For almost four decades, Sheryl Lee Ralph has been inspiring audiences with her talents. Her acting career began in the late ’70s with her screen debut in A Piece of the Action, but it was her part as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls that won her critical acclaim and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She’s since performed on TV and film, become an accomplished singer and songwriter, and opened up about being sexually assaulted at age 16 by William Prince, founder of The Black Rep theater company in San Francisco. Why We Love Sheryl Lee Ralph: An American Icon
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Sheryl Lee Ralph (born January 12, 1957) is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination.
She was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was an electrician. Why We Love Sheryl Lee Ralph: An American Icon
Bio
Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. After winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, she released her first album entitled You’re My Baby with Columbia Records. The album was shelved by Columbia Records after they learned that she signed to Motown.
Family
Sheryl was born in Queens, New York, and raised in the Westchester County suburb of Mount Vernon. Her mother was a seamstress, her father a truck driver. She has two sisters and one brother.
Ralph graduated from high school at age 15 with a 3.8 GPA and went to college on scholarship as an accounting major at Pace University in New York City; she later changed her major to theater arts.
Physical info
Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American icon. Born in Newark, New Jersey on January 14th, 1955 and raised in West Orange, New Jersey, she made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress nomination.
Career
Sheryl Lee Ralph has been a beloved icon in the industry for decades. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. She then went on to appear in films like Living Single and TV shows like NYPD Blue and ER.
Awards
Sheryl Lee Ralph is an award-winning actress and singer. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. Other notable roles include playing Gloria Warren on The Cosby Show, Diana Trout on ER and Madame Morrible in Wicked on Broadway.
Net worth
Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. As a singer, she performed on Broadway in Hair and off-Broadway in The Wiz with Stephanie Mills.
sweetest time
If you love to watch the television show Empire, you will most likely remember one of the main characters, Cookie Lyon. The character is played by actress and singer, Taraji P. Henson. But did you know that Taraji’s mother in real life is also an actress? Her name is Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Sheryl was born on December 4th, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York.
secrets of beauty
Ten things you may not know about Sheryl Lee Ralph.
1. When she was in the fifth grade, she won a scholarship to a school for the performing arts called The School of Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio.
first love
Sheryl Lee Ralph is a true icon in the world of entertainment. Her first love was acting and her performances have been on Broadway, television, and in film. She has won awards for her work and she has also been nominated for an Oscar. There is so much to say about this woman that I don’t know where to start- but how about with the fact that she was named as one of People magazine’s 25 Most Intriguing Women of 2005.
first success
addition to her theatrical work, Ralph has also had success on television.
dearest person
Sheryl Lee Ralph is my dearest person. She is a talented actress and singer who has always been on the forefront of many different forms of media. She speaks to people in a way that is refreshing and enlightening, making her an icon in my eyes. I hope to see her continue to grow and inspire those around her with her talent for years to come. Why We Love Sheryl Lee Ralph: An American Icon
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As the first African-American to play a female lead on Broadway in Dreamgirls, she played Deena Jones and received Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. She’s also an actress who has starred in films like The Muppets Take Manhattan, Cocoon, and A Piece of the Action. She is also a singer with two albums out including her debut album You’re All I Need and her second album Dear Mr. Fantasy.
Her Early Life and Career
Sheryl Lee Ralph has had an illustrious career in the arts that has spanned decades, as an actress and singer. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action, before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. In her early life, she studied at Juilliard, learned to dance with Alvin Ailey and was mentored by the legendary Katherine Dunham. Why We Love Sheryl Lee Ralph: An American Icon
Her Work on Broadway
In 1977, Sheryl made her screen debut in the comedy film A Piece of the Action. The following year, she landed a major role in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. She received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination for her portrayal of Deena Jones. In 1985, she starred as Franlou Harris in the television miniseries North and South, Book II.
Her Activism
For the last 40 years, actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph has been a fixture on Broadway, in film, and on television. In addition to her acclaimed work as an actress and singer, she’s also been a strong advocate for the rights of women and members of the LGBTQ community throughout her career.
Her Legacy
After her performance in Dreamgirls, she has continued to work in film, television and theater. Her notable films include Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986), The Women of Brewster Place (1989) and the 1991 remake of The Parent Trap. She also had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom Designing Women during its final season.
She currently stars in the OWN drama series If Loving You Is Wrong as well as co-hosts Lifetime’s reality show Drop Dead Diva with Josh Berman.
Q.&A.
Q. What is one of your favorite roles?
A. One of my favorite roles would have to be from the Broadway show Dreamgirls, in which I played Deena Jones. It was a dream come true for me because I had watched the original production on Broadway and longed for a chance to play this role ever since it opened. When I got the audition, I knew right away that this was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up!
Q. Who are some of your inspirations?
Is Sheryl Lee Ralph Jamaican?
Sheryl Lee Ralph is not Jamaican. Her mother is African-American and her father is Irish-American. Sheryl’s career began in the late 1970s, playing a lead role in the TV series, All That Glitters. After this, she went on to appear in a number of films including A Piece of the Action and The Wiz. In 1978, she was cast as Deena Jones in the Broadway production of Dreamgirls.
What did Sheryl Lee Ralph win an Emmy for?
Sheryl Lee Ralph, who is best known for her Tony Award-winning portrayal of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, has been nominated for and won several awards over the course of her illustrious career. In 1980, she won a Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Special as well as a Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983.
Where is Sheryl Lee Ralph from?
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sheryl was raised in a devout Baptist family and attended the same church as her mother. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts on a full scholarship.
Who was Sheryl Lee Ralph in Dreamgirls?
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in the city’s Germantown neighborhood, Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American icon. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film A Piece of the Action before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress nomination.