Sheryl Lee Ralph, Emmy-winning Jamaican-American actress and cultural icon, announced that she has postponed her upcoming Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony due to the devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles County.
Originally scheduled for January 29, the ceremony will be rescheduled, with the new date yet to be determined.
In a heartfelt post on X, Ralph shared, “To all of my friends and fans, please know that out of an abundance of caution, and in respect to those suffering loss and more because of the LA fires, I’ve asked that my Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony be postponed. It will NOT be taking place January 29th. New date and time TBD.”
The decision comes as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and powerful winds, wreak havoc across the region. At least 27 people have lost their lives, and thousands of firefighters are battling flames across 45 square miles in densely populated areas of Los Angeles County. Approximately 82,000 residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders, with another 90,000 under evacuation warnings.
Two of the largest fires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, have caused significant destruction since they ignited on January 7. The Palisades Fire has destroyed or damaged over 6,000 structures and scorched more than 23,700 acres, with containment at 59% as of January 20.
The Eaton Fire, north of Pasadena, has burned over 14,000 acres and impacted more than 10,000 structures, reaching 87% containment.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has mobilized additional firefighting resources to combat the blazes and prepare for expected extreme fire weather. With wind speeds forecasted to peak at up to 100 mph in some areas, the National Weather Service has issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” warning—the fifth such alert since November 2024.
Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, Sheryl Lee Ralph has long been a trailblazer in the entertainment industry. The daughter of Jamaican fashion designer Ivy Ralph and college professor Stanley Ralph, she began her career in the 1970s with roles in Sidney Poitier’s A Piece of the Action and iconic TV shows like Good Times and The Jeffersons.
Her breakthrough came on Broadway, where she starred as Deena Jones in the original production of Dreamgirls (1981), earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Ralph’s extensive resume includes roles in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Moesha, and, most recently, the critically acclaimed sitcom Abbott Elementary. Her portrayal of veteran teacher Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022, making her only the second Black actress to win in the category.
