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Nay K. Dorsey grew up in Denver, Colorado, USA as Nathaniel K. Dorsey in a good middle class racially mixed neighborhood and racially mixed schools in the seventies, which is his favorite decade. Nay and his three siblings were taught never to judge people by skin color and there is good and bad in All races of people and true Love sees No skin color. He was named after his beloved grandfather, which is a Hebrew name and in the old and new testament of the Holy Bible.

He often goes by his nickname, Nay K. Nathaniel also speaks, reads and writes in Spanish (self-taught) and basic Hebrew / Ivrit (self-taught). His goal is to become as fluent in Hebrew as possible because he loves Hebrew as much as Spanish. He started acting in his ninth grade drama class at East High School in Denver with dreams of following in the footsteps of his acting idol, Sidney Poitier. Nay K met his acting idol, Sidney twice at his office in Beverly Hills, California in 1982 and again in 1983. Nathaniel's mother, Mary Belle accomplished her dreams early and worked as RN nurse her entire life in Porter's hospital in Denver and his step-father worked at Samsonite luggage corporation in the city of Montebello. His biological father, Samuel worked for many years in the Texaco oil refinery.

He did a several plays in small local theaters in Denver. Nathaniel's dad, Samuel, grew up in California and appeared as a background extra in two of Sidney's films: "Blackboard Jungle" and "Porgy and Bess" before Nay was born. Nathaniel moved to Los Angeles after finishing high school with very little money. He did Not find immediate success in the film and television industry. Instead he ended up homeless living in Skid Row, which he never told his family about. He was too strong willed to go back home feeling like a failure, so he worked day labor jobs to survive, eating at daily bread & soup lines, sleeping in various places such as church missions, hotel basements and bus station restroom stalls while keeping his clothes in a pay locker and taking showers in the bus stations. He was homeless, but he never looked homeless. Nathaniel truly believes that the Holy Spirit of God {Elohim, Adonai} and Yeshua was protecting him and keeping him safe during his times of living homeless on the streets of Los Angeles.

While still living on the streets, one day an Army recruiter offered him a way off the streets of Skid Row. At the time, Nay did not want to join the military because he felt that it would keep him from pursuing his dreams and goals to become an actor. However, he signed a six year contract and did two years active duty and the remaining four years in the Army Reserve. His first duty station was Fort Ord in Northern California. After finishing his active duty time, he returned to Los Angeles and began studying part-time at Inner City Cultural Center with Cliff Roquemore and Beah Richards. He also studied at Theater Of Arts. While working in the play, "Short Eyes produced by producer-actor George Carlin and his wife, Brenda, a cast mate suggested he study with Vincent Chase. Vince became Nay K's favorite drama coach. Vince was a very well-known acting coach to many famous Hollywood actors and actresses. Nay was cast in two Globe Playhouse productions and he joined Actors Equity Association union.

One day, Nathaniel saw a filming in progress and proceeded to hang around the set. He was spotted by Edward Vandell who took a liking to Nay K and struck up a mentor/student friendship. A few months later, Edward gave Nay a special silent bit part in a film titled, "In MacArthur Park". When Cliff Roquemore made his film directorial debut "Petey Wheatstraw" in 1977, he cast Nay K in a small speaking role as one of the Devil's henchmen. The film was non-union. He was not able to join Screen Actors Guild until 1981, when he was cast as the lead street bully in the successful karate comedy, "They Call Me Bruce". It was Edward Vandell who helped Nay K get his first agent in Hollywood, MMC agency. Two years later, Nay K signed with Coralie Jr agency in North Hollywood. He auditioned and gained small speaking roles in several films and television shows in the eighties.

Nay continued in the Army Reserve because it gave him a small, but steady paycheck and also serving his country at the same time while doing odd telemarketing jobs. When his original six year army contract ended, he signed another six year contract and then two Army AGR contracts. He still found time to study and audition for acting roles while being in the Army. Nay did a total of 23 years with an honorable discharge in 2006.

In the late eighties, Nay K developed an interest in writing screenplays and enrolled in Los Angeles College and majoring in Cinema productions with such classmates as Allen and Albert Hughes {The Hughes brothers} and Regina P. Kimbell who became a successful documentary film maker. While in college, he also studied African history and learned a lot about African culture and a lot about African~Latino cultures and the music of Salsa & Merengue, which are a mixture of African and Latino cultures from such Latin countries as Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic.

He graduated with a degree in Cinema. In 2014, Nay decided to go back to his birth name of Nathaniel, legally and professionally to honor his grandfather and because of what his name means in Hebrew.

Nathaniel gives thanks to the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus {Yeshua} for all of his success, no matter how small or large. He likes giving back when he can because he believes that everyone who is able should be giving to those who are really in need. Nathaniel's favorite organizations to donate to are homeless organizations and Loving Day and Mixed Remixed organizations. One of his favorite quotes are: "If Everyone Gives a Little, Then Nobody Would Need a Lot" by Amy Wise.

actor-writer, Nathaniel K. Dorsey  at the A.F.M 2016 film conference in Santa Monica, California {Nov 2016}

(2011) Ninety Going on Twenty: original screenplay - Writer

(2011) Fanny Be Tender: original screenplay - Writer

(2009) Hollywood Club: original television pilot - Writer

(2007) Hollywood 24/7: original television pilot - Writer (with Regina Kimbell)

(2007) Children of the world: an original screenplay - Writer

(1981) Nights on Broadway: an original screenplay - Writer

(1978) Newcomers: an original screenplay by Nay K. Dorsey - Writer

(2019 to 2021): Target Stores Nation wide Print Ads. (30 August 2022) : Heal Health Nation wide Print Ads.

Other works

Nathaniel K. Dorsey

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