The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced today that Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will receive the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards, taking place live and in person on Monday, June 2nd at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City and livestreaming on Variety’s YouTube channel.
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. For the Spring 2025 Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute, The Gothams will honor Sheryl Lee Ralph for continuing to inspire, uplift, and break new ground through her many projects.
“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 of the 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.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph currently stars in the hit ABC/Warner Bros. Television/20th Television comedy series “Abbott Elementary.” For her portrayal of “Barbara Howard,” 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 with Hollywood’s top leading men in films like “The Mighty Quinn” opposite Denzel Washington, “Mistress” with Robert De Niro, “To Sleep with Anger” with Danny Glover, and “The Distinguished Gentlemen” with Eddie Murphy. Ralph won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “To Sleep with Anger.” She also appeared opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Lauryn Hill in “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.” She recently starred in the independent feature “Ricky” from filmmaker Rashad Frett, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
On stage, Ralph is known for creating the role of “Deena Jones” in the legendary Broadway musical Dreamgirls, earning Best Actress nominations for Tony and Drama Desk Awards. In 2002, she originated the role of Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie, which won six Tony Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical at both. Ralph most recently appeared as Madame Morrible in Wicked, becoming the first African American actress in this classic role. For her acclaimed career spanning more than four decades, Ralph recently received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
It was previously announced that Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, as well as Director Hwang Dong-hyuk will receive Creator Tributes, Elisabeth Moss and the cast of “The Handmaid’s Tale” will receive the inaugural Ensemble Tribute, and Brian Tyree Henry will receive the Performer Tribute at the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards. At the inaugural Gotham Television Awards ceremony, “Baby Reindeer,” a unique exploration of stalking and buried traumas created by and starring Richard Gadd, won Breakthrough Limited Series while “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” created by Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover and inspired by the 2005 spy movie, won Breakthrough Drama Series. Colin from Accounts, the romcom in which two singles are brought together by a car accident involving a dog, took home the Breakthrough Series Comedy award.
The nominations in the twelve competitive award categories were previously announced. Winners of the Second Annual Gotham Television Awards will be announced and honored at the awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, June 2nd, which will be livestreamed on Variety’s YouTube channel. The Premier Sponsor of the 2025 Gotham Television Awards is Vanity Fair.
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