Meet Nia Peeples’ Spouses: Sam George, Lauro David Chartrand-DelValle, Howard Hewett & Guy Ecker

Over a career spanning more than 40 years, actress, singer, and dancer Nia Peeples has become a familiar presence in American entertainment, known for standout roles in Fame, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Pretty Little Liars.

Born Virenia Gwendolyn Peeples on December 10, 1961, in Hollywood, California, she is 63 years old.

She grew up in West Covina, raised by her mother, Elizabeth Peeples Joan—a Filipina flamenco dancer from Manila—and her father, Robert Eugene Peeples, an artist and flamenco guitarist of European and Native American ancestry.

Her multicultural background includes Filipino, German, Spanish, Scottish, Irish, and Native American roots, and she is the eldest of three sisters, including Cynthia Peeples and Paula Peeples. She spoke openly about her Christian faith and later interest in spirituality and New Thought principles.

Nia attended West Covina High School before earning a music scholarship to UCLA, though she eventually left college to pursue her entertainment ambitions full-time. She is 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) tall and has long identified as Christian, while also exploring broader spiritual and New Thought philosophies in recent years.

Her personal life has been as eventful as her onscreen career. She has been married four times: first to actor Guy Ecker from 1984 to 1986, then to singer Howard Hewett of Shalamar from 1989 to 1993, followed by stunt performer and director Lauro David Chartrand-DelValle from 1997 to 2004, and lastly to surfer, writer, and filmmaker Sam George from 2004 until their separation around 2015–2016.

She is the mother of two children—son Christopher Hewett, born in 1989 with Howard Hewett, and daughter Sienna Noelle Chartrand-DelValle, born in 1998 with Lauro Chartrand-DelValle. Since her fourth divorce, Nia has remained single and keeps any romantic life firmly out of the public eye.

Off-screen, her relationships reflect a life lived boldly and openly, with four marriages to men from vastly different corners of the entertainment world—actors, musicians, stunt performers, and filmmakers—each representing a various chapter in her journey.

Howard Hewett (1989–1993)

Nia’s first husband was Grammy-winning R&B singer Howard Hewett, best known as the former lead vocalist of the legendary group Shalamar. The couple married in 1989 and welcomed their son, Christopher Hewett, that same year.

At the time, both were rising stars in the music and entertainment industry—Howard with his smooth voice and string of solo hits, Nia with her pop-dance single “Trouble” climbing the charts and her role on the reboot of Fame.

They divorced in 1993 after four years of marriage. Despite the split, they have remained committed co-parents to Christopher, who is now an adult.

Guy Ecker (1984–1986)

Nia’s first marriage was actually to Guy Ecker before Howard Hewett. Guy Ecker (1984–1986)

Nia’s very first trip down the aisle was with actor Guy Ecker, known today for his leading roles in telenovelas such as Café con aroma de mujer and Santa Diabla. The two were married briefly from 1984 to 1986, when both were young and just starting their acting careers.

Little is publicly known about this early marriage, as it happened before Nia achieved widespread fame with Fame. The union ended amicably after two years, and both went on to have successful careers in television on different continents—Nia primarily in American series, Guy becoming a major star in Latin American television.

Howard Hewett (1989–1993)

As noted above, her second marriage was to R&B icon Howard Hewett. They tied the knot in 1989, had a son, Christopher, and divorced in 1993.

Lauro David Chartrand-DelValle (1997–2004)

Nia’s third husband was Canadian stunt performer, actor, and director Lauro David Chartrand-DelValle. The couple married in 1997 and welcomed their daughter, Sienna Noelle, in 1998.

Lauro, who has worked as a stunt coordinator on major films and shows including The Revenant, Deadpool 2, and numerous Hallmark movies, brought an action-packed energy to Nia’s life that mirrored some of the high-energy roles she was playing at the time (notably Mimi Webb on Walker, Texas Ranger). They divorced in 2004 after seven years together.

Sam George (2004–2015)

Nia’s fourth and longest marriage was to surfer, writer, and filmmaker Sam George. The two wed in 2004 on the North Shore of Oahu in a beautiful beach ceremony that reflected Sam’s deep connection to surfing culture (he is the former editor-in-chief of Surfer magazine and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2002 film Blue Crush).

Sam and Nia blended families and shared a passion for wellness, spirituality, and the ocean. They were together for over a decade before separating and finalizing their divorce around 2015–2016.

Life After Marriage

Since her last divorce, Nia Peeples has focused on her career, health and wellness advocacy, music, and being a mother to Christopher and Sienna.

Now in her 60s, she remains active on screen, in the recording studio, and on social media, often sharing messages of empowerment, self-love, and resilience—lessons no doubt shaped in part by the diverse chapters of her romantic history.

Four marriages, four unique love stories, and one woman who has continued to evolve with grace: that’s the real story of Nia Peeples and the men who once called her wife.