Sheryl Lee Ralph has become a staple in the entertainment industry;
and for her acclaimed career spanning more than four decades, she
recently received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ralph can
currently be seen starring in the hit comedy series “Abbott
Elementary,” which will return for its fifth season in October. For
her portrayal of Barbara Howard, Abbott’s veteran teacher on the
series, she won the 2022 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Actress in a
Comey Series, as well as the Critics’ Choice Award for Best
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, Ralph
received her second, third and fourth Emmy nominations for this role.

At 20 years old, Ralph made her feature film debut opposite Academy
Award® winner Sidney Poitier in Warner Bros. “A Piece of the
Action,” which Poitier also directed. Following this breakout
performance, she went on to work with more of Hollywood’s other top
leading and award-winning men in films including “The Mighty
Quinn” opposite Denzel Washington; “Mistress” with Robert de
Niro; “To Sleep with Anger” with Danny Glover, for which she won
an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress; and “The
Distinguished Gentlemen” with Eddie Murphy. She also appeared
opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Lauryn Hill in “Sister Act 2: Back in
the Habit.” She recently starred in the independent feature
“Ricky” from filmmaker Rashad Frett, which premiered at the 2025
Sundance Film Festival.

Ralph first made a name for herself on television starring alongside
GRAMMY® Award winner Brandy in over 100 episodes of UPN’s
“Moesha.” She received five NAACP Image Award nominations for her
work on the series. Ralph also had a lead role opposite Tia Mowry in
three seasons of Nickelodeon’s hit series “Instant Mom.” Her
other television credits include recurring roles on Showtime’s
“Ray Donovan” opposite Jon Voight; Freeform’s “Motherland:
Fort Salem” as the president of the United States; “Claws”;
“Barbershop”; “One Mississippi,” created by Diablo Cody and
Tig Notaro; CBS’ Emmy-nominated “Designing Women”; “New
Attitude” and “It’s a Living.”

On stage, Ralph is well known for her award-winning work and creating
the role of Deena Jones in the legendary Broadway musical
“Dreamgirls,” which earned her Best Actress nods for Tony® and
Drama Desk Awards. In 2002, she originated the role of Muzzy Van
Hossmer in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” alongside Sutton Foster. The
show won six Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, including the
winning for Best Musical at both. Ralph most recently appeared as
Madame Morrible in “Wicked,” becoming the first African American
actress to take on the classic role.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
HOMETOWN: Waterbury, Connecticut
BIRTHDATE: December 30
