Sheryl Lee Ralph facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ
Ralph in 2012
Born	(1956-12-30) December 30, 1956 (age 68) Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Other names	Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes
Education	Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA)
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1977–present
Known for	Dreamgirls (Broadway; 1981) It's a Living Moesha Motherland: Fort Salem Abbott Elementary
Spouse(s)	Eric Maurice ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 2001)​ Vincent Hughes ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	2

Sheryl Lee Ralph (born December 30, 1956) is a talented American actress and singer. She is known for her amazing performances on both stage and screen.

One of her most famous roles was Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls in 1981. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

More recently, since 2021, she has starred as Barbara Howard in the TV show Abbott Elementary. For this role, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in September 2022. She was the first Black woman in 35 years to win this award!

Sheryl Lee Ralph also made her film debut in 1977 in the comedy A Piece of the Action. In 1991, she won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her role in the 1990 film To Sleep with Anger. She has appeared in many other popular movies like Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993).

On television, she starred in sitcoms like It's a Living (1986–1989) and Moesha (1996–2001). Her role as Dee Mitchell in Moesha earned her five NAACP Image Award nominations.

Early Life and Education

Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her father, Stanley Ralph, was a college professor. Her mother, Ivy Ralph, was a fashion designer from Jamaica. Sheryl also has a younger brother, actor Michael Ralph.

She grew up spending time in both Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York. She went to Uniondale High School in Uniondale, New York.

In high school, she acted in the musical Oklahoma!. She graduated in 1972. Earlier that year, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York.

At just 19 years old, Sheryl Lee Ralph was the youngest woman to graduate from Rutgers University. She first wanted to study medicine. However, after winning an acting scholarship, she decided to pursue performing arts instead. In 2023, she returned to Rutgers to give the commencement speech for the graduating class.

Career Highlights

Early Acting Roles and Dreamgirls

Sheryl Lee Ralph started her acting career in the 1970s. Her first film was A Piece of the Action in 1977. She also appeared in TV shows like Good Times and Wonder Woman.

In 1981, she got the role of Deena Jones in the original Broadway musical Dreamgirls. This role brought her a lot of attention and a Tony Award nomination. While on Broadway, she also acted in the TV soap opera Search for Tomorrow.

In 1984, she released her only music album, In the Evening. The main song from the album, "In the Evening," was popular on dance charts. She then starred as Ginger St. James in the TV series It's a Living. In 1988, she voiced Rita, a sassy dog, in the Disney film Oliver & Company. Her first main film role was in The Mighty Quinn (1989), where she played Denzel Washington's wife.

Film Roles and Moesha Success

Ralph in 1997

In 1990, Sheryl Lee Ralph joined the TV show New Attitude. The next year, she won an Independent Spirit Award for her role in the film To Sleep with Anger. In 1992, she starred with Robert De Niro in Mistress. She also appeared with Eddie Murphy in The Distinguished Gentleman.

A memorable role was Florence Watson in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993). From 1996 to 2001, she played Dee Mitchell in the popular sitcom Moesha. This role earned her several NAACP Image Award nominations.

She also voiced Cheetah in the animated series Justice League. Sheryl Lee Ralph created and produced Divas Simply Singing, a show that raises money to help fight AIDS.

Ralph in 2012

In 2009, she joined the Broadway musical The First Wives Club. She also made guest appearances in TV shows like Young Justice and Smash. In 2014, she appeared on Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn. She also had roles in Claws and Instant Mom. From 2019, she was a main character, Rose, in the TV series Fam.

Abbott Elementary and Recent Achievements

In 2021, Sheryl Lee Ralph joined the cast of the sitcom Abbott Elementary. She plays Barbara Howard, a wise and experienced elementary school teacher. Her performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 2022 and a Critics' Choice Television Award in 2023.

In October 2022, she received the Order of Jamaica for her contributions to the film industry. This is a high honor from Jamaica.

In 2023, Sheryl Lee Ralph sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the Super Bowl LVII pre-show. Later that year, she became the first celebrity and the first Black person to play Mrs. Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

In 2024, she sang for President Joe Biden at a fundraiser. She also joined Vice President Kamala Harris for a campaign event. In December 2024, she was named Person of the Year by Jamaicans.com for her work representing Jamaican culture. She was also named the 2024 Advocate of the Year by The Advocate magazine. On April 16, 2025, Sheryl Lee Ralph received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

Personal Life

Sheryl Lee Ralph was married to Eric Maurice from 1990 to 2001. They have two children, a son born in 1992 and a daughter born in 1995. She has been married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005.

In 2004, she became an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In 2008, she received an honorary doctorate from Tougaloo College. In 2023, her alma mater, Rutgers University, also gave her an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Stage Performances

Music Albums

• In the Evening (1984)
• Sleigh. (2022)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Sheryl Lee Ralph para niños