Sherry Shepherd: the path to success in Hollywood and a complicated personal life
9 june 2025 в 19:13
Talk show host, Daytime Emmy Award winner Sherri Shepherd has created an incredible path for herself in Hollywood. Originally from Chicago, born in April 1967, she was still working as a legal secretary when she landed her first role in a sitcom in 1995. Although the show only lasted one season, Sherri was able to use her luck to secure roles in other sitcoms, including the cult favorite «30 Rock», and eventually as a co-host on The View from 2007 to 2014, where she won an Emmy Award in 2009. After several other sitcoms and stand-up tours, in 2022 Sherri found herself hosting her own talk show.
Sherri’s personal life is also successful, although a bit complicated. She has been married twice and has two sons with two ex-husbands. However, she has been involved in dramatic legal battles with both ex-husbands over the children. Now that her sons are growing up, Sherri shared a funny story about her eldest son during an interview on The View on September 13, 2023. Keep reading to learn more about Sherri’s family.
Sherri married Jeffrey Tarpley in 2001, and they welcomed their son Jeffrey in April 2005. Their firstborn turned out to have special needs. «He has developmental delays», - Sherri told People magazine in 2018. «I know that God created this little boy who is so delicious and special, and I have to accept him as he is, with his little imperfections. He is perfectly imperfect in every way».
The couple divorced in 2009, leading to a dramatic custody battle in 2014. Tarpley filed for temporary physical custody of Jeffrey, claiming that Sherri was neglecting him due to her busy schedule. The court ruled in Sherri’s favor, and she continues to shower him with love, as seen on her Instagram, where she often shares photos of her little one.
In 2022, she detailed on social media how she considered her son Jeffrey’s well-being when she moved to New York to start her talk show «Sherri». «I didn’t want to move to New York to do this talk show. My life was in Los Angeles, but my friend @teejmercer said, 'Sherri, God said New York is not for you, but it’s for Jeffrey. That’s where he’ll find his independence,'» she wrote alongside a photo of her and her son. «It was hard for me to let him jump, because I want to protect him from everything that could harm him. But when he says goodbye to me and goes to the A train in Queens with his friends to watch the Mets game, I pray to the One who created him that when he spreads his wings, God will be there to catch him».
«This world is cruel, but I know that God knows Jeffrey much better than me, and I trust that within his 'special needs' he will thrive», - she concluded. «Lord, please give me the strength I need for this next stage of the journey».
Sherri shared a funny story when she joined The View team for an interview on September 13, 2023. While the hosts reminisced about her son being a little boy when she was on the show, she said he has grown up and doesn’t want his mom to call him a «little boy» anymore. She recounted how he didn’t include her in his speech at graduation, instead thanking his girlfriend. «Everyone had to give a speech, and everyone thanked their mothers», - she said. «This boy gets up and says, 'I want to thank my girlfriend for being here, and we’ve been through thick and thin.'»
After that, Sherri said he hugged her, and she cried. «Oh my goodness. I love him so much», - she said. She also mentioned that her son plans to appear on her talk show once a year.
Sherri tried to find love again with writer Lamar Sally, marrying him in 2011. They ultimately split in May 2014. Here’s where it gets complicated. The former couple then welcomed Lamar’s son via a surrogate mother in August 2014. Lamar Jr. was conceived using Sally’s sperm and a donor egg. The child has since been raised by both Sally and Sherri
Sherri’s personal life is also successful, although a bit complicated. She has been married twice and has two sons with two ex-husbands. However, she has been involved in dramatic legal battles with both ex-husbands over the children. Now that her sons are growing up, Sherri shared a funny story about her eldest son during an interview on The View on September 13, 2023. Keep reading to learn more about Sherri’s family.
Sherri married Jeffrey Tarpley in 2001, and they welcomed their son Jeffrey in April 2005. Their firstborn turned out to have special needs. «He has developmental delays», - Sherri told People magazine in 2018. «I know that God created this little boy who is so delicious and special, and I have to accept him as he is, with his little imperfections. He is perfectly imperfect in every way».
The couple divorced in 2009, leading to a dramatic custody battle in 2014. Tarpley filed for temporary physical custody of Jeffrey, claiming that Sherri was neglecting him due to her busy schedule. The court ruled in Sherri’s favor, and she continues to shower him with love, as seen on her Instagram, where she often shares photos of her little one.
In 2022, she detailed on social media how she considered her son Jeffrey’s well-being when she moved to New York to start her talk show «Sherri». «I didn’t want to move to New York to do this talk show. My life was in Los Angeles, but my friend @teejmercer said, 'Sherri, God said New York is not for you, but it’s for Jeffrey. That’s where he’ll find his independence,'» she wrote alongside a photo of her and her son. «It was hard for me to let him jump, because I want to protect him from everything that could harm him. But when he says goodbye to me and goes to the A train in Queens with his friends to watch the Mets game, I pray to the One who created him that when he spreads his wings, God will be there to catch him».
«This world is cruel, but I know that God knows Jeffrey much better than me, and I trust that within his 'special needs' he will thrive», - she concluded. «Lord, please give me the strength I need for this next stage of the journey».
Sherri shared a funny story when she joined The View team for an interview on September 13, 2023. While the hosts reminisced about her son being a little boy when she was on the show, she said he has grown up and doesn’t want his mom to call him a «little boy» anymore. She recounted how he didn’t include her in his speech at graduation, instead thanking his girlfriend. «Everyone had to give a speech, and everyone thanked their mothers», - she said. «This boy gets up and says, 'I want to thank my girlfriend for being here, and we’ve been through thick and thin.'»
After that, Sherri said he hugged her, and she cried. «Oh my goodness. I love him so much», - she said. She also mentioned that her son plans to appear on her talk show once a year.
Sherri tried to find love again with writer Lamar Sally, marrying him in 2011. They ultimately split in May 2014. Here’s where it gets complicated. The former couple then welcomed Lamar’s son via a surrogate mother in August 2014. Lamar Jr. was conceived using Sally’s sperm and a donor egg. The child has since been raised by both Sally and Sherri
© Kolganov Andrey
