Sheryl Lee Ralph

She made her film debut in the 1977 comedy 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).

• Honorific Prefix — The Honourable • Name — Sheryl Lee Ralph • Honorific Suffix — OJ (Hon.) • Born — 30 December 1956 • Birthplace — Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. • Other Names — Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes • Education — Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA) • Occupation — * Actress • singer • Known for — Dreamgirls (Broadway; 1981) It's a Living Moesha Motherland: Fort Salem Abbott Elementary • Years Active — 1977–present • Children — 2 • Website — sherylleeralph.com

Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Dr. Stanley Ralph, an African-American college professor, and Ivy Ralph, a Jamaican fashion designer and the creator of the kariba suit. She has a younger brother, actor and comedian Michael Ralph. According to research conducted by Finding Your Roots, her maternal 3rd great grandfather was a white man named Hugh McClymont, a wealthy estate owner in Jamaica who bequeathed his entire property "Ginger Hall" to his free quadroon wife, Mary Robinson, and their children. She was raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island. During her time at Rutgers University, Ralph was one of the earliest winners of the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships awarded by the American College Theatre Festival. 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 Theatre Festival, she gave up medicine for the performing arts.

Ralph began her career in the 1970s, starring in the 1977 American crime comedy film A Piece of the Action directed by Sidney Poitier. She also made several appearances in television shows, such as Good Times, Wonder Woman, and The Jeffersons. Ralph then landed a role in the Broadway production Reggae (1980), before portraying Deena Jones in the original Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981). On television, she was in the cast of the CBS daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow while starring on Broadway in Dreamgirls. For her performance in Dreamgirls, Ralph was nominated in 1982 for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Afterwards, she signed with Sid Bernstein's music label, and released her only studio album In the Evening in 1984. The album's title track peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart and No. 64 on the UK Singles Chart that same year. Ralph landed the leading role of Ginger St. James on the television series It's a Living. In 1988, she starred in the Disney film Oliver & Company, providing the voice of Rita, a sassy Afghan Hound. Her first leading role in a film came as Denzel Washington's wife in The Mighty Quinn, released in 1989.

In 2021, Ralph joined the sitcom Abbott Elementary, portraying veteran elementary school teacher Barbara Howard. For her role, Ralph won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022, becoming the second Black actress to win in the category after Jackée Harry, who won in 1987 for 227, and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023. In October 2022, Ralph was presented with the Order of Jamaica by the governor-general for her contribution to the national film industry. In 2023, Ralph performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing", also known as the Black national anthem, at the Super Bowl LVII pre-show. Later in 2023, Ralph became the first celebrity and the first Black person to play Mrs. Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade’s history. In 2024, Ralph sang for President Joe Biden at a large fundraiser to raise money for his re-election. Earlier, she had joined Vice President Kamala Harris for an abortion-related campaign event in Pennsylvania. Ralph was celebrated at the 2024 Variety Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honors for her portrayal of Christian teacher Barbara Howard on “Abbott Elementary."

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. In July 2004, Ralph was inducted as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority at the 47th National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. In December 2024, Ralph was honored as the Person of the Year in the Jamaicans.com Best of Jamaica 2024 Awards. This prestigious recognition celebrated her contributions to representing Jamaican culture and excellence globally. In December 2024, Ralph was named the 2024 Advocate of the Year by The Advocate, recognizing her impactful work in advocacy and representation of marginalized communities. On April 16, 2025, Ralph was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

• 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 • Sleigh. (2022) • “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (2:11) • “Holiday Cheer (We Made It)” (4:03) • “Wreck The Halls” feat. B Slade (1:09) • “Silent Night” (2:52) • “Little Drummer Boy” (6:57) • “I Love The Holidays” feat. J Minor 7 (1:09) • “Commercial Break” (0:08) • “Sleigh. (Jingle Bells)” (3:43) • “The Real Meaning” feat. B Slade (5:26) • “The Gift” (1:04) • “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” (1:10) • “O Holy Night” (3:16) • “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” feat. Ann Nesby and B Slade (5:24) • “Muva Has Spoken” feat. Ivy Ralph O.D. (1:06) • “Silent Night Vibes” feat. Hubie Wang (2:05)

• Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • US Dance — US R&B — AUS — BEL (FL) — NLD — UK • "When I First Saw You" — 1983 — — — 50 — — — — — — — — — Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album • "In the Evening" — 1984 — 6 — — — — — 16 — 18 — 64 — In the Evening • "You're So Romantic" — 1985 — 37 — 84 — — — — — — — — • "In the Evening (Remix)" — 1997 — — — — — 17 — — — — — — — rowspan="3" • "Evolution (Remix)" — 1998 — — — — — — — — — — — — • "Here Comes the Rain Again" — 1999 — 37 — 44 — — — — — — — — • "Blood Sweat & Tears (from the series Arcane League of Legends)" — 2024 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —