Sheryl Lee Ralph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheryl Lee Ralph
|
|
---|---|
![]() Ralph in 2012
|
|
Born | Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
|
December 30, 1956
Other names | Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes |
Education | Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA) |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1977–present |
Known for | Dreamgirls (Broadway; 1981) It's a Living Moesha Motherland: Fort Salem Abbott Elementary |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress and singer. She is famous for her work on stage and in movies.
She became well-known for playing 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.
Since 2021, she has starred as Barbara Howard in the ABC TV show Abbott Elementary. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for this role in 2022. She was the first Black woman in 35 years to win this award.
Sheryl Lee Ralph first appeared in a movie 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 film To Sleep with Anger. Other important movies she was in include The Mighty Quinn (1989) and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993).
On television, she had early guest roles in shows like Good Times and Wonder Woman. She also starred in the sitcoms It's a Living (1986–1989) and Moesha (1996–2001). Her role in Moesha earned her five NAACP Image Award nominations.
She has also performed in other Broadway shows, such as Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Wicked (2016–2017). She has also helped produce Broadway plays like Thoughts of a Colored Man (2021).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her father, Stanley Ralph, was a college professor. Her mother, Ivy Ralph O.D., was a Jamaican fashion designer. Ivy Ralph created the kariba suit. Sheryl has a younger brother, Michael Ralph, who is an actor and comedian.
DNA tests show that she is partly from the Tikar people of Cameroon. She grew up in both Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island. She went to Uniondale High School in Uniondale, New York. In high school, she played Ado Annie in the musical Oklahoma!.
Sheryl graduated from high school in 1972. Earlier that year, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York. At 19, she was the youngest person to graduate from Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, she won an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. Glamour magazine also named her one of the top ten college women in America. She first wanted to study medicine. However, after winning an acting scholarship, she decided to pursue performing arts. She later gave the graduation speech at Rutgers in 2003 and again in 2023.
Career Highlights
Starting Her Acting Journey (1977–1989)
Sheryl Lee Ralph began her career in the 1970s. She starred in the 1977 crime comedy film A Piece of the Action, directed by Sidney Poitier. She also appeared in TV shows like Good Times and Wonder Woman.
In 1980, she joined the Broadway show Reggae. Then, in 1981, she played Deena Jones in the original Broadway musical Dreamgirls. While performing in Dreamgirls, she also acted in the CBS soap opera Search for Tomorrow. In 1982, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Dreamgirls.
After her success, she released her only studio album, In the Evening, in 1984. The main song from the album, "In the Evening," reached No. 5 on the Billboard Dance Music chart. She then got the main role of Ginger St. James in the TV series It's a Living. In 1988, she voiced Rita, a sassy Afghan Hound, in the Disney film Oliver & Company. Her first main movie role was in The Mighty Quinn (1989), where she played Denzel Washington's wife.
Film and TV Roles (1990–2020)
In 1990, Sheryl Lee Ralph joined the ABC sitcom New Attitude. The next year, she won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for the drama film To Sleep with Anger. In 1992, she starred with Robert De Niro in Mistress. That same year, she appeared on Designing Women and co-starred with Eddie Murphy in The Distinguished Gentleman. She also played Florence Watson in the 1993 film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.
Her role as Dee Mitchell in Moesha (1996–2001) earned her five nominations for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. During the 1990s, she also had roles in The Flintstones and voiced Cheetah in Justice League. Sheryl Lee Ralph also created "Divas Simply Singing," an important event that raises money for AIDS research. She also appeared in the Showtime series Barbershop.
In 2009, she joined the cast of the musical The First Wives Club. In 2011, she voiced Amanda Waller in Young Justice. In 2013, she appeared in the NBC show Smash as Cynthia, the mother of Jennifer Hudson's character. She also appeared in Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn in 2014. Some of her recent TV roles include Claws and Instant Mom. From 2019, she was a main character in the TV series Fam.
Abbott Elementary and Recent Achievements (2021–Present)
In 2021, Sheryl Lee Ralph joined the popular sitcom Abbott Elementary. She plays Barbara Howard, an experienced elementary school teacher. For this role, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022. She also won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023.
In October 2022, she received the Order of Jamaica from the governor-general for her contributions to film. In 2023, Ralph sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (the Black national anthem) at the Super Bowl LVII pre-show. Later that year, she became the first celebrity and 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 and "The Advocate's 2024 Advocate of the Year" for her work helping different communities.
Personal Life
Sheryl Lee Ralph was married to Eric Maurice from 1990 to 2001. They have two children, a son born in 1991 and a daughter born in 1994. She married Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes on July 30, 2005.
In 2004, she became an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. In 2008, Tougaloo College gave her an honorary doctorate degree. In 2023, her alma mater, Rutgers University, also gave her an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | A Piece of the Action | Barbara Hanley | |
1988 | Oliver & Company | Rita (voice) | |
1989 | The Mighty Quinn | Lola Quinn | |
Skin Deep | Rose the Receptionist | ||
1990 | To Sleep with Anger | Linda | |
1992 | Mistress | Beverly | |
The Distinguished Gentleman | Miss Loretta | ||
1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | Florence Watson | |
1994 | The Flintstones | Mrs. Reneè Pyrite | |
1995 | White Man's Burden | Roberta Wellison | |
Lover's Knot | Charlotte Lee | ||
1996 | Bogus | Ruth Clark | |
1997 | Jamaica Beat | Sylvia Jones | |
1998 | The Easter Story Keepers | Risa (voice) | Video |
Secrets | - | Short | |
1999 | Personals | Chantal Jones | |
Unconditional Love | Linda Cray | ||
Deterrence | Gayle Redford | ||
2000 | Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel | Nurse Betty Redford | |
2007 | Frankie D | Mama D | |
2010 | Pastor Jones: The Complete First Season | Mother Kelly | Video |
The Cost of Heaven | Paulette Randolph | ||
Blessed and Cursed | Lady Elise Wright | Also executive producer | |
2012 | Christmas in Compton | Abuta | |
He Knows My Heart | First Lady Jameson | Short | |
2017 | Just Getting Started | Roberta | |
2018 | Step Sisters | Yvonne Bishop | |
2020 | The Comeback Trail | Bess Jones | |
2021 | Prepared | Dr. Richards | Short |
2023 | The Young Wife | Angelique | |
2024 | The Fabulous Four | Kitty | Also executive producer |
2025 | Ricky | Joanne | Completed |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Baa Baa Black Sheep | Elizabeth | Episode: "A Little Bit of England" |
A.E.S. Hudson Street | Nurse | Episode: "Shut Down" | |
Husbands, Wives & Lovers | Joelle | Episode: "Murray Gets Sacked and Paula Gets Hired" | |
Good Times | Vanessa Blake | Episode: "J.J and the Plumber's Helper" | |
The Krofft Comedy Hour | Various Characters | Television film | |
1979 | Wonder Woman | Bobbie | Episode: "The Starships Are Coming" |
The Jeffersons | Jeanie | Episode: "Louise's Convention" | |
1982 | The Neighborhood | Doris Campbell | Television film |
1983 | The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon | Herself | Episode: "1983" |
Search for Tomorrow | Laura McCarthy | Regular cast | |
1984 | V: The Series | Glenna | Episode: "The Overload" |
1985 | Code Name: Foxfire | Maggie Bryan | Main cast |
1986 | Hunter | Josie Clifford | Episode: "The Return of Typhoon Thompson" |
Pros and Cons | Roberta | Television film | |
1986–89 | It's a Living | Ginger St. James | Main cast (season 4-6) |
1987 | Wordplay | Herself/Celebrity Panelist | Recurring guest |
L.A. Law | Renee Quintana | Episode: "Beef Jerky" | |
Amazing Stories | Show Singer | Episode: "Gershwin's Trunk" | |
Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies | Corelle | Television film | |
1988 | Family Feud | Herself/Celebrity Contestant | Episode: "All Star Special: Funny Women vs. Funny Men Game 1-3" |
1990 | Falcon Crest | Mooshy Tucker | Recurring cast (season 9) |
New Attitude | Vicki St. James | Main cast | |
1991 | The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw | Miss Rosalee | Television film |
1992 | An Evening at the Improv | Herself/Host | Episode: "Episode #9.6" |
1992–93 | Designing Women | Etienne Toussaint Bouvier | Recurring cast (season 7) |
1993 | No Child of Mine | Marjorie Duncan | Television film |
1993–94 | George | Maggie Foster | Main cast |
1994 | Witch Hunt | Hypolita Laveau Kropotkin | Television film |
1994–96 | Soul Train | Herself/Guest Host | 2 episodes |
1995 | Street Gear | Sarah Davis | Main cast |
1996–2001 | Moesha | Deidra "Dee" Mitchell (née Moss) | Main cast (season 1-5), recurring cast (season 6) |
1997 | Wild On! | Herself | Episode: "Wild on Jamaica" |
1997–2000 | Recess | Mrs. LaSalle (voice) | Guest cast (season 1 & 4) |
1998 | The Wild Thornberrys | Lioness #2 (voice) | Episode: "Flood Warning" |
1999 | The Directors | Herself | Episode: "The Films of Norman Jewison" |
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Zsa Zsa Goowhiggie | Episode: "What Price Harvey?" | |
The Parkers | Dee Mitchell | Episode: "Daddy's Girl" | |
1999–2001 | Hollywood Squares | Herself/Panelist | Recurring guest |
2000–01 | The District | Lt. Dee Banks | Recurring cast (season 1) |
2001 | The Test | Herself/Panelist | 1 episode |
The Jennie Project | Dr. Pamela Prentiss | Television film | |
2002 | Justice League | Cheetah/Barbara Ann Minerva (voice) | Episode: "Injustice for All" |
The Proud Family | Diana Parker (voice) | Guest cast (season 1-2) | |
2002–03 | Static Shock | Trina Jessup (voice) | Recurring cast (season 2) |
2003 | Whoopi | Florence | Episode: "She Ain't Heavy, She's My Partner" |
Las Vegas | Janet Ellis | Episode: "Luck Be a Lady" | |
2004 | Justice League Unlimited | Cheetah/Barbara Ann Minerva (voice) | Episode: "Kids' Stuff" |
2005 | Barbershop | Claire | Recurring cast |
2006 | Real Life Divas | Herself | Episode: "Sheryl Lee Ralph" |
7th Heaven | Nurse Yvonne Rockwell | Episode: "And Baby Makes Three" | |
ER | Gloria Gallant | Recurring cast (season 12) | |
2007 | Exes and Ohs | Reverend Ruby | Episode: "There Must Be Rules..." |
2008 | Baisden After Dark | Herself | Episode: "Has Black Comedy Become a Hot Ghetto Mess?" |
My Super Sweet 16 | Herself | Episode: "Etienne" | |
Hannah Montana | Clarice Johnson | Episode: "We're All on This Date Together" | |
2009 | Beverly Hills Groomer | Herself | Episode: "Grooming Up" |
2010 | E! True Hollywood Story | Herself | Episode: "Usher" |
Inside | Herself/Narrator | Episode: "Polygamy: Life in Bountiful" | |
Running Russell Simmons | Herself | Episode: "You Only Live Once" | |
Zevo-3 | Grams (voice) | Episode: "Control" | |
2011, 2019 | Young Justice | Amanda Waller (voice) | 2 episodes |
2011 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Felicia | Episode: "The Rich and Payneless" |
2013 | Life After | Herself | Episode: "Sheryl Lee Ralph: Life After Dreamgirls" |
Smash | Cynthia Moore | Episode: "The Song" | |
JD Lawrence's Community Service | Carolyn | Main cast | |
2013–15 | Instant Mom | Maggie Turner | Main cast |
2013–20 | Ray Donovan | Claudette Boone | Recurring cast (season 1-2 & 7) |
2014 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Shade: The Rusical" |
Oprah: Where Are They Now? | Herself | Episode: "Darva Conger, Brigitte Nielsen & Original Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph" | |
2 Broke Girls | Genét Bromberg | Episode: "And the Not Broke Parents" | |
One Love | Carolyn Winters | Main cast | |
See Dad Run | Vanessa Ralph | Guest cast (season 2-3) | |
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn | Ms. Edin Dumont | Episode: "The Sad Tail of Gary-Chip-Tiny-Elvis-Squishy-Paws" | |
2015 | Unsung | Herself | Episode: "Jennifer Holliday" |
2016 | Being | Herself | Episode: "Sheryl Lee Ralph" |
Unsung Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "Sheryl Lee Ralph" | |
Criminal Minds | Hayden Montgomery | Recurring cast (season 11) | |
2017 | Brunch with Tiffany | Herself | Episode: "Episode Two: Sheryl Lee Ralph" |
One Mississippi | Felicia Hollingsworth | Recurring cast (season 2) | |
Christmas at Holly Lodge | Nadine | Television film | |
2017–19 | MacGyver | Mama Emma Colton | Guest cast (season 1-3) |
2018 | We Are Washington | Herself | Episode: "The Wedding Experience & Groom and Grub" |
The Quad | Ula Pettiway | Recurring cast (season 2) | |
Claws | Matilde Ruval | Recurring cast (season 2) | |
No Sleep 'Til Christmas | Mrs. Wright | Television film | |
2019 | Diva Defined | Herself/Host | Main host |
Fam | Rose | Main cast | |
A Black Lady Sketch Show | Asia's Mother | Episode: "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade" | |
Christmas Hotel | Marnie | Television film | |
2020 | Fashionably Yours | Janet | Television film |
Christmas Comes Twice | Miss Nelson | Television film | |
2020–22 | Motherland: Fort Salem | President Kelly Wade | Recurring cast |
2021 | History of the Sitcom | Herself | Recurring guest |
Christmas in My Heart | Ruthie Sampson | Television film | |
2021–present | Abbott Elementary | Barbara Howard | Main cast |
2022 | Soul of a Nation | Herself | Episode: "X / o n e r a t e d – The Murder of Malcolm X and 55 Years to Justice" |
Celebrity Family Feud | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Abbott Elementary vs. Hacks and Kal Penn vs. Erika Christensen" | |
How We Roll | Loretta | Episode: "The Big Secret" | |
2023 | Celebrity Wheel of Fortune | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Chris Perfetti" |
Praise Petey | Boss (voice) | Episode: "Taxi to the South!" | |
Young Love | Additional voices | 2 episodes | |
Bob's Burgers | Esmeralda (voice) | Episode: "The Amazing Rudy" | |
2025 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Barbara Howard | Episode: "TBA" |
Documentary
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie | Narrator | |
2016 | Struggle and Triumph: The Legacy of George Washington Carver | Narrator | Short |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | BioShock 2 | Grace Holloway | Voice role |
Stage Work
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | Swing | Helen | |
Reggae | Faith | Original Broadway production | |
1981 | Dreamgirls | Deena Jones | Original Broadway production |
2002 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Muzzy Van Hossmere | Original Broadway production |
2016–17 | Wicked | Madame Morrible | Replacement |
2021 | Goosebumps The Musical | Miss Walker | Original studio cast recording |
Thoughts of a Colored Man | Producer; Original Broadway production | ||
2022 | Ohio State Murders | Producer; Original Broadway production |
Music Albums and Singles
Albums
- In the Evening (1984, The New York Music Company)
- Sleigh. (2022)
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Dance |
US R&B |
AUS |
BEL (FL) |
NLD |
UK |
|||
"When I First Saw You" | 1983 | — | 50 | — | — | — | — | non-album single |
"In the Evening" | 1984 | 6 | — | — | 16 | 18 | 64 | In the Evening |
"You're So Romantic" | 1985 | 37 | 84 | — | — | — | — | |
"In the Evening (Remix)" | 1997 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | non-album single |
"Evolution (Remix)" | 1998 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Here Comes the Rain Again" | 1999 | 37 | 44 | — | — | — | — | |
"Blood Sweat & Tears (from the series Arcane League of Legends)" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Awards and Nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | Tony Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical | Dreamgirls | Nominated | |
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | |||
1989 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | The Mighty Quinn | Nominated | |
1990 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | To Sleep with Anger | Won | |
1998 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Moesha | Nominated | |
1999 | Nominated | ||||
2000 | Nominated | ||||
2001 | Nominated | ||||
Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress | Deterrence | Nominated | ||
2002 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Moesha | Nominated | |
2022 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | Nominated | |
Peabody Award | Entertainment | Won | |||
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Nominated | |||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | |||
Creative Coalition | TV Humanitarian Award | Herself | Won | ||
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation | Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award | Won | |||
2023 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Television Series | Abbott Elementary | Nominated | |
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | Nominated | |||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |||
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Won | |||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Won | |||
Dorian Awards | Best Supporting TV Performance - Comedy | Nominated | |||
Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Supporting Performance, Comedy Series | Won | |||
2024 | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Nominated | ||
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |||
Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Daytime Special | Unexpected (as executive producer) | Nominated | ||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Sheryl Lee Ralph para niños