Nikki Crawford
Nikki Crawford | |
|---|---|
| Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma mater | Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
Nikki Crawford is an American stage, film, and television actress. Crawford is best known for her Tony-nominated portrayal of Tedra in James Ijames' 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fat Ham, first at the Public and then at the American Airlines Theatre.
Career
Crawford was born and raised in Washington, D.C.[1] After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University's drama program with her BFA, Crawford was offered a leading role in the European Tour of Bubbling Brown Sugar, which launched her career.[1]
In the theater world, Crawford starred opposite Leslie Uggams in Stormy Weather[2] at the Pasadena Playhouse, playing the young Lena Horne and winning the NAACP Theatre Award. She also received a Helen Hayes Award Best Supporting Actress nomination for Play On!.[3]
Between the Public and Broadway iterations of Fat Ham, Crawford starred in James Ijames' The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington[4] at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre.
In late 2025, Crawford recently wrapped on the pilot Very Young Frankenstein starring Zack Galifianakis and directed by Taika Waititi for FX/Hulu.[5]
Theatre credits
| Year(s) | Production | Role | Location | Category | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Play On! | Lady Liv | Pasadena Playhouse | Regional | [6][7] |
| 2002 | A Class Act | Felicia | Pasadena Playhouse | Regional | [8] |
| 2004 | The Ten Commandments | Ensemble | [9] | ||
| 2007 | Spamalot | Lady of the Lake | Wynn Las Vegas | [10] | |
| 2008 | Respect: The Girl Em-Powered Musical | El Portal Forum Theatre | [11] | ||
| 2009 | Stormy Weather | Young Lena | Pasadena Playhouse | Regional | [12] |
| 2013 | Show Boat | Julie | Wells Fargo Pavilion | [13] | |
| 2017 | Man of La Mancha | Aldonza/Dulcinea | La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts | [14] | |
| 2019 | Fairview | Beverly | Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company | [15] | |
| 2020 | The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington | Ann Dandrige | Steppenwolf Theatre Company | [16] | |
| 2022 | Fat Ham | Tedra | The Public Theater | Off-Broadway | [17] |
| 2023 | American Airlines Theatre | Broadway | |||
| 2024 | Geffen Playhouse | Regional | [18] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Role | Show | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Helen Hayes Awards[19] | Outstanding Supporting Performer, Resident Musical | Lady Liv | Play On! | Nominated | |
| 2010 | NAACP Theatre Awards | Best Lead Actress-Equity | Young Lena | Stormy Weather | Won | [20][21] |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Tedra | Fat Ham | Nominated | [22] |
| 2024 | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards | Featured Performance | [23] |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | A Country Christmas Harmony | Carole Dukes | TV film | [24] |
| 2020 | How to Deter a Robber | Officer Martin | Feature film | |
| 2019 | Desperate Waters | District Attorney Grace | Feature film | |
| 2016 | Dance Night Obsession | Detective Brecht | Feature film | |
| 2016 | 96 Souls | Nina Orleans | Feature film | |
| 2012 | Contradictions of the Heart | Patrice | DTV | |
| 2009 | Applause for Miss E | Sista Burns | Feature film | |
| 2005 | Duck | Bus Driver | Feature film | |
| 2000 | Retiring Tatiana | Tatiana | Feature film | |
| 1997 | Wag the Dog | Mom | Feature film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Very Young Frankenstein | Recurring Character | TV series | [25] | |
| 2026 | Days of Our Lives | Lexie Carver | TV series | ||
| 2024 | Tracker | Miggy | TV series | ||
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Solani Mani | Episode 7 | [26] | |
| 2024 | Cruel Intentions | Mrs. Grover | TV series | ||
| 2022 | United States of Al | Barbara | Guest appearance | ||
| 2021 | Selena: The Series | Tina Knowles | Recurring role | ||
| 2020 | Two Degrees | Nikki | Guest appearance | ||
| 2019 | Crown Lake | Valerie St. Martin | Recurring role | ||
| 2019 | 9-1-1 | Leticia Barry | Guest appearance | ||
| 2017 | Criminal Minds | Marla Grace | Guest appearance | ||
| 2016 | Pretty Little Liars | Agent Leigh | Guest appearance | ||
| 2015 | Switched at Birth | Kendall Booth | Guest appearance | ||
| 2014 | Legit | Dr. Pollitt | Guest appearance | ||
| 2013 | Happily Divorced | Monica | Guest appearance | ||
| 2006 | Numb3rs | ER Doctor | Guest appearance | ||
| 2004 | Malcolm in the Middle | Nell | Guest appearance | ||
| 2001 | The District | Reporter #2 | Guest appearance | ||
| 1996 | Homeboys in Outer Space | Heather | Guest appearance | ||
| 1996 | Martin | Woman #3 | Guest appearance | ||
| 1995 | Dream On | Colette Perry | Guest appearance | ||
| 1994 | Living Single | Renatta | Guest appearance | ||
| 1991 | A Different World | Girl | Guest appearance |
Web
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2013 | H+ | Julie Martin | 10 episodes (web series) | [27] |
References
- ^ a b "Broadway Actress, Nikki Crawford, Competes for Highest Honor Tonight at Tony Awards". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2023-06-11. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Stormy Weather, Musical of Horne's Life, Starring Uggams, Begins West…". Playbill. 2012-09-06. Archived from the original on 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Nikki Crawford". Broadway.com. 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington (Regional, Steppenwolf -- Upstairs Theatre, 2022)". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2025-06-21. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (2025-09-30). "'Very Young Frankenstein' Lands FX Pilot Order, Zach Galifianakis, Kumail Nanjiani, Dolly Wells Among Cast". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
- ^ Manus, Willard (8 July 1999). "Pasadena Playhouse Celebrates Duke Ellington's 100th Birthday". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (21 June 2000). "Play On! Finds Its Way to Small Screen, on PBS, June 21". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (3 May 2002). "A Class Act Has Post-Bway Bow in CA May 3-June 16; Price Directs Picardo, Bullock". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Hernandez, Ernio (27 September 2004). ""Let My People Go...": Kilmer Is Moses as The Ten Commandments Musical Opens, Sept. 27". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "Spamalot, Starring O'Hurley, Opens in Vegas March 31". BroadwayWorld.com. 30 March 2007. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (26 June 2008). "Crawford, George, Seiden and Taylor to Star in Respect: The Girl Em-Powered Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "Stormy Weather, Powerhouse Evening in Pasadena". BroadwayWorld.com. 3 February 2009. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Mancuso, Christina. "Photos: First Look at Ron Bohmer, Jennifer Hope Wills, Nikki Crawford and More in SHOW BOAT at Music Circus". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Grigware, Don (5 June 2017). "Review: Davis Gaines Steals MAN OF LA MANCHA at La Mirada". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Smith, Paul (17 September 2019). "Review Roundup: What Did Critics Think of FAIRVIEW at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company?". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Cristi, A. A. "Steppenwolf Announces Complete Casting for The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington and Catch As Catch Can". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (19 May 2022). "Photos: First Look at the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Fat Ham at The Public Theater". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Henerson, Evan. "Review: FAT HAM at Geffen Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (8 May 2001). "Judith Light, Side Show, The Dead Among D.C. Helen Hayes Winners". Playbill. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Sierra, Gabrielle (27 July 2010). "Kim Coles, Quinton Aaron Annouce [sic] Nominees For 20th Annual Naacp Theatre Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ "Obba Babatunde, Levar Burton, Nikki Crawford, et al. Win NAACP Theatre Awards". 2010-09-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Sherman, Rachel; Cohn, Gabe (2023-05-02). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Reveals 2024 Season Award Finalists and Special Award Honorees". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "A Country Christmas Harmony - Full Cast & Crew". TVguide.com. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Otterson, Joe. "Very Young Frankenstein' Lands FX Pilot Order, Zach Galifianakis, Kumail Nanjiani, Dolly Wells Among Cast". Variety.com. Retrieved 2025-09-30.
- ^ Sharpe, Josh. "Comprehensive Guide to Broadway Actors in CBS's Hit Series ELSBETH". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "In "H+" a possible blueprint for digital series". Deseret News. September 4, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2025.