Virenia Gwendolyn "Nia" Peeples is an American R&B and dance music singer and actress. Peeples is known for playing Nicole Chapman on the hit TV series Fame, Pam Fields, the mother of Emily Fields on hit TV drama Pretty Little Liars, as Karen Taylor Winters on The Young and the Restless, and as Sydney Cooke on Walker, Texas Ranger. Her most recent role is Grace's mom, Susan, on The Fosters.
Early life
Peeples was born in Hollywood, California, the daughter of Elizabeth Joan, a flamenco dancer, and Robert Eugene Peeples. She was raised in West Covina. Her maternal grandparents were immigrants from the Philippines, and were of Filipino, Spanish, French, and German descent. Her father, who was originally from Mississippi, was of Scots-Irish, English, Native American, and Italian ancestry. Peeples attended UCLA during which time she performed as Liberace's opening act in Las Vegas on weekends.
Personal life
Peeples lives in Malibu, California and has one son Christopher, and one daughter Sienna. They were featured on the July 7, 2013 episode of Celebrity Wife Swap, in which Peeples traded places with singer Tiffany. 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. On August 11, 2015, Peeples filed for divorce from her surfer husband Sam George. Peeples filed in Los Angeles County, 20 days before the couple's eighth wedding anniversary. Peeples is seeking to keep the couple's home, a Malibu, California 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.
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", which climbed to #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her most successful pop single is "Street Of Dreams", which hit #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991. 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. She appeared in Prince's video for "Raspberry Beret". On February 4, 2009, Peeples presented Debbie Allen with a Lifetime Achievement Award at 10th anniversary show. Peeples also attends and performs at the annual live Fame Reunion concerts overseas.
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 hosted the short-lived American version of Top of the Pops as well as a weeknight dance music program called The Party Machine with Nia Peeples, and portrayed Texas Ranger Sydney Cooke in the CBS hit series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1999-2001. In 2004 Peeples appeared in the season 4 episode of AndromedaThe Spider's Stratagem as arms smuggler and love-interest Rox Nava. Nia 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. Her last air date was in May 2009. Peeples has been cast in the 2010 ABC Family TV series Pretty Little Liars, based on the book series by Sara Shepard.
