Biography: Even though her own cooking skills are limited to whipping up some mean soul food, Sherri Shepherd knows that playing a TV show stage manager on a series starring a world-renowned chef has its extra perks – and at least one measurable drawback.

"Emeril (Lagasse) cooked so much good stuff and spoiled us during the pilot that I had to have my wedding ring re-sized," admits Shepherd. "As for me, I can make some great sweet potatoes, collard greens and catfish -- but I skipped the lesson for all that other stuff."

Shepherd was born in Chicago and raised in the city’s nearby suburb of Hoffman Estates with her three sisters where their father (since retired) managed a McDonald’s franchise. She decided to attend a trade college and began to work as a legal secretary in 1990. A self-described "class clown," Shepherd always wanted to pursue a performing career "and marry Michael Jackson," but after witnessing comedian Andrew Dice Clay on stage, she was egged on by her pals to put her own act together – even if it was a part-time gig at night.

"If you know how to type, you can always get a job, and I was a good legal secretary" says Shepherd, who worked as one for seven years. "Later on, when I started doing comedy, I knew I didn’t want to be a waitress to support myself because I had bad feet, bad memory AND a bad attitude!"

Shepherd got her first break on the comedy Cleghorne! starring former Saturday Night Live alum Ellen Cleghorne. Unfortunately, when the series was cancelled after one year, Shepherd resumed her life in the legal office. Two years later, she decided to take the plunge and pursue acting and standup work full time in 1995. She found guest-starring roles on Friends, Living Single and Suddenly Susan (where she later became a series regular in 1999 in a different role). She also was a recurring member of The Jamie Foxx Show as Sheila from 1998-2000. She is still remembered for her recurring role as Sgt. Judy Potter, the opinionated cop on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Now playing a stage manager and food guru for chef Emeril Lagasse on his show-within-a-show on "Emeril," Shepherd sees herself in her new role as his gatekeeper. "Melva is loyal and dedicated to Emeril; if you want to see Emeril, you’ve got to go through me," she says. "Melva is kind of a raunchy, mouthy girl from New York who’s willing to let it all hang out and her antics are usually what land Emeril in hot water."

Away from the set, Shepherd enjoys participating in karaoke, skiing, skating, church activities, watching gymnastics and helping her friends as their "designated babysitter." She recently married actor and comic Jeff T., and they reside in Los Angeles with their two retrievers, Angel and Shatzi. Her birthday is April 22.

Television Credits:
Emeril as Melva LaBlanc
Everybody Loves Raymond as Sgt. Judy (1998-2001)
The Trouble with Normal as Nina in episode: "Psychologists Without Borders" (original airdate: 10/20/2000)
The Jamie Foxx Show as Sheila (1998-2000)
Suddenly Susan as Miranda Charles (1999-2000)
Holding The Baby as Miss Boggs (1998)
Friends as The Tour Guide" in episode: "The One with Phoebe's Uterus" (original airdate: 01/08/1998)
Suddenly Susan as Roni" in episode: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Maddy World" (original airdate: 11/03/1997)
Living Single as Comedienne in episode: "Swing Out Sisters" (original airdate: 03/20/1997)
Claude's Crib as Lorene in episode "Eastside" (1997)
Cleghorne! as Victoria (1995)