Sheryl Lee Ralph To Receive Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute At Gotham TV Awards
sheryl lee ralph - Steve Granitz
Sheryl Lee Ralph is set to receive the Sidney Poitier Icon Tribute at the second annual Gotham Television Awards.
The Sidney Poitier Initiative was founded in 2023 by The Gotham in partnership with the Poitier family, celebrating the legacy of the acclaimed actor, who passed away in 2022. It aims to achieve this by supporting inclusive programs that further the film and media careers of students, professionals, and organizations from underrepresented backgrounds.
Ralph, who made her feature debut alongside Poitier back in 1977, is to receive the award in recognition for her long and distinguished career, which has included appearances on Broadway, television, and in film. After debuting in 1977’s A Piece of the Action, Ralph went on to make her Broadway debut in the play Reggae, before going on to win widespread acclaim for her role in the original production of Dreamgirls in 1988, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.
Ralph has since appeared in numerous films and television shows, acting along stars Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro. More recently, she has become known for her role as Barbara Howard on the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary, which saw Ralph winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022, making her the second Black actress to win in the category.
“Sheryl Lee Ralph has carved out a singular place in entertainment history,” stated 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.”
The Gotham TV Awards, which held their inaugural ceremony in 2024, was created to recognize leading talents within television. This year’s ceremony is set to take place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York on Monday, June 2, 2025, and will be streaming live on YouTube.
Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, writers and executive producers of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Étoile, will also be receiving the Creator Tribute, alongside Hwang Dong-hyuk for his work on Squid Game. Meanwhile, the cast of The Handmaid’s Tale are set to receive the inaugural Ensemble Tribute.
