Kiki Shepard, the longtime co-host of the iconic Showtime at the Apollo, has passed away unexpectedly at 74. Her representative, LaShirl Smith, confirmed she suffered a massive heart attack in Los Angeles on Monday.
Shepard became a familiar presence on the Harlem stage from 1987 to 2002, introducing performers alongside Steve Harvey and helping make the legendary music showcase a household name.
Beyond Apollo, she appeared on television shows such as A Different World, Baywatch, NYPD Blue, Everybody Hates Chris, and Grey’s Anatomy, and appeared in the film Blackjack Christmas. Shepard also shone on Broadway with roles in Bubbling Brown Sugar, Reggae, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, and Porgy and Bess.
Her career began as a professional dancer in the early 1970s, performing worldwide, including with the D.C. Repertory Dance Company. Shepard leaves behind a legacy of entertainment that spanned decades.