Sheryl Lee Ralph

Sheryl Lee Ralph (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress, singer, author, and activist. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing her breakthrough role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

Sheryl Lee Ralph
Ralph attending the Black Enterprise Pre-Oscar Party in 2008.
Born (1956-12-30) December 30, 1956
Other namesSheryl L. Ralph
EducationRutgers University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • activist
Years active1977–present
Known forDeena Jones – Dreamgirls (Broadway; 1981)
Dee Mitchell – Moesha
Spouse(s)
Eric Maurice
(m. 1990; div. 2001)

(m. 2005)
Children2
Websitesherylleeralph.com

Ralph has appeared in a number of movies during her career. In 1991, she received Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her role in the drama film To Sleep with Anger. Her other film credits include The Mighty Quinn (1989), The Distinguished Gentleman (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), and Deterrence (1999). On television, Ralph starred from 1986 to 1989 in the syndicated sitcom It's a Living, and later had the leading roles in the short-lived ABC sitcom New Attitude (1990), and CBS medical drama Street Gear (1995). From 1996 to 2001, she starred as Dee Mitchell in the UPN sitcom Moesha, and from 2013 to 2015 as Maggie Turner in the Nick at Nite sitcom Instant Mom.

Sheryl Lee Ralph released her first book Redefining Diva: Life Lessons from the Original Dreamgirl (2012) by Simon & Schuster. In 2016 she played Madame Morrible in Wicked on Broadway.

Early life

Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Ivy, a fashion designer, and Stanley Ralph, a college professor.[1] Her father, Stanley Ralph, a college professor and her mother Ivy Ralph O.D. , was a Jamaican fashion designer and creator of kariba suit.[2][3] She has a younger brother, actor and comedian Michael Ralph. According to a DNA analysis, she descends partly from the Tikar people of Cameroon.[4] She was raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island.[5][6] 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.[7] Also 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.[8] Many years later, she served as the commencement speaker at Rutgers for the Class of 2003.

Career

Ralph in 1997

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 Dreamgirls.[9] In 1984, Ralph released her only album In the Evening, in which the title track peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart that same year. In 1988 she starred in the Disney movie Oliver & Company, providing the voice of Rita. Her first leading role in a film came as Denzel Washington's wife in The Mighty Quinn, released in 1989. In 1992 she starred with Robert De Niro in the title role in Mistress. That same year, she co-starred with Eddie Murphy in The Distinguished Gentleman. During the 1990s she also had roles in The Flintstones, Deterrence, and Unconditional Love.

On television, she was in the cast of the CBS daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow while starring on Broadway in Dreamgirls. She is known for playing Ginger St. James on It's a Living,[10] Etienne Toussaint-Bouvier on Designing Women, and Dee Mitchell on Moesha. She provided the voice of Cheetah in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. She also played Florence Watson, the mother of Rita Louise Watson (Lauryn Hill) in the 1993 film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Ralph produced Divas Simply Singing, which has become an important AIDS fundraiser. She also appeared on the Showtime series Barbershop as Claire. Sheryl brought a new face to the sufferings of war in the NBC hit series ER. Ralph's 2002 project Baby of the Family concerns a young child who is born with a caul over her head, which enables her to see ghosts and the future. Ralph was also featured with son Etienne on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 and BET's Baldwin Hills, as well as an episode of Clean House that also featured her two children, Etienne and Ivy-Victoria (aka Coco), named after Ralph's mother.

On June 16, 2009, it was announced that Ralph would join the cast of the Broadway-bound musical The First Wives Club as Elyse. She replaced Adriane Lenox, who withdrew from the show due to health concerns.[11] In 2011, Ralph guest-starred in the Young Justice episode "Terrors" as Amanda Waller. In 2013, Ralph appeared in the NBC television show Smash as Cynthia, the mother of Jennifer Hudson's character.[12] On February 9, 2013, Ralph appeared at the 2013 Columbus Middle School youth rally in Columbus, Mississippi. In August 2014, she appeared on KTLA Los Angeles Morning News as a fill-in Entertainment Reporter. In November 2014, Ralph appeared on Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn as the rich lady who claims her dog from Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, and Dawn.

Some of her recent TV appearances include the TNT dramedy Claws, and on the Nickelodeon sitcom Instant Mom as Stephanie's (Tia Mowry-Hardrict's) mother.

From January 10 to April 11, 2019 Ralph appeared as one of the main characters, "Rose" in the television series "Fam" which ran for one season and was canceled in May 2019.

Personal life

Ralph has been married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005.[13] In July 2004, Ralph was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority at the 47th National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.[14]In May 2008, Ralph was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Tougaloo College after giving the commencement address.

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
1989 Skin Deep Rose the Receptionist
1990 To Sleep with Anger Linda Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
1992 Mistress Beverly
1992 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
1995 Lover's Knot Charlotte Lee
1996 Bogus Ruth Clark
1997 Jamaica Beat Sylvia Jones
1998 The Easter Story Keepers Risa Clarkson
1999 Personals Chantal Jones
1999 Unconditional Love Linda Cray
1999 Deterrence Gayle Redford Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress
2000 Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel Nurse Betty Redford
2002 Baby of the Family Mamie
2007 Frankie D Mama D
2010 The Cost of Heaven Paulette Randolph
2010 Blessed and Cursed Lady Elise Wright
2012 Christmas in Compton Abuta
2012 He Knows My Heart First Lady Jameson Short film
2017 Christmas at Holly Lodge Nadine
2017 Revival!
2017 Just Getting Started Roberta
2018 Step Sisters Yvonne Bishop
2020 The Comeback Trail Bess Jones

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Good Times Vanessa Blake Episode: "J.J and the Plumber's Helper"
1979 Wonder Woman Bobbie Episode: "The Starships Are Coming"
1982 The Neighborhood Doris Campbell TV movie
1983–84 Search for Tomorrow Laura McCarthy Main role
1984 V: The Series Glenna Episode: "The Overload"
1985 Code Name: Foxfire Maggie Bryan 3 episodes
Canceled after a few episodes)
1985–86 Hunter Josie Clifford Episode: "The Return of Typhoon Thompson"
1986 Pros and Cons Roberta TV movie
1986–89 It's a Living Ginger St. James Main role
1987 Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies Corelle TV movie
1987 L.A. Law Renee Quintana Episode: "Beef Jerky"
1990 Falcon Crest Mooshy Tucker Two episodes
1990 New Attitude Vicki St. James 8 episodes
1991 The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw Miss Rosalee TV movie
1992–93 Designing Women Etienne Toussaint Bouvier 6 episodes
1993 George Maggie Foster 9 episodes
1994 Witch Hunt Hypolyta Kropotkin TV movies
1994 Soul Train Guest Host
1995 Street Gear Sarah Davis 13 episodes
1996–2001 Moesha Dee Mitchell Main role
1998 The Wild Thornberrys Lioness No. 2 Voice
Episode: "Flood Warning"
1998 The Easter Story Keepers Risa Voice
1999 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Zsa Zsa Goowhiggie Episode: "What Price Harvey?"
1999 The Parkers Dee Mitchell Episode: "Daddy's Girl"
2000 Recess Mrs. Lasalle Voice
Episode: "Me Know No"
2000–01 The District Lt. Dee Banks 4 episodes
2001 The Jennie Project Dr. Pamela Prentiss TV movie
2001 Justice League Cheetah/Barbara Ann Minerva Voice
Episode: "Justice for All"
2002 The Proud Family Aunt Dee/Diana Two episodes
2002–03 Static Shock Trina Jessup Two episodes
2003 Whoopi Florence Episode: "She Ain't Heavy, She's My Partner"
2003 Las Vegas Janet Ellis Episode: "Luck Be a Lady"
2004 Justice League Unlimited Cheetah/Barbara Ann Minerva/Teacher Episode: "Kids' Stuff"
2004 Da Kink in My Hair Novelette TV movie
2005 BarberShop: The Series Claire 4 episodes
2006 7th Heaven Nurse Yvonne Rockwell Episode: "And Baby Makes Three"
2006 ER Gloria Gallant 2 episodes
2007 Exes and Ohs Reverand Ruby Episode: "There Must Be Rules..."
2008 Flavor of Love 3 Herself Three episodes
2008 My Super Sweet 16 Herself Episode: "Etienne"
2008 Hannah Montana Clarice Johnson Episode: "We're All on This Date Together"
2009 Baldwin Hills Sheryl Maurice Season 3
2010 Zevo-3 Grams Episode: "Control"
2011 Young Justice Amanda Waller Voice
Episode: "Terrors"
2011 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Felicia Starr Recurring role
2013 Smash Cynthia Moore Episode: "The Song"
2013–14 Ray Donovan Claudette Boone 6 episodes
2014 2 Broke Girls Genét Bromberg Episode: "And the Not Broke Parents"
2014 One Love Carolyn Winters 8 episodes
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Shade the Rusical Episode 4
2014 See Dad Run Vanessa Ralph 2 episodes
2014 Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn Ms. Edin Dumont Episode: "The Sad Tail of Gary-Chip-Tiny-Elvis-Squishy-Paws"
2013–15 Instant Mom Maggie Turner Main role
2016 Criminal Minds Hayden Montgomery Episodes: "Inner Beauty" and "The Storm"
2017–19 MacGyver Mama Emma Colton 3 episodes
2017 One Mississippi Felicia Hollingsworth 5 episodes
2018 Claws Matilde Ruval Recurring role
2019 Fam Rose Main role
2019 A Black Lady Sketch Show MaryAnne Episode: "3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade"
2020 Motherland: Fort Salem President Kelly Wade Recurring Role

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2010 BioShock 2 Grace Holloway Voice Role

Stage work

Broadway

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
2016-2017 Wicked Madame Morrible Replacement

Discography

Album

In the Evening (1984, The New York Music Company)

  1. "You're So Romantic" (4:38)
  2. "In the Evening" (3:50)
  3. "Give Me Love" (3:34)
  4. "Evolution" (4:02)
  5. "Back to Being in Love" (3:01)
  6. "Be Somebody" (3:35)
  7. "I'm Your Kind of Girl" (3:55)
  8. "B.A.B.Y." (3:15)
  9. "Ready or Not" (3:46)
  10. "I'm So Glad That We Met" (3:56)

Produced and arranged by Trevor Lawrence

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[17]
BEL
(FL)
[18]
NLD
[19]
UK[20]
"When I First Saw You"[21] 1983 non-album single
"In the Evening"[22] 1984 16 18 64 In the Evening
"You're So Romantic"[23] 1985
"In the Evening (Remix)"[24] 1997 17 non-album single
"Evolution (Remix)"[24] 1998 non-album single
"Here Comes the Rain Again"[24] 1999 non-album single

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1982 Tony Award Best Performance by a 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

References

  1. "Sheryl Lee Ralph Biography (1956–)". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  2. Henry, Balford (October 9, 2018). "Fashion designer Ivy Ralph dies at 90". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  3. Blumenthal, Ralph (March 24, 1976). "Kareeba: Jamaica's 'Uniform". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  4. Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph Proud of Her Cameroon Ancestry, retrieved January 29, 2020
  5. "Sheryl Lee Ralph a Passionate AIDS Activist", The Caribbean Current
  6. Sheryl Lee Ralph on TCM.com
  7. "Previous Winners of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship". KennedyCenter.org. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  8. Collier, Aldore, "Sheryl Lee Ralph Talks About Her New TV Series And How She Kept A String On Her Finger Until She Found The Right Man", pp 56–58, August 27, 1990, Jet magazine, retrieved via Google Books on February 10, 2010
  9. League, The Broadway. "Sheryl Lee Ralph – Broadway Cast & Staff – IBDB". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  10. It's a Living, retrieved January 29, 2020
  11. "Tell Us, Miss Jones: Sheryl Lee Ralph Will Be Part of First Wives Club" Archived June 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, June 16, 2009
  12. "Dreamgirls Sheryl Lee Ralph to Guest Star as Jennifer Hudson's Mother in NBC's Smash Season 2!". BroadwayWorld.com. August 14, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  13. "Sheryl Lee Ralph". IMDb. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  14. "Sheryl Lee Ralph | Agency For Artists". Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  15. "Artist Search for 'sheryl lee ralph'". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  16. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 449. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  17. "Discography Sheryl Lee Ralph". Hung Medien. australian-charts.com. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  18. "Discografie Sheryl Lee Ralph". Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  19. "Discografie Sheryl Lee Ralph". Hung Medien (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  20. "Sheryl Lee Ralph". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  21. "iTunes Music – Brontosaurus – Single by Tkay Maidza". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  22. "iTunes Music – U-Huh – Single by Tkay Maidza". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  23. "Tkay Maidza drops new track 'Switch Lanes', national tour dates". Triple J (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC))accessdate=March 29, 2015.
  24. "iTunes Music – M.O.B. – Single by Tkay Maidza". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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