Today, actress, comedienne, and talk show host Sherri Shepherd was honored with the 2,827th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. Shepherd received her star in the Television category. To present her star to the public, radio personality Ellen K was the emcee, and Debmar-Mercury’s Co-President Ira Bernstein, Niecy Nash, and Tyler Perry served as special guests to share their remarks about the multi-hypenate actress. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades.
With a career spanning three decades, the Chicago native has left her mark across television, film, stand-up comedy, Broadway, and publishing. Sherri’s memorable television roles include “30 Rock,” “Friends,” “Sex Lives of College Girls,” “HARLEM,” “Mr. Iglesias,” “Trial & Error,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Suddenly Susan,” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” Her film credits include “Precious,” “Think Like A Man,” “Brian Banks,” “Ride Along 2,” “Jean of the Joneses,” and “Beauty Shop.” On stage, she made history portraying the first African American evil stepmother in Cinderella on Broadway, and tours nationwide as a stand-up comic, both solo and alongside Whitley in their comedy show “Two Funny Mamas.”
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome actress Sherri Shepherd to the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” stated Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer.” “Sherri is a beloved figure whose humor, authenticity, and resilience have brightened the lives of millions. We are proud to honor her with a well-deserved star for her contributions to the world of entertainment,” added Martinez.
At her ceremony, Shepherd told me, “I’m always thanking God, and knowing my why. I always believe God didn’t give me this talent for it to just fall on the ground and die. I just knew it was for something, but it took 30 years for me to realize it, because I wasn’t ready.”
She also doled out advice for having long-lasting success and longevity in Hollywood and beyond. “Being authentic and having really good friends helps. My friendships are all 27 years old or older, having known each other since sixth grade. Also, knowing why you’re here and your purpose is bigger than you,” she said.
Shepherd came to the stage looking gorgeous in a custom purple Sergio Hudson dress, Swarovski jewelry, and Amina Muaddi shoes, to express her profound gratitude to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and to reaffirm her faith in her own success. She recounted her humble beginnings in Hollywood, living in a studio apartment and facing evictions, and her struggles as a stand-up comedian. Shepherd acknowledged her family, friends, and team for their unwavering support. Throughout her ceremony, she encouraged others to hold onto their dreams, emphasizing that overcoming fear leads to the fulfillment of one’s potential.
She reflected on her humble beginnings, starting in the entertainment industry. “Hollywood means something very special to me. I used to live on the corner of Franklin and Argyle in a studio apartment. I was paying $350 a month. I used to look out the window because it was roaches in my apartment, in my studio apartment, but I couldn’t afford anything else,” she stated.
Shepherd thanked the Debmar-Mercury team for her continued success in the fickle entertainment industry, “I wouldn’t be here without some very important people. I want to thank Debmar-Mercury and Ira Berns for believing in me and giving me the chance to show people that this dream of mine was not futile. I’ve dreamed about having my own talk show since I was a little girl,” she revealed.
The actress made it known that her success should also be attributed to God, as she’s a spiritual person. “I’m a very spiritual person, and I know that I would not be here without my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ. God knows those dreams. And so I I just gotta say, ‘Thank You, Jesus.’ I’m so grateful for everything you have done for me and for those dreams of mine, the tears that you have wiped away, Father God. I thank you. I thank you that you’ve never left me nor forsaken me,” Shepherd said to the audience and her adoring fans.
At her Walk of Fame ceremony, the lauded actress was surrounded by her closest family and friends, as well as industry colleagues, such as Tom Joyner, Tyler Perry, Kim Whitley, and Sheila E.
The program began with thoughtful remarks from Jerry Neuman, Chair of the Board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “For over 60 years, the Hollywood Chamber has brought luminaries in the entertainment industry to this very Boulevard to place their star in this galaxy of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And today, we welcome someone who possesses incredible talent, someone who brings joy to our daily lives, someone who makes us laugh and cry, often with tears of joy and laughter. Someone who brings a smile to your heart whenever she’s in a room or on TV. It’s my pleasure to welcome as our latest Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee and to bring your star here,” he said.
Bernstein agreed with his sentiments, highlighting Shepherd’s success in television, noting her authenticity and genuine nature. “I first met Sherri during a time when she was guest-hosting for Wendy Williams. I’ll never forget that, from day one, she wasn’t trying to be anyone else. She was utterly herself, funny, quick, and full of heart, and the audience felt it right away. She wasn’t just filling in. She took that stage and she made it her own. That’s when we knew she was something special,” he reflected. “What we love most is that she makes everyone around her feel good, her team, her guests, and her viewers. You can tell that she’s having fun, and that joy spreads to everyone she meets.”
Longtime friend, industry colleague, and fellow actress Niecy Nash shared her love and appreciation for her friend of 30-plus years. “We have been tethered ever since I remember being a young girl dreaming about all of the success and all of the things that we wanted to make happen. We have had times when we have prayed, cried, and felt lost. I would never have thought that these two girls would both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, right across the street from each other. I am so grateful to be here to celebrate you today and to know that even when we’re dead and gone, we’ll still be here,” she exclaimed.
Tyler Perry, producer, director, and playwright, and creator of “Straw,” where Shepherd starred in, shared the following: “Sherri, who has been on Broadway, written books, hosted a talk show, been a co-host on ‘The View,’ you name it, which speaks to the possibility of having to do 10 times more within the same kind of recognition. You deserve it, and I’m so glad that you’re here. Many people on the planet were sent here to bring light, and then some are here to be the light. That’s a special gift. And I’m thankful to God that He gave it to you, and I got a chance to witness it up close.”
Perry continued, “Nobody knows the price that you have paid to be here, the things that you have endured, but we know that you made it, and you did it for the smile, the dark times, the hard times, nobody ever really pays attention. It’s incredibly challenging to succeed in Hollywood and maintain a certain level of success while retaining that status. You have carried it with grace. You have held it with honor, and you have held it with the power of God.”
Shepherd made sure to close out her speech by thanking the most important person in her life, her son, Jeffrey, who is 20 years old and autistic, as well as her supportive family. Teary-eyed, she said the following, “I want to thank my family, who put up with me, who came to see me perform standup comedy at the Comedy Club. I’m thankful for my grandmother, Mary Shepherd, who’s no longer here, but I know she watches over me. I want to thank my son, he understands I’m doing what I love, and I hope that it inspires him to do what he loves.”
Additionally, she inspired everyone who might have a dream and a large goal that may seem difficult to attain. “I just want to say to everybody who has a dream and they feel like they’ve been forgotten and feel like God is not listening, I want to tell you, he never forgets the dream. Hold on to those dreams. Hold on to that childlike wonderment. That very thing that scares you when you wake up, run towards that very thing that you fear, because on the other side of fear are all the open doors. On the other side of fear are all of the blessings. Ignore their voice to tell you you’re not enough. Run towards it, because if you can run towards that fear and jump over it and move it out of the way, your wildest dreams are sitting right there.”