ACTOR
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Known for 2 Broke Girls · It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia · Young Justice
Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since 2021, she has starred as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for…
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Dec 30, 1956
- Birthplace
- Waterbury, Connecticut, USA
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ (born December 30, 1956) is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since 2021, she has starred as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming the first Black woman in 35 years to win the award.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Known For
TV
2 Broke GirlsGenét · 2011
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
TV
It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaBarbara Howard · 2005
★ 8.2
★ 8.2
TV
Young JusticeAmanda Waller (voice) · 2010
★ 8.4
★ 8.4
TV
Sabrina, the Teenage WitchZsa Zsa Goowhiggie · 1996
★ 7.8
★ 7.8
TV
MacGyverMama Colton · 2016
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
ERGloria Gallant · 1994
★ 7.8
★ 7.8
TV
Justice League UnlimitedCheetah (voice) · 2004
★ 8.3
★ 8.3
TV
The Daily ShowSelf · 1996
★ 6.4
★ 6.4
Filmography
Movies
A Piece of the ActionBarbara Hanley
1977
The NeighborhoodDoris Campbell
1982
Code Name: FoxfireMaggie Bryan
1985
Happy 100th Birthday, HollywoodSelf
1987
Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night LadiesCorelle
1987
Oliver & CompanyRita (voice)
1988
Skin DeepReceptionist
1989
The Mighty QuinnLola Quinn
1989
To Sleep with AngerLinda
1990
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the DrawMiss Rosalee
1991
Voices That CareSelf - Choir Member
1991
MistressBeverly Dumont
1992
The Distinguished GentlemanMiss Loretta
1992
Sister Act 2: Back in the HabitFlorence Watson
1993
The FlintstonesMrs. Pyrite
1994
Witch HuntHypolita Kropotkin
1994
White Man's BurdenRoberta
1995
BogusRuth Clark
1996
Lover's KnotCharlotte
1996
Jamaica BeatSylvia Jones
1997
The Easter Story KeepersRisa (voice)
1998HU
Hook'd UpChantal
1999
DeterrenceGayle Redford
2000
Lost in the Pershing Point HotelNurse
2000
The Jennie ProjectDr. Pamela Prentiss
2001
News to Me
2004
Blessed and CursedLady Wright
2010
Christmas in ComptonAbuta
2012
Ladies of the Church
2012
Christmas at Holly LodgeNadine
2017
Just Getting StartedRoberta
2017
Forbidden
2018
No Sleep 'Til ChristmasMrs. Wright
2018
Step SistersYvonne Bishop
2018
Christmas HotelMarnie
2019
Christmas Comes TwiceMs. Nelson
2020
Fashionably YoursJanet
2020
Broadway: Beyond the Golden AgeSelf
2021
Christmas in My HeartRuthie Sampson
2021
Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4Self
2022
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + LoveSelf - Guest
2023
Commitment to LifeSelf (archive footage)
2023
Disney 100: Remember ThatSelf - Host
2023
The Young WifeAngelique
2023
The Fabulous FourKitty
2024The Fabulous FourExecutive Producer
2024
The Real Red TailsSelf - Narrator (voice)
2024
RickyJoanne
2025
The Disappearance of Miss ScottHazel Scott (voice)
2025
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20Self
2025
Lisa Ann Walter: It Was an AccidentSelf
2026Lisa Ann Walter: It Was an AccidentProducer
2026BO
Baby of the FamilyMamie
OctetPaula
Television
Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1 eps
1944
The Emmy AwardsSelf · 1 eps
1949
American Music AwardsSelf - Presenter · 1 eps
1974
Good Times1 eps
1974
The Jeffersons1 eps
1975
Wonder WomanBobbie · 1 eps
1975
It's a LivingGinger St. James · 71 eps
1980
Falcon CrestMooshy Tucker · 2 eps
1981
HunterJosie Clifford · 1 eps
1984
Jeopardy!Self - Clue Presenter · 1 eps
1984
VGlenna · 2 eps
1984
Amazing Storiesshow singer · 1 eps
1985Code Name: FoxfireMaggie 'The Cat' Bryan · 7 eps
1985
Designing WomenEtienne Toussant Bouvier · 7 eps
1986
L.A. LawRenee Quintana · 1 eps
1986W
WordplaySelf - Celebrity Panelist · 5 eps
1986
LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - Guest · 4 eps
1988MM
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon1 eps
1990
New AttitudeVicki St. James · 8 eps
1990New AttitudeTheme Song Performance
1990V
Vicki!Self · 1 eps
1992
George10 eps
1993
ERGloria Gallant · 2 eps
1994
7th HeavenNurse · 1 eps
1996
MoeshaDee Mitchell · 112 eps
1996
Sabrina, the Teenage WitchZsa Zsa Goowhiggie · 1 eps
1996
The Daily ShowSelf · 1 eps
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSelf · 1 eps
1996
Hollywood SquaresSelf - Panelist · 15 eps
1998
The Wild ThornberrysLioness #2 (voice) · 1 eps
1998
The Parkers1 eps
1999The ParkersDirector
1999
Static ShockTrina Jessup (voice) · 2 eps
2000
The DistrictDee Banks · 4 eps
2000
Justice LeagueCheetah (voice) · 2 eps
2001
The Proud FamilyDiana Parker (voice) · 2 eps
2001
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self - Guest · 1 eps
2003
Las VegasJanet Ellis · 1 eps
2003
WhoopiFlorence · 1 eps
2003
Justice League UnlimitedCheetah (voice) · 1 eps
2004
BarbershopClaire · 4 eps
2005
It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaBarbara Howard · 1 eps
2005
Hannah MontanaClarice Johnson · 1 eps
2006
The Wendy Williams Show1 eps
2008
RuPaul's Drag RaceSelf - Guest Judge · 1 eps
2009
Young JusticeAmanda Waller (voice) · 2 eps
2010
2 Broke GirlsGenét · 1 eps
2011
SmashCynthia Moore · 1 eps
2012
Instant MomMaggie Turner · 65 eps
2013
JD Lawrence's Community ServiceCarolyn · 4 eps
2013
Ray DonovanClaudette · 5 eps
2013
Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf · 1 eps
2014Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2014
Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & DawnMs. Dumont · 1 eps
2014
Variety Studio: Actors on ActorsSelf · 1 eps
2014
The Late Late Show with James CordenSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert1 eps
2015The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSelf · 1 eps
2015
MacGyverMama Colton · 3 eps
2016
One MississippiFelicia · 6 eps
2016
Carpool Karaoke: The SeriesSelf · 1 eps
2017
The QuadUla Pettiway · 3 eps
2017
Uncensored1 eps
2018
A Black Lady Sketch ShowAsia's Mother · 1 eps
2019
FamRose · 13 eps
2019
The Kelly Clarkson ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2019The Kelly Clarkson ShowSelf · 1 eps
2019
The Tamron Hall ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2019
Motherland: Fort SalemPresident Kelly Wade · 30 eps
2020
Abbott ElementaryBarbara Howard · 96 eps
2021
Celebrity Wheel of FortuneSelf - Contestant · 1 eps
2021
Turning the Tables with Robin RobertsSelf · 1 eps
2021
How We RollLoretta · 1 eps
2022
SherriSelf - Guest · 2 eps
2022
The Jennifer Hudson ShowSelf · 3 eps
2022The Jennifer Hudson ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2022
Young LoveAdditional Voices (voice) · 2 eps
2023
Weather HuntersMs. Joyce (voice) · 4 eps
2025
Imperfect WomenConstance · 1 eps
2026
Regular Show: The Lost TapesJoan Kranden (voice) · 1 eps
2026
Cars: Lightning RacersMs. Blinker (voice) · 1 eps
Photos
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