Sheryl Lee Ralph has been forever immortalized after she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On Wednesday, the actress was honored with the 2,808th star in the television category. Ralph has been a staple in the film and TV industry for years, and she is known for roles in Moesha, Abbott Elementary, and the Broadway original Dreamgirls.
Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, spoke about Ralph receiving this honor. “Our Walk of Fame honorees are selected solely based on their achievements in the entertainment industry. With her remarkable talent and contributions, Sheryl Lee Ralph is more than worthy of this prestigious recognition.”
During the ceremony, Ralph was celebrated by her peers, such as Quinta Brunson, Jennifer Lewis, Loretta Devine, and her children, Ivy Coco Maurice and Etienne Maurice, as well as her husband and fellow sorors from Delta Sigma Theta. Jerry Neuman, the 2025/2026 Chair of the Board, kicked off the ceremony by giving Ralph her praises. “As a point of privilege, you are more stunning in person than on screen. She’s a triple threat: you are an amazing entertainer, and thank you for what you do for our industry.”
Brunson and Devine also spoke of Ralph’s strength and her being an incredible person. Ralph gave her acceptance speech and said, “There are so many people in the audience that mean so much to me.” She continued, “I can still feel the determined spirit of that little girl who dared to dream big. Growing up, I felt my big dreams had to be whispered, because that kind of ambition could be mistaken for arrogance. I have been counted out, I have been passed over, I have been told I was too Black, too strong, and too much, and yet, here, I stand.”
As she continued her speech, she took the time to honor the women who came before her. “This star isn’t just mine, it belongs to every performer who made space for me, when there seemed to be no space. Ruby Dee, Roslind Cash, Cicely Tyson, Virginia Capers, and many more women whose brilliance lit the path for me during my darkest professional moments. This star is for the work still to come, for the legacy I leave, walking in their footsteps and Mr. Portier’s, too. Making the path wider for young artists to follow.”
Ralph concluded, “For all those thinking it can’t happen to you, thinking your dreams don’t matter, you keep on. You keep doing the work. Dreams don’t have an expiration date.”