Sheryl Lee Ralph is an award-winning actress, singer, and activist whose career spans decades across television, film, and Broadway. Born on December 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut, Ralph made history at just 19 years old as the youngest woman to graduate from Rutgers University. She also earned recognition as one of the earliest winners of the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship awarded by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Ralph first gained widespread acclaim with her Tony-nominated performance as Deena Jones in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. However, her recent breakout role as Mrs. Barbara Howard, the wise and dedicated veteran teacher on ABC’s Abbott Elementary, has elevated her career to new heights. For her portrayal of Barbara Howard, Sheryl Lee Ralph won her first Primetime Emmy Award in 2022, becoming only the second Black woman in history to win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, following Jackée Harry’s 1987 win for 227. Her acceptance speech, which featured a powerful a cappella rendition of Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species,” remains an iconic moment in television history. Beyond her acting career, Ralph is a passionate advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness and has been honored with numerous accolades for her activism, including the Red Ribbon Award at the United Nations. She is also a celebrated author, motivational speaker, and the founder of the D.I.V.A. (Divinely Inspired, Victoriously Anointed) Foundation, which empowers women and addresses health disparities.

click here