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. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University's drama program with her BFA in 1993, Crawford was offered a leading role in the European Tour of Bubbling Brown Sugar, which launched her career.
In the theater world, Crawford starred opposite Leslie Uggams in Stormy Weather 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!.
Between the Public and Broadway iterations of Fat Ham, Crawford starred in James Ijames' The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington 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.
Theatre credits Year(s)ProductionRoleLocationCategoryRef1999Play On!Lady LivPasadena PlayhouseRegional2002A Class ActFeliciaPasadena PlayhouseRegional2004The Ten CommandmentsEnsemble2007SpamalotLady of the LakeWynn Las Vegas2008Respect: The Girl Em-Powered MusicalEl Portal Forum Theatre2009Stormy WeatherYoung LenaPasadena PlayhouseRegional2013Show BoatJulieWells Fargo Pavilion2017Man of La ManchaAldonza/DulcineaLa Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts2019FairviewBeverlyWoolly Mammoth Theatre Company2020The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha WashingtonAnn DandrigeSteppenwolf Theatre Company2022Fat HamTedraThe Public TheaterOff-Broadway2023American Airlines TheatreBroadway2024Geffen PlayhouseRegional
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryRoleShowResultRef2001Helen Hayes AwardsOutstanding Supporting Performer, Resident MusicalLady LivPlay On!2010NAACP Theatre AwardsBest Lead Actress-EquityYoung LenaStormy Weather2023Tony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a PlayTedraFat Ham2024Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardsFeatured Performance
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes Ref 1997 Wag the Dog Mom Feature film 2000 Retiring Tatiana Tatiana Feature film 2005 Duck Bus Driver Feature film 2009 Applause for Miss E Sista Burns Feature film 2012 Contradictions of the Heart Patrice DTV 2016 96 Souls Nina Orleans Feature film 2016 Dance Night Obsession Detective Brecht Feature film 2019 Desperate Waters District Attorney Grace Feature film 2020 How to Deter a Robber Officer Martin Feature film 2022 A Country Christmas Harmony Carole Dukes TV film
Television Year Title Role NotesRef 1991 A Different World Girl Guest appearance 1994 Living Single Renatta Guest appearance 1995 Dream On Colette Perry Guest appearance 1996 Martin Woman #3 Guest appearance 1996 Homeboys in Outer Space Heather Guest appearance 2001 The District Reporter #2 Guest appearance 2004 Malcolm in the Middle Nell Guest appearance 2006 Numb3rs ER Doctor Guest appearance 2013 Happily Divorced Monica Guest appearance 2014 Legit Dr. Pollitt Guest appearance 2015 Switched at Birth Kendall Booth Guest appearance 2016 Pretty Little Liars Agent Leigh Guest appearance 2017 Criminal Minds Marla Grace Guest appearance 2019 9-1-1 Leticia Barry Guest appearance 2019 Crown Lake Valerie St. Martin Recurring role 2020 Two Degrees Nikki Guest appearance 2021 Selena: The Series Tina Knowles Recurring role 2022 United States of Al Barbara Guest appearance 2024 Cruel Intentions Mrs. Grover Guest appearance 2024 Elsbeth Solani Mani Guest appearance 2024 Tracker Miggy Guest appearance 2026 Days of Our Lives Lexie Carver Recurring role TBA Very Young Frankenstein TBA TBA
Web Year(s) Title Role Notes Ref 2012–2013 H+ Julie Martin 10 episodes (web series)
References
External links Nikki Crawford at the IBDb