye Collection" in partnership with PZI Jeans, and a hair line, "LisaRaye Glamour"; That same year, she was the Ambassador/Grand Marshal for the 70th Magic City Classic parade and football game in Birmingham, Alabama.

"Queen Mother of Ghana" claims

McCoy has inaccurately referred to herself as the "Queen Mother" of Ghana on multiple occasions, including during a 2019 appearance on The Wendy Williams Show. Her remarks, along with the lax and uncritical reporting of American media outlets in response, were widely mocked on Ghanaian social media,^[25] with journalist Nana Aba Anamoah accusing her of "ignorance"; Anamoah further stated that the title does not exist in the country, as Ghana is a republic and not a monarchy.^[26] McCoy was allegedly crowned "queen mother" during a ceremony at a Los Angeles nightclub, in September 2019.^[27] She was given the supposed title by Yahweh ben Yahweh ben Yahweh, a self-proclaimed "imperial king" and former member of a hip-hop group from Orange County, Florida.^[25] McCoy, at the time, stated that "To have such an honor bestowed upon me by my own African people is a testament to my hard work and character".^[28] Yahweh, who refers to himself as "The Imperial Majesty King Yahweh The Holy Ghost", purchased the title of nkosuohene from a chief of the small town of Kwanyako in Ghana's Central Region.^[25]

McCoy visited Kwanyako herself in July 2021, promising to finance a vocational centre for women and a local performance troupe.^[29]

Film

Television

Music videos

Stage

• If These Hips Could Talk (2003)
• The Vagina Monologues (2006)
• You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (2006)
• Gossip, Lies & Secrets (2007)
• Married But Single (2016)
• Married But Single Too (2017)