Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ[1] (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since 2021 she has starred as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming the first Black woman in 35 years to win the award.[2]
This article is about the American actress, Sheryl Lee Ralph. For the similarly named German-American actress, see Sheryl Lee.
Sheryl Lee Ralph
December 30, 1956
Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes
- Actress
- singer
1977–present
Dreamgirls (Broadway; 1981)
It's a Living
Moesha
Motherland: Fort Salem
Abbott Elementary
2
She made her film screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action. In 1991, she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her performance in the 1990 comedy-drama film To Sleep with Anger. Ralph's other notable roles include The Mighty Quinn (1989), Mistress (1992), The Distinguished Gentleman (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), and The Comeback Trail (2020).
After early guest roles on television shows such as Good Times, The Jeffersons and Wonder Woman she then starred in the ABC sitcoms It's a Living (1986–1989) and New Attitude (1990), as well as the Nick at Nite sitcom Instant Mom (2013–2015). Her role as Dee Mitchell, in the UPN sitcom Moesha (1996–2001) earned her five NAACP Image Award nominations.
Her other Broadway roles include Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) and Madame Morrible in Wicked (2016–2017). Additionally, she has produced the Broadway plays Thoughts of a Colored Man (2021) and Ohio State Murders (2022).
Early life[edit]
Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Stanley Ralph, a college professor, and Ivy Ralph O.D., a Jamaican fashion designer and the creator of the kariba suit.[3][4] She has a younger brother, actor and comedian Michael Ralph. According to a DNA analysis, she descends partly from the Tikar people of Cameroon.[5] She was raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island.[6][7] Ralph attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, New York.
She starred in a high-school production of the musical Oklahoma!, portraying Ado Annie. Sheryl graduated in 1972. Earlier that year, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York. At 19, Ralph was the youngest woman to ever graduate from Rutgers University. During her time at Rutgers, Ralph was one of the earliest winners of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships awarded by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.[8]
That year she was named one of the top ten college women in America by Glamour magazine. Initially she hoped to study medicine, but after dealing with cadavers in a pre-med class and winning a scholarship in a competition at the American College Theater Festival, she gave up medicine for the performing arts.[9] Many years later, she served as the commencement speaker at Rutgers for the Class of 2023.
Personal life[edit]
Ralph was married to French businessman Eric Maurice from 1990 to 2001, and they have two children, a son born in 1992 and a daughter in 1995. She has been married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005.[20]
In July 2004, Ralph was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority at the 47th National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.[21]
In May 2008, Ralph was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Tougaloo College after giving the commencement address.
In 2023, Ralph was named the commencement speaker for Rutgers University, her alma mater. It was also announced that she would receive an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree at the ceremony.[22]