Latest news with #SidneyPoitierIconTribute
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sheryl Lee Ralph Remembers Sidney Poitier's Early Support: ‘I Expect Great Things from You'
Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph received the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at the Gotham Television Awards June 2. The 'Abbott Elementary' star has a special history with the tribute's namesake. 'It's a very full circle moment, because quite literally Mr. Poitier opened the door to Hollywood for me by casting me in my first film — 'A Piece of the Action,'' Ralph told IndieWire on the red carpet ahead of the ceremony. More from IndieWire The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in June, from 'Vertigo' and 'Rear Window' to 'Emily the Criminal' 'Squid Game' Creator Teases Potential Spinoff: 'I Want to Show What They Did' Between Seasons 1 and 2 The 1977 crime comedy both starred and was directed by Poitier. Ralph played a supporting role in the movie, which also featured James Earl Jones. After this appearance, Ralph began scoring guest spots on popular TV show such as 'Good Times' and 'Wonder Woman,' before landing her Tony-nominated role in the 1981 Broadway musical 'Dreamgirls.' Since then, Ralph has been a film, television and stage staple, but she professes that none of her success would have been possible without Poitier. 'Mr. Poitier looked at me and said, 'Sheryl Lee Ralph I expect great things from you … I am sorry that the industry doesn't have more to offer you, because you deserve it.' He planted a seed in me that represented the great possibility. And because I believed in great possibility, I kept at it and never gave up. I kept honing my craft. I kept on keeping on. And I wish that he were here tonight to be able see the seed that he planted in me and how it's grown,' Ralph said. She added that Poitier taught how important the director is to a project. 'I remember one day I was just lost, reading a book, and I couldn't hear what he was saying, and he just came over to the desk — we were all students in a classroom — and he just got my attention, and he said, 'You're on my set. I am your director, and you pay attention to me' … I'll never forget that. So, I try to respect directors always,' she said. Poitier's groundbreaking Hollywood career included an Oscar-win for 'Lilies of the Field' in 1964, when he became the first Black man to receive the Best Actor Academy Award. He later starred in seminal classics like 'In the Heat of the Night,' 'To Sir, With Love,' and 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?' He bridged into directing during the 1970s with credits including 'Buck and the Preacher,' 'A Warm December,' and 'Stir Crazy.' Poitier died in 2022 at the age of 94. Watch IndieWire's conversation with Ralph below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sheryl Lee Ralph to Be Honored With Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at Gotham Television Awards (EXCLUSIVE)
Sheryl Lee Ralph is set to receive the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at the second annual Gotham Television Awards. The Gotham will honor Ralph for continuing to inspire, uplift, and break new ground through her many projects including her work on ABC's 'Abbott Elementary.' More from Variety Sheryl Lee Ralph on Almost Starring in 'Ghosts' Instead of 'Abbott Elementary' and the Racism She Faced in Her Theater Career Sheryl Lee Ralph, Holly Robinson Peete and LeVar Burton Join Al Roker's 'Weather Hunters' Animated Series (EXCLUSIVE) 'The Fabulous Four': Megan Mullally Ad-Libbed About Sex With Cats While Susan Sarandon Cast Her Actual Felines Founded in 2023 by The Gotham in partnership with the Poitier family, and chaired by Gotham Board member Colman Domingo, the Sidney Poitier Initiative celebrates his transformative legacy. The Sidney Poitier Initiative's mission is to honor the groundbreaking actor, director, and activist by supporting inclusive programs that further the film and media careers of students, professionals, and organizations from underrepresented backgrounds. 'Over the course of her distinguished career across film, television, and stage, including her recent, widely celebrated performance as Barbara Howard in 'Abbott Elementary,' Sheryl Lee Ralph has carved out a singular place in entertainment history,' said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute. 'After making her feature debut in Sidney Poitier's 'A Piece in Action,' she has continued to embody his spirit of purpose, dignity, and excellence. Honoring her with the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at the Gotham Television Awards will be a powerful, full-circle moment.' Ralph won the 2022 Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and the Critics' Choice Award for best supporting actress in a Comedy Series. In 2023 and 2024, she received her second and third Emmy nominations for this role. Ralph first made a name for herself on television starring alongside Grammy Award winner Brandy in over 100 episodes of UPN's 'Moesha.' At 20 years old, Ralph made her feature film debut opposite Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier in Warner Bros.' 'A Piece of the Action,' which Poitier also directed. She went on to work on films including 'The Mighty Quinn' starring opposite Denzel Washington, 'Mistress' with Robert De Niro, 'To Sleep with Anger' with Danny Glover, and 'The Distinguished Gentleman' with Eddie Murphy. Ralph has also appeared on Broadway starring in 'Dreamgirls' where she landed best actress noms at both the Tony and Drama Desk awards. She recently appeared as Madame Morrible in 'Wicked,' becoming the first African American actress to play that role on stage. As previously announced, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, as well as Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, will receive Creator Tributes and that Elisabeth Moss and the cast of 'The Handmaid's Tale' will receive the inaugural Ensemble Tribute at the second annual Gotham Television Awards. The nominations in the 12 competitive award categories at the second annual Gotham Television Awards were previously announced. Winners of the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards will be honored at the awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, June 2, which will be livestreamed on Variety's YouTube channel. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
