How Sherri Shepherd Fought Her Way to the Hollywood Walk of Fame

As a popular talk show host, Sherri Shepherd’s job is to get celebrities to share their personal stories. But perhaps the most fascinating story is her own.

The host of Sherri, whose new season kicked off Monday, has come a long way from her troubled early days of being evicted from her apartment to making it in show business.

And so she did, starring on shows like “30 Rock” and co-hosting “The View.” The final proof she’d made it big: a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

For the Reuters “Life Lessons” series, we spoke with Shepherd about what she learned along the way. The following interview has been edited and condensed.

Q: What did your parents teach you about work ethic growing up in Chicago?

A: Sacrifice. My father moved us to a town called Hoffman Estates, and he was a waiter in a restaurant that had a lot of racist pictures that would be illegal now.

He wanted to give us a better life. He worked for that restaurant and used his tips to put me in a photography class. My father got a lot of racist comments at that restaurant, but he did it because he loved me.

Q: What was your first job as a teenager?

A: I was a candy striper at Northwest Hospital in Schaumburg, Illinois. I was the one who wore the little pink and white uniform, brought food and water to patients, and read to them. I loved seeing the smiles on people’s faces.

My second was at Sears. I was promoted to the catalog sales department and did gift wrapping. To this day, I can wrap a gift like no other.

Q: How did you get into the entertainment world?

A: I was a legal secretary in California. One day, we went to the Comedy Store with eight other legal secretaries.

Eddie Griffin and Andrew Dice Clay were there, making people laugh, and my friends thought I could do it too. I got some advice after the show, and Dice said, “Just do it.” I’ll always owe those guys a piece of my career. “Do it scared” has become my motto.

Q: Was there little money in those early years?

A: I recently got a regular role on a show called “Holding the Baby” on Fox with Jennifer Westfeldt. I thought I had it made — and then it got canceled.

Then I was on a show called “Cleghorne!” with Ellen Cleghorne. Again I thought I had made it — and again it was canceled! I held on to all my checks and didn’t even cash them. I taped them to my wall.

Q: Have you made any mistakes along the way regarding finances?

A: A lot of people feel guilty when they make it and feel like they have to go back and take care of everyone. I did that and I spent all my money.

The money you make goes to commissions, taxes, agents, business managers, lawyers, publicists, and glam teams. It’s a lot of money going out. I thought the salary I was making was the amount I could spend. Oh no.

Q: How hard is it financially and emotionally to care for a special needs child like your son?

A: You really have to stand up for them. It’s been a journey, and it hasn’t been easy. Financially it’s a lot — special school plus all the therapy — physical, occupational, speech, psychological, but that’s my child, and you do it for your child.

Q: How do you find out where your charity money has the most impact?

A: It must be close to my heart. Move-In Day Mafia helps foster kids who have grown too old and are starting their lives at college. Special Needs Network runs camps for kids with autism. My son was even a counselor there.

Q: What life lessons do you try to pass on?

A: I remember when my car was impounded, I was on the bus going down Hollywood Boulevard, where the Walk of Fame is. I looked up at the stars and dreamed that one day I would have a star. Now I’m having a ceremony for it. I’m never going to let go of that dream.

—Chris Taylor, Reuters