From Uniondale to Hollywood Boulevard

Sheryl Lee Ralph, a native of Uniondale and a star of the hit television show “Abbott Elementary,” is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 66-year-old joins a star-studded class of 2024, which includes the likes of Chadwick Boseman, Kerry Washington, Mario Lopez, Gwen Stefani and Dr. Dre.

“I always dreamt of seeing my name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and now, here I am,” Ralph tweeted after hearing the news. “I can live my dream with my name on that star.” The actress also shared an emotional video on her Instagram page, thanking the people who voted for her.

“I just have to thank God, I have to thank everybody who considered me for this, I’m overwhelmed, grateful, and I’m blessed,” she concluded.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Walk of Fame Selection Panel, which is made up of previous Walk of Fame recipients, reviews hundreds of nominations to choose new star recipients each year.

Born in Waterbury Connecticut, Ralph moved to Uniondale with her family at 12 when her father, Stanley Ralph, became the principal of Wyandanch High School.

At Uniondale High School, from which she graduated in 1972, Ralph participated in the drama club and the glee club. As a senior, she portrayed Ado Annie in the high school’s production of “Oklahoma!” Earlier that year, she was crowned Miss Black Teen-age New York.

Ralph went on to attend Rutgers University, entering as a pre-med student, but quickly changing her major to English literature and theater arts after encountering her first cadaver. At just 19, she finished at the top of her class, and remains the youngest woman to ever graduate from Rutgers University. She was also one of the earliest winners of an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, given to standout student actors named in honor of Ryan, who is best known for her role as Granny on the television series “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Ralph began her professional career in 1977, when she starred in the crime-comedy film “A Piece of the Action,” directed by Sidney Poitier. Ralph also made many appearances on television shows including as “Good Times,” “Wonder Woman” and “The Jeffersons.”

Her lengthy a resume includes roles in movies such as “Sister Act 2,” television shows like “Criminal Minds” and “ER,” and parts on Broadway. She starred as Deena Jones in the original Broadway musical “Dreamgirls” in 1981, earning a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical.

Ralph has also done voice-over work in popular video games such as “BioShock 2,” in which she is the voice of Grace Holloway. And she portrayed Madame Morrible in the hit Broadway musical “Wicked.”

The role that Ralph is perhaps best known for, however, is Barbara Howard on ABC’s award-winning “Abbott Elementary.” The show follows a format similar to “The Office,” with its “mockumentary”-style comedy, but takes place at the fictional Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, a predominantly Black public school in Philadelphia. The plot revolves around a documentary crew that is recording the lives of teachers working in underfunded, mismanaged schools, where conditions are harsh and staff turnover is high.

Ralph’s character is a veteran kindergarten teacher at the school who serves as a mentor among a group of much younger, less experienced colleagues. The role has earned Ralph a number of awards, including a Critics’ Choice Award for best supporting actress in a comedy series. She shared in winning a Primetime Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.

Her journey from Uniondale to Hollywood is a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance. With a star on the Walk of Fame, she will solidify her place among the entertainment industry’s brightest stars and leave an enduring legacy for future generations to admire and emulate.