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.
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Known For
The Disappearance of Miss Scott
Hazel Scott (voice)
2025
Ricky
Joanne
2025
The Fabulous Four
Kitty
2024
The Real Red Tails
Self - Narrator (voice)
2024
Young Love
Additional Voices (voice) · (2 episodes)
2023
The Young Wife
Angelique
2023
Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4
Self
2022
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (3 episodes)
2022
How We Roll
Loretta · (1 episode)
2022
Abbott Elementary
Barbara Howard · (70 episodes)
2021
Christmas in My Heart
Ruthie Sampson
2021
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Self
2021
Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts
Self · (1 episode)
2021
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant · (1 episode)
2021
Christmas Comes Twice
Ms. Nelson
2020
Fashionably Yours
Janet
2020
Motherland: Fort Salem
President Kelly Wade · (30 episodes)
2020
Christmas Hotel
Marnie
2019
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Asia's Mother · (1 episode)
2019
Fam
Rose · (13 episodes)
2019
No Sleep 'Til Christmas
Mrs. Wright
2018
Forbidden
2018
Step Sisters
Yvonne Bishop
2018
Christmas at Holly Lodge
Nadine
2017
Just Getting Started
Roberta
2017
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self · (1 episode)
2017
The Quad
Ula Pettiway · (3 episodes)
2017
MacGyver
Mama Colton · (3 episodes)
2016
One Mississippi
Felicia · (6 episodes)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
(1 episode)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
Instant Mom
Maggie Turner · (65 episodes)
2013
Ray Donovan
Claudette · (5 episodes)
2013
Christmas in Compton
Abuta
2012
Smash
Cynthia Moore · (1 episode)
2012
Ladies of the Church
2012
2 Broke Girls
Genét · (1 episode)
2011
Young Justice
Amanda Waller (voice) · (2 episodes)
2010
Blessed and Cursed
Lady Wright
2010
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2009
The Wendy Williams Show
(1 episode)
2008
Hannah Montana
Clarice Johnson · (1 episode)
2006
Barbershop
Claire · (4 episodes)
2005
Justice League Unlimited
Cheetah (voice) · (1 episode)
2004
Las Vegas
(1 episode)
2003
Whoopi
Florence · (1 episode)
2003
Justice League
Cheetah (voice) · (2 episodes)
2001
The Proud Family
Diana Parker (voice) · (2 episodes)
2001
The Jennie Project
Dr. Pamela Prentiss
2001
The District
Lt. Dee Banks · (4 episodes)
2000
Static Shock
Trina Jessup (voice) · (2 episodes)
2000
Deterrence
Gayle Redford
2000
Lost in the Pershing Point Hotel
Nurse
2000
The Parkers
(1 episode)
1999
Hook'd Up
Chantal
1999
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist · (5 episodes)
1998
Hollywood Squares
Self · (5 episodes)
1998
The Wild Thornberrys
Lioness #2 (voice) · (1 episode)
1998
Jamaica Beat
Sylvia Jones
1997
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Zsa Zsa Goowhiggie · (1 episode)
1996
Bogus
Ruth Clark
1996
7th Heaven
Nurse · (1 episode)
1996
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
Lover's Knot
Charlotte
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
Moesha
(7 episodes)
1996
Moesha
Dee Mitchell · (105 episodes)
1996
White Man's Burden
Roberta
1995
Witch Hunt
Hypolita Kropotkin
1994
ER
Gloria Gallant · (2 episodes)
1994
The Flintstones
Mrs. Pyrite
1994
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
Florence Watson
1993
George
(10 episodes)
1993
The Distinguished Gentleman
Miss Loretta
1992
Vicki!
Self · (1 episode)
1992
Mistress
Beverly Dumont
1992
The Gambler: The Luck Of The Draw
Miss Rosalee
1991
Voices That Care
Self - Choir Member
1991
To Sleep with Anger
Linda
1990
New Attitude
Vicki St. James · (8 episodes)
1990
Max Monroe: Loose Cannon
(1 episode)
1990
Skin Deep
Receptionist
1989
The Mighty Quinn
Lola Quinn
1989
Oliver & Company
Rita (voice)
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
1988
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies
Corelle
1987
Wordplay
Self - Celebrity Panelist · (5 episodes)
1986
Designing Women
Etienne Toussant Bouvier · (7 episodes)
1986
L.A. Law
Renee Quintana · (1 episode)
1986
Amazing Stories
show singer · (1 episode)
1985
Code Name: Foxfire
Maggie Bryan
1985
Code Name: Foxfire
Maggie 'The Cat' Bryan · (7 episodes)
1985
V
Glenna · (2 episodes)
1984
Hunter
Josie Clifford · (1 episode)
1984
The Neighborhood
Doris Campbell
1982
Falcon Crest
Mooshy Tucker · (2 episodes)
1981
It's a Living
Ginger St. James · (71 episodes)
1980
A Piece of the Action
Barbara Hanley
1977
Wonder Woman
Bobbie · (1 episode)
1975
The Jeffersons
(1 episode)
1975
American Music Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1974
Good Times
(1 episode)
1974
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1944