Sheryl Lee Ralph

You Might Know Her From

Why yes we ARE back for season 5 of You Might Know Her From with nothing less than an Emmy winner, babies! Sheryl Lee Ralph joins us for a candid conversation about her decades-long career on stage and screen. You might know her from: Abbott Elementary, Moesha, Sister Act 2, To Sleep with Anger, Ray Donovan, A Piece of the Action and the original Broadway productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Dreamgirls. Sheryl is a powerhouse quadruple threat: actor, singer, dancer, and producer who knocked us out as Deena Jones in Dreamgirls and just won an Emmy for her work as Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary. We cover everything from her Broadway beginnings, to her disco one hit wonder, “In the Evening,” to sharing a memorable opening night with Carol Channing. Plus, working with Michael Bennett, Charles Burnett, Sidney Poitier, and Robert DeNiro. And why you don't want an orangutan as a scene partner Buckle up bebes, because your dreams are just about to come true!

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Discussed this week:

Sheryl Lee Ralph won an Emmy for Abbott Elementary

Jimmy Kimmel bit at Emmy’s

Selma Blair is on Dancing with the Stars

Jojo Siwa lesbian drama on tik tok

We miss Tom Bergeron

Tyra’s whoops on DWTS

Former guests Natalie Zea promoting La Brea and Caroline Aaron in the Maisel clip

Sheryl & former guest Lisa Ann Walter were fast friends

Husband is Penn State Senator Vincent Hughes

Played Deena Jones in the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls, directed by Michael Bennett

“Steppin to the Bad Side” choreo

Produced Thoughts of a Colored Man on Broadway in 2021

The Dreamgirls movie was bad and didn’t ask Sheryl to cameo

Played Muzzy in the original Broadway cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Role was originated by Carol Channing in the movie screaming “Raspbbbbberrrrries” out of a moving plane

Carol Channing had to erase the black woman from her family in order to “make it.” Her close friendship with Pearl Bailey

Wants to do Mame, Hello Dolly, Madame Rose. Damian suggesting Sunset Boulevard

Won Indie Spirit award for To Sleep with Anger (dir Charles Burnett)

DeVon Nixon was her son in To Sleep with Anger and he’s now on Snowfall (Not DeVon Franklin)

Her husband in that movie (Richard Brooks) plays her husband on Abbott

First movie was directed by Sidney Poitier: A Piece of the Action (1977)

Played Dee, the stepmother on Moesha

Wanted to be like Patty Duke on The Patty Duke Show or Sally Field on The Flying Nun

Moesha jumped the shark in 6th season where Frank (the dad) had a secret son and the writers were determined to add unnecessary drama. Sheryl left the show.

Has gay cred: longtime HIV activist, played Margo Channing in Applause, produced the Sylvester musical.

Dancers in Applause were Shaun T and Leslie Odom

Gay disco anthem “In the Evening”

Would call her Instant Mom co-star, Tia Mowry if car broke down

Starred opposite Robert DeNiro in Mistress

Jon Voight DOES wear a white scarf to dress up

Mother is fashion designer Ivy Ralph who created the kariba suit

Sheryl’s Dreamgirls premiere dress

Stars as Rita in Oliver & Company but singing voice went to Ruth Pointer

Co-starred I’m the 1994 live action Flintstones movie and had to do a scene with an orangutan

Was a judge for Shade the Rusical on s6 of Drag Race which was particularly rough. They sang live.

Sang one song at 54 Below for Jen Tepper in honor of 20th anniversary of Millie

Carol Channing on Wendy Williams

Former guest Da’Vine Joy Randolph should play Pearl Bailey

Carol Channing + Pearl Bailey special (1969)

Lea Michele opened Funny Girl and there were lots of videos, then she got COVID

Funny Girl had to bring in someone last minute bc of so much COVID (Barbara Tirrell as Mrs Meeker)

Rosie was set to see Lea too. She has a new gf who’s a TikTok person

Rosie’s sign off is “TikTok ya don’t stop”