Sherri Shepherd Reveals Queen Latifah Was First Choice for Role on Everybody Loves Raymond

Published: May 21, 2025

Sherri Shepherd has opened up about her early acting days, revealing that she often auditioned against Queen Latifah for roles. In an episode of the PEOPLE in the '90s podcast, Shepherd shared that she lost out to Latifah for a role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Shepherd remembered the audition requirements, which involved dancing to music while wearing a Walkman. "I can't even hear what the lady's saying," Shepherd said. "I'm just dancing." She added, "You wonder why I didn't get that role."

Years later, the two actresses were once again considered for the same role on Everybody Loves Raymond. Shepherd revealed that the role of Sergeant Judy was originally written for Queen Latifah. "Many times, if the original person they wrote it for isn't available, they will audition other people," Shepherd explained.

Shepherd shared that she took the bus to Warner Bros. for the audition because she didn't have a car. She received a callback, and it was then that she found out the role was originally intended for Latifah. "Queen Latifah was up for that role [and the movie] Living Out Loud with Holly Hunter," Shepherd said. "I said the prayer, I didn't want her to break her leg. I said, 'Lord, bless her to book this movie because I need this job. I need it bad.'"

In the end, both actresses booked their respective roles. Shepherd went on to share the silver screen with Latifah in 2005's Beauty Shop. On set, Shepherd spilled the beans about her Everybody Loves Raymond role to Latifah, who was surprised to learn that the role was originally written for her.

She said, 'That's where I saw you and you were so funny,'" Shepherd remembered. "And I go, 'Girl, they wrote that for you.'" The news set Latifah off, and Shepherd joked that she didn't want Latifah to "messing up" her gigs.

Both actresses went on to host daytime talk shows. The Queen Latifah Show ran from 1999 to 2001 and then again from 2013 to 2015. Shepherd started her hosting career on The View in 2007. She left the show in 2014, only to return to daytime television with Sherri in 2022.

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