Kiki Shepard, actor and longtime host of Showtime at the Apollo, has died at age 74.
According to her rep, Shepard (born Chiquita Renee Shepard) passed away on Monday (March 16) after reportedly suffering a massive heart attack, per an exclusive TMZ report.
Shepard was best known as the co-host of the syndicated variety show Showtime at the Apollo between 1987 to 2002, sharing the stage with Steve Harvey for seven years and helping to introduce aspiring performers at the Harlem theatre.
In recent years, Shepard played herself in the semi-autobiographical sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, created by comedian Chris Rock and Ali LeRoi, and appeared in Grey’s Anatomy.
Her other appearances include Baywatch Nights, NYPD Blue, and Mind Your Business and the film Blackjack Christmas.
She appeared in multiple Broadway productions including Bubbling Brown Sugar, Comin’ Uptown, Your Arms Too Short to Box with God, and Porgy and Bess. She also snagged an uncredited role as a dancer in The Wiz as one of the citizens of the Emerald City.
Path to the stage
Before her 15-year stint at the Apollo, Shepard’s foray into entertainment started from her childhood home. Born in Tyler, Texas in 1951, she witnessed both of parents participate in competitive dancing.
She attended Howard University, where she became a charter member of the D.C. Repertory Dance Company and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., before taking her talent to stages far beyond campus.
During her time in Harlem, she became known as the “Apollo Queen of Fashion.”
Heartfelt tributes from friends and family
TV personality Elgin Charles wrote a heartfelt tribute honoring Shepard as a “dear friend” who “was more than a cultural icon.”
Talk show host Roland Martin shared that Shepard, who he describes as “a legend,” most recently asked if he could play in her annual golf tournament.
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