Sherri Shepherd Actress Biography 

Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd is a popular television personality that has recently diversified her career into film. Making headlines, she has also committed to co-hosting the daytime talk show The View in the wake of its stormy and tumultuous cast problems.

Sherri Evonne Shepherd was born April 22, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. Along with Shepherd’s three sisters, the family moved to Hoffman Estates, a Chicago suburb, when she was eleven years old. Shepherd was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family. She chose, however, to become a born again Christian in her adulthood.

Shepherd began performing standup as early as 1990. While she enjoyed the work, it was not a lucrative endeavor. In order to stay afloat financially, Shepherd worked as a legal secretary. This continued for several years before Shepherd decided she would devote her full attention to comedy and acting. She quit her job, and by a stroke of immense luck landed a recurring role on the television series Cleghorne! just a few weeks later. Starring Ellen Cleghorne, the show lasted one dismal season.

Shepherd was back at her legal job when the bills began piling up. But she never abandoned her pursuit to fame. Appearing in guest roles on shows such as Living Single, Friends, and The Trouble with Normal, Shepherd finally got her big break in 1997. She landed a recurring role on the popular television series Suddenly Susan beside regulars Brooke Shields, Nestor Carbonell, Kathy Griffin, Judd Nelson, and David Strickland.

Just as this show was winding down, Shepherd landed a role on The Jamie Foxx Show, which lasted from 1999 to 2001. At the same time, Shepherd reached a mainstream audience with her nine-episode stint on Everybody Loves Raymond opposite Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Brad Garrett, and Peter Boyle.

But it was her starring role in Less Than Perfect that made her a familiar face. With fellow cast mates Sara Rue, Andrea Parker, Andy Dick, Eric Roberts, and Will Sasso, Shepherd enjoyed the show’s four season run.

Her film work includes Guess Who with Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, and Zoe Saldana as well as Beauty Shop beside Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Alfre Woodard, Mena Suvari, and Della Reese. Her most recent film was the poorly received Who’s Your Caddy (2007).

It was recently announced Shepherd will become a permanent co-host of The View after multiple guest spots on the show. Filling the void after the controversial Rosie ODonnell era, the official lineup includes Shepherd, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Barbara Walters, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

In her personal life, Shepherd married fellow actor Jeff Tarpley on March 10, 2001. They had one son, Jeffrey Charles. After Tarpley’s infidelity resulted in another child, the two filed for divorce. Most recent reports, however, indicate the two are trying to make it work for the sake of the children.