As a popular talk show host, Sherri Shepherd’s job is to get celebrities to share their personal stories. But the most fascinating tale might be her own.
The host of Sherri, which kicked off its new season on Monday, has come a long way from her hardscrabble early days of getting evicted from her apartment as she tried to make it in show business.
She did just that, starring in shows like “30 Rock” and co-hosting “The View”. The final evidence that she hit it big: An upcoming star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
For Reuters “Life Lessons” series, we talked to Shepherd about what she learned along the way. The following interview is edited and condensed.
Q: When you were growing up in Chicago, what did your parents teach you about work ethic?
A: Sacrifice. My dad moved us to a town called Hoffman Estates, and he used to be a waiter at a restaurant which had a lot of racist pictures that would be outlawed now.
He wanted to provide a better life for us. He worked for that restaurant and used his tips so he could get me into photography class. My father took a lot of racist taunts at that restaurant, but he did it because he loved me.
