In a recent interview, actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd revealed that her role as Sergeant Judy on the hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond was originally intended for Queen Latifah. Shepherd shared this insight during an episode of the PEOPLE in the ’90s podcast, reflecting on her early career and the competitive nature of auditions in the entertainment industry.
A Role Meant for Another Queen
Shepherd recounted how she learned about the original casting intentions during the audition process. “Everybody Loves Raymond, that role, Sergeant Judy, was written for Queen Latifah,” she said. “Many times, if the original person they wrote it for isn’t available, they will audition other people.” Shepherd, determined to seize the opportunity, took the bus to Warner Bros. for her audition, as she didn’t own a car at the time.
The first audition went well, leading to a callback. It was then that Shepherd discovered Latifah was initially considered for the role but was unavailable due to filming the movie Living Out Loud. Shepherd humorously recalled her reaction: “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.’ ”
A Memorable Revelation
Years later, while working together on the 2005 film Beauty Shop, Shepherd shared this tidbit with Queen Latifah. “She loved me on Everybody Loves Raymond. She said, ‘That’s where I saw you and you were so funny.’ And I go, ‘Girl, they wrote that for you.’ ” Latifah’s response was lighthearted: “I got to call them,” Shepherd remembered Latifah saying. And “I was like, ‘Hey, hey, don’t be messing up my gigs!’ “
Shepherd’s portrayal of Sergeant Judy spanned eight episodes, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Her journey from auditioning with a Walkman for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to landing a role initially meant for another star underscores her resilience and determination in the entertainment industry.
Both Shepherd and Latifah have since carved out successful careers, with Shepherd hosting her own talk show, Sherri, since 2022, and Latifah leading The Queen Latifah Show during its runs from 1999 toto 2001 and then again from 2013 to 2015.