Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30, 1956, in
Waterbury, ConnecticutWaterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford...
) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer.
Raised between
Mandeville, JamaicaMandeville is the capital and largest town in the parish of Manchester in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica. In 2005, the town had an estimated population of 50,000, and including the immediate suburbs within a radius of 16 km the total population is about 72,000...
, and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born on December 30, 1956 to an
African AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry...
father and a Jamaican mother. In 1973, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York. At 19, Ralph was the youngest female to ever graduate from Rutgers University. Also that year she was named as one of the top 10 college women in America by
Glamour magazine.
Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30, 1956, in
Waterbury, ConnecticutWaterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford...
) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer.
Personal life
Raised between
Mandeville, JamaicaMandeville is the capital and largest town in the parish of Manchester in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica. In 2005, the town had an estimated population of 50,000, and including the immediate suburbs within a radius of 16 km the total population is about 72,000...
, and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born on December 30, 1956 to an
African AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry...
father and a Jamaican mother. In 1973, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York. At 19, Ralph was the youngest female to ever graduate from Rutgers University. Also that year she was named as one of the top 10 college women in America by
Glamour magazine. Initially she hoped to study medicine, but after dealing with cadavers in a premed class, she quit medicine for the performing arts. Many years later, she served as the commencement speaker at Rutgers for the Class of 2003. Ralph is married to
PennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
State Senator
Vincent HughesVincent J. Hughes is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 7th District since 1994. He was previously a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1987 through 1994.-External links:...
.
Career
Ralph began her career on the stage and was nominated in 1982 for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Deena Jones in
DreamgirlsDreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio...
. In 1984, Ralph released her only album
In the Evening, in which the title track hit peaked at No. 6 on the
Billboard ChartsThe Billboard charts are music sales, airplay and digital ranking reports distributed to the general public by Billboard magazine. Billboard is considered the foremost authority worldwide in these song sales, airplay, digital reports, or music charts.On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published...
that same year. In 1988, she starred in the Disney movie
Oliver & CompanyOliver & Company is a 1988 animated feature film in which a homeless kitten named Oliver joins a gang of dogs to survive on the 1980s New York City streets. The film was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and became the twenty-seventh animated feature released in the Walt Disney Animated...
providing the speaking voice of Rita. Her first film leading role came as Denzel Washington's wife in
The Mighty Quinn. In 1992, she starred as Robert De Niro's mistress in
MistressMistress is a 1992 comedy directed by Barry Primus starring Robert de Niro, Danny Aiello, Christopher Walken and Martin Landau.- Plot :...
. During the '90s she also had roles in
The FlintstonesThe Flintstones is an animated American television sitcom that ran from 1960 to 1966 on ABC. The series was the first prime-time animated series aimed at adults. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions , The Flintstones is about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next door...
,
DeterrenceDeterrence can refer to:* Deterrence theory, a theory of war, especially regarding nuclear weapons* Deterrence , a theory of justice* Deterrence , a psychological theory* Deterrence...
and
Unconditional LoveUnconditional Love is the title of a sleeper comedic film released in 2002. The film follows Grace Beasley who in the face of her failing marriage, and the death of her favorite pop star, learns the value and limitations of unconditional love, and the evils of sexism and homophobia. The film was...
.
On television, she is known for playing Etienne Toussaint-Bouvier on
Designing WomenDesigning Women is an American television sitcom that centered around the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS Television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993...
and later Dee Mitchell on
MoeshaMoesha is an American situation comedy/drama series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in Los Angeles.-Overview:...
and the supervillainous
CheetahThe Cheetah is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess in DC Comics publications and related media. Commonly regarded as the archenemy of Wonder Woman, the Cheetah first appeared in 1943 in Wonder Woman #6 , written by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston...
in
Justice LeagueThe Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
and
Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
. Ralph produced
Divas Simply Singing, which has become an important
AIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus ....
fundraiser. In June 2000, Ralph sued the National Enquirer for one million dollars over a piece they had written about her and her husband. She was also voted one of TV's Favorite Moms for her portrayal of step mom Dee on the number-one rated television series
MoeshaMoesha is an American situation comedy/drama series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in Los Angeles.-Overview:...
. She also appeared on the
ShowtimeShowtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States...
series,
BarbershopBarbershop: The Series is an American sitcom which made its debut on the Showtime cable network in August 2005. It is based upon the Mark Brown-created characters from the popular films Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business , and was developed for television by screenwriter John Ridley...
, as the popular, post-operative transsexual, Claire. Recently, Sheryl brought a new face to the sufferings of war in the NBC hit series
ERER is an American medical drama series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 1994 to April 2009. It is set primarily in the emergency room of fictional County General Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment in...
.
Ralph's 2002 project,
Baby of the Family, concerns a young
childA child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
who is born with a
caulA caul is a thin, filmy membrane, the amnion, that covers or partly covers the newborn mammal immediately after birth.-Obstetrics:...
over her head; enabling her to see ghosts and the future. Ralph was also recently featured with son Etienne on MTV's
My Super Sweet 16My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera , the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 and My...
and BET's
Baldwin Hills (TV series)Baldwin Hills was a reality television series featuring African-American teenagers from the Baldwin Hills district in Los Angeles, California. The series aired on BET, Tuesdays at 10 p.m.- Overview :...
, as well as an episode of
Clean House Clean House is a home makeover and interior design television show, in its 7th season, that airs on the Style Network. Hosted by comedic actress Niecy Nash and celebrity home designer Mark Brunetz, the show brings a four-person cleanup-and-renovation crew to the homes of families unable to...
that also featured her two children, Etienne and Ivy-Victoria aka "Coco" (named after Ralph's mother).
In July 2004, Ralph was inducted as an honorary member of
Delta Sigma ThetaDelta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913, at Howard University by twenty-two young women. Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority...
Sorority, Inc. at the 47th National Convention in
Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of...
. In May 2008, Ralph was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from
Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts institution of higher education founded in 1869, in Madison County, on the northern edge of Jackson, Mississippi, USA....
after giving the
commencement addressA commencement speech or commencement address is a speech given to graduating students, generally at a university, although the term is also used for secondary education institutions. The "commencement" is a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred upon graduating students...
.
On June 16, 2009 it was announced that Ralph would join the cast of the Broadway-bound musical
The First Wives ClubThe First Wives Club is a comedy film, based on the same-titled 1992 best-selling novel by Olivia Goldsmith. Narrated by Diane Keaton, it stars Goldie Hawn, Keaton and Bette Midler as three divorced women who seek revenge on their husbands who left them for younger women...
as Elyse. She replaced
Adriane LenoxAdriane Lenox is an American stage and film actress whose performance in the play Doubt: A Parable garnered her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2005. She also appeared as Hattie in the Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate....
, who withdrew from the show due to health concerns.
Filmography
- A Piece of the Action
A Piece of the Action is a 1977 film starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. Poitier also directed the film. This was the third film pairing of Poitier and Cosby following Uptown Saturday Night and Let's Do It Again...
(1977)
- Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company is a 1988 animated feature film in which a homeless kitten named Oliver joins a gang of dogs to survive on the 1980s New York City streets. The film was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and became the twenty-seventh animated feature released in the Walt Disney Animated...
(1988) (voice)
- The Mighty Quinn (1989)
- The Distinguished Gentleman
The Distinguished Gentleman is a comedy starring Eddie Murphy. The film was directed by Jonathan Lynn. In addition to Murphy, the film stars Lane Smith, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Joe Don Baker, Victoria Rowell, Grant Shaud, Kevin McCarthy, Charles S...
(1992)
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is the 1993 comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, directed by Bill Duke, and released by Touchstone Pictures. It's the sequel to the successful 1992 film Sister Act....
(1993)
- White Man's Burden
White Man's Burden is a 1995 dramatic film about racism in an alternate America where Black and White Americans have reversed cultural roles....
(1995)
- Lover's Knot (1996)
- Bogus
Bogus can mean:*Not genuine; spurious*Of computer programs, "not working"*Bogus , a 1996 film starring Whoopi Goldberg*Bogus Basin mountain resort in Idaho*Mr. Bogus, a 1992 animation...
(1996)
- Jamaica Beat (1997)
- Secrets (1998) (short subject) (also director and producer)
- Unconditional Love (1999)
- Personals (1999)
- Deterrence
Deterrence is a 1999 film written and directed by Rod Lurie depicting fictional events about nuclear brinksmanship. It marks the feature directorial debut of Lurie, who was previously a film critic for the New York Daily News, Premiere Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and Movieline, among others....
(1999)
- Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel (2000)
- Baby of the Family (2002)
- Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (2007) (documentary)
Television Work
- Good Times (1978) - J.J and the Plumber's Helper.
- Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is an American television series based on the DC Comics comic book character Wonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston...
(1979)
- The Neighborhood (1982)
- Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is a TV soap opera which started airing on Monday, September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS, its original broadcaster, on Friday, March 26, 1982, with NBC picking it up on the following Monday, March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode was aired on...
(cast member from 1983-1984)
- V: The Series (1984)
- Code Name: Foxfire (1985) (canceled after a few episodes)
- Pros & Cons (1986)
- It's a Living
It's a Living is an American sitcom set in a restaurant at the top of the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. The show aired on ABC from 1980 to 1982. After the series was canceled, new episodes aired in syndication from 1985 to 1989.-Synopsis:...
(cast member from 1986-1989)
- Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies (1987)
- New Attitude (1990) (canceled after a few episodes)
- The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991)
- Designing Women
Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered around the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS Television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993...
(cast member from 1992-1993)
- George (1993) (canceled after a few episodes)
- Witch Hunt (1994)
- Moesha
Moesha is an American situation comedy/drama series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in Los Angeles.-Overview:...
(cast member from 1996-2001)
- The Jennie Project
The Jennie Project is a Disney Channel Original Movie that was released in the summer of 2001. The film was based on the book Jennie by Douglas Preston. The movie is about a chimpanzee who knows and uses American Sign Language to communicate.-Plot:...
(2001)
- Justice League
Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
(2001) - CheetahThe Cheetah is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess in DC Comics publications and related media. Commonly regarded as the archenemy of Wonder Woman, the Cheetah first appeared in 1943 in Wonder Woman #6 , written by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston...
- Da Kink in My Hair
Da Kink in My Hair is a play by Trey Anthony, which debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2001.The play's central character is Novelette, the Caribbean Canadian owner of Letty's, a Toronto hair salon...
(2004)
- BarberShop: The Series
Barbershop: The Series is an American sitcom which made its debut on the Showtime cable network in August 2005. It is based upon the Mark Brown-created characters from the popular films Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business , and was developed for television by screenwriter John Ridley...
(2005)
- Flavor of Love 3 (2008) - Guest Star
- My Super Sweet 16
My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera , the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 and My...
(2008)
- Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an Emmy Award-nominated American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night,...
(2008)
Stage Work
- Reggae (1980)
- Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio...
(1981)
- Thoroughly Modern Millie
Thoroughly Modern Millie is a Tony Award-winning musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan...
(2002)
Album
In the Evening (1984, The New York Music Company)
- "You're So Romantic" (4:38)
- "In the Evening" (3:50)
- "Give Me Love" (3:34)
- "Evolution" (4:02)
- "Back to Being in Love" (3:01)
- "Be Somebody" (3:35)
- "I'm Your Kind of Girl" (3:55)
- "B.A.B.Y." (3:15)
- "Ready or Not" (3:46)
- "I'm So Glad That We Met" (3:56)
Produced and arranged by Trevor Lawrence
Singles
- In The Evening (1984)
- You're So Romantic (1985)
- In the Evening (Remix) (1996)
- Evolution (Remix) (1998)
- Here Comes the Rain Again
"Here Comes the Rain Again" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. The song was released as the third single in the UK from the album Touch and in the United States as the first single. It became...
(1999) (EurythmicsEurythmics are a British musical duo, formed in 1980 by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.The pair have achieved significant global, commercial and critical success, selling 75 million records worldwide, winning numerous awards, and have undertaken several successful world tours...
cover)