01of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Early LifeCBS/GettySheryl Lee Ralphwas born on Dec. 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut. She was raised between Jamaica and New York.After completing her secondary education at Uniondale High School, Ralph attended New Jersey’s Rutgers University, where she received her BFA.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Early Life
CBS/Getty
Sheryl Lee Ralphwas born on Dec. 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut. She was raised between Jamaica and New York.
After completing her secondary education at Uniondale High School, Ralph attended New Jersey’s Rutgers University, where she received her BFA.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Career Strides
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Though most people know her as Dee fromMoesha, Ralph had some solid work under her belt before she scored the role.
03of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph: Performer ExtraordinaireJ. P. Aussenard/WireImageRalph also became a force to be reckoned with on Broadway. In 1981, she played Deena in the original Broadway production ofDreamgirls,a role that decades later,Beyoncéwould portray on screen.Ralph took home the Tony Award for best actress in a musical for her portrayal of the embattled singer.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph: Performer Extraordinaire
J. P. Aussenard/WireImage
Ralph also became a force to be reckoned with on Broadway. In 1981, she played Deena in the original Broadway production ofDreamgirls,a role that decades later,Beyoncéwould portray on screen.
Ralph took home the Tony Award for best actress in a musical for her portrayal of the embattled singer.
04of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Dreamy ThrowbackRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettySylvester Stallonevisited Ralph and fellowDreamgirlsstarLoretta Devineafter a performance of the hit show on Broadway in 1982.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Dreamy Throwback
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Sylvester Stallonevisited Ralph and fellowDreamgirlsstarLoretta Devineafter a performance of the hit show on Broadway in 1982.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph: ’90s Sitcom Queen
Ralph (left) with Brandy and their co-star William Allen Young in the 1990s sitcom Moesha.Everett
In 1996, Ralph became a series regular on the teen sitcomMoesha, playing Dee Mitchell,Brandy’sstepmom.
“That was another incredible working environment until it wasn’t any longer,” Ralph told theAV Clubin 2022. “I was free to be an artist. It was a great learning experience for me, and an incredibly human one, as well”
She alluded that there were some people in the background pushing for a scandalous storyline. “There were people within the group that said, ‘Oh no, we’ve got to destroy it because these people are just too goody-goody. We don’t have Black people like that.’ They had drank the Kool-Aid. But oh my, when it was good, it wasgreat.”
06of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph at the Tony AwardsJim Spellman/WireImageRalph struck a pose and showed off her gorgeous smile while at the 56th Tony Awards in 2002.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph at the Tony Awards
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Ralph struck a pose and showed off her gorgeous smile while at the 56th Tony Awards in 2002.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Curtain Call
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Ralph supported formerThe Viewco-hostMeredith Vieiraas she made her Broadway debut playing Daphne, the dish washer, inThoroughly Modern Millie.
08of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Family LifeAllen Berezovsky/WireImageIn 1990, Ralph married French entrepreneur and businessman Eric Maurice. The two welcomed two children,Etienne, now 31, andIvy-Victoria, now 28.Ralph and Maurice divorced in 2001.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Family Life
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In 1990, Ralph married French entrepreneur and businessman Eric Maurice. The two welcomed two children,Etienne, now 31, andIvy-Victoria, now 28.
Ralph and Maurice divorced in 2001.
09of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph Finds Love AgainMICHAEL TRAN/AFP/GettyAfter her divorce, a friend introduced theactress to Pennsylvania state senatorVincent Hughes. The two began dating and were married in 2005.“We believe in each other’s mission and each other’s work, and we’re both very focused on our children and our family,” HughestoldEssenceof his relationship with the legendary actress. “I think that really is the foundation. I like what Sheryl’s about.”
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Sheryl Lee Ralph Finds Love Again
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After her divorce, a friend introduced theactress to Pennsylvania state senatorVincent Hughes. The two began dating and were married in 2005.
“We believe in each other’s mission and each other’s work, and we’re both very focused on our children and our family,” HughestoldEssenceof his relationship with the legendary actress. “I think that really is the foundation. I like what Sheryl’s about.”
10of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph: Charitable DivaRobin L Marshall/GettyRalph took her whole family to her annual DIVAS Simply Singing event in 2017.She founded theDIVA (Divinely Inspired, Victoriously Aware) Foundationin 1990 in an effort to raise awareness and remove the stigma connected to the AIDS virus.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph: Charitable Diva
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Ralph took her whole family to her annual DIVAS Simply Singing event in 2017.
She founded theDIVA (Divinely Inspired, Victoriously Aware) Foundationin 1990 in an effort to raise awareness and remove the stigma connected to the AIDS virus.
11of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph: Emmy Award WinnerChris Haston/NBC via GettyIn 2022, Ralph addedEmmy Award-winning actressto her long list of accolades.The then-65-year-old won outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Barbara Howard inAbbott Elementary.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph: Emmy Award Winner
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In 2022, Ralph addedEmmy Award-winning actressto her long list of accolades.
The then-65-year-old won outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as Barbara Howard inAbbott Elementary.
12of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph: Fashion QueenJ. Vespa/WireImageWhile she’s been wowing us on the red carpet sinceAbbott Elementarybecame a hit in 2021, the veteran actress has long been a fashionista, like when she stunned in a blue number at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival in 2000.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph: Fashion Queen
J. Vespa/WireImage
While she’s been wowing us on the red carpet sinceAbbott Elementarybecame a hit in 2021, the veteran actress has long been a fashionista, like when she stunned in a blue number at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival in 2000.
13of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph NowEmma McIntyre/GettyAnd she’s still going stylishly strong — with the help of her daughter.During the2023 SAG Awards, the 66-year-old actress revealed her daughter Ivy-Victoria is the mastermind behind her beautiful red carpet looks.“My daughter, Ivy Coco, is my stylist, and has been my stylist since the beginning of the awards season. And I said to her, ‘Coco, I need you to tell me what do I need?’ And she said, ‘Mommy, you’ve got to rise like a phoenix, but younger,’ " the Golden Globe winnertold PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly.She added: “She has been very intentional about making sure it is fresh, that it is relatable and it is about the now.”
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Sheryl Lee Ralph Now
Emma McIntyre/Getty
And she’s still going stylishly strong — with the help of her daughter.
During the2023 SAG Awards, the 66-year-old actress revealed her daughter Ivy-Victoria is the mastermind behind her beautiful red carpet looks.
“My daughter, Ivy Coco, is my stylist, and has been my stylist since the beginning of the awards season. And I said to her, ‘Coco, I need you to tell me what do I need?’ And she said, ‘Mommy, you’ve got to rise like a phoenix, but younger,’ " the Golden Globe winnertold PEOPLE & Entertainment Weekly.
She added: “She has been very intentional about making sure it is fresh, that it is relatable and it is about the now.”
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Sheryl Lee Ralph at the Super Bowl
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Rihanna’s big comeback wasn’t the only thing people were raving about atSuper Bowl LVII.
Prior to the big game, Ralph wowed the crowd with a soulful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
15of 15Sheryl Lee Ralph and the ‘Abbott Elementary’ CastGilbert Flores/Variety/GettyThe actress posed with herAbbott Elementarycast members after the gang won best ensemble in a comedy series at the 2023SAG Awards,continuing their awards season hot streak.
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Sheryl Lee Ralph and the ‘Abbott Elementary’ Cast
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty
The actress posed with herAbbott Elementarycast members after the gang won best ensemble in a comedy series at the 2023SAG Awards,continuing their awards season hot streak.
source: people.com
