Sherri Shepherd
A groundbreaking performance as one of the first African American actresses to guest star on the hit NBC series Friends earned Shepherd the reputation of being one of Hollywood's most reliable sources for uproarious comedy.
Shepherd continues to defy industry boundaries and has appeared on every major network. She recently appeared as God (who happened to be a DMV Clerk) on Joan of Arcadia for CBS. She co-starred opposite Brooke Shields on NBC's Suddenly Susan, recurred on the WB's Jamie Foxx Show, and guest-starred on Fox's Living Single. She played stage manager Melva on chef Emeril Lagasse's show-within-a-show, Emeril, and most recently starred as Joanne Waters alongside veteran actors John Cleese and Ed Begley Jr. in ABC's short-lived satirical comedy Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central).
A self-described class clown, Shepherd always wanted to pursue a performing career and marry Michael Jackson. She relocated to Los Angeles during high school and considered being a mortician, but opted for a job as a legal secretary instead. In 1990 she came face-to-face with destiny. After witnessing Andrew Dice Clay on stage, Sherri was egged on by her friends to put her own act together. Her love for performing was instantaneous; success, however, was not. For five years, Sherri toiled as a secretary by day and hopped on the bus at night to do her standup. She finally got her first real break with the comedy Cleghorne! starring former Saturday Night Live alum Ellen Cleghorne.
A favorite on the talk show circuit, Shepherd has appeared on Politically Incorrect, the 700 Club, and VH1's The List. She's been fortunate enough to work steadily while fine-tuning her craft through comedy, scene-study and improvisational workshops. As an accomplished standup comic, she performs regularly at The Comedy Store, The Improv and Laugh Factory in Hollywood.
Shepherd attributes her success to faith in God, her grandmother, pastor and her father's constant encouragement to do and become anything she wished with hard work. She also has a tremendous amount of respect for other performers and mentions Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett, Janet Jackson and Michael Jordan among her professional role models. A delirious newlywed, Shepherd gives a hilarious off-center perspective on relationships on her first comedy recording, aptly titled No Refund, No Exchange. Away from the set, she enjoys karaoke, skiing, skating, church activities and a good game of Taboo. Sherri Shepherd lives in Los Angeles with her oh so incredible husband, actor and comic Jeff T., and their two Retrievers, Angel and Shatzi.
Sherri Shepherd Facts
| Birth Name | Sherri Evonne Shepherd |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Birthday | April 22, 1970 (39) |
| Sign | Taurus |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Height | 5' 1" (1m55) |