Kiki Shepard obit

Kiki ShepardDead at 74

 She was not on the list.

Kiki Shepard -- the longtime cohost of the legendary music showcase "Showtime at the Apollo" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

LaShirl Smith, Kiki's rep, tells TMZ ... she suffered a massive heart attack in Los Angeles on Monday, adding her passing was completely unexpected.

Shepard became a familiar face to millions of viewers during her long run on "Showtime at the Apollo" from 1987 to 2002, where she shared the stage with Steve Harvey and helped introduce aspiring performers at the iconic Harlem theater.

Over the years, she continued working in television with appearances on shows including "A Different World," "Baywatch," "Baywatch Nights," "NYPD Blue," "Everybody Hates Chris," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Mind Your Business." She also appeared in the film "Blackjack Christmas."

She later made her mark on Broadway, appearing in productions like "Bubbling Brown Sugar," "Reggae," "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God," and "Porgy and Bess."

Her career in entertainment began long before Apollo. She started out as a professional dancer in the early 1970s, performing around the world, including with the D.C. Repertory Dance Company.

 

Kiki was 74.

 

RIP

Actress

Highly Favored (2025)

Highly Favored

TV Series

Lavesta Crawley

2025

 

Rolonda Watts, Drew Sidora, Caryn Ward, BeBe Winans, Chloe Elise Ellis, Columbus Short, Brely Evans, and Bryce Xavier in Mind Your Business (2024)

Mind Your Business

7.3

TV Series

Mildred

2024–2025

7 episodes

 

James Pickens Jr., Ellen Pompeo, and Chandra Wilson in Grey's Anatomy (2005)

Grey's Anatomy

7.6

TV Series

Erika Desai

2024

1 episode

 

Adam Lazarre-White, Charmin Lee, Dawnn Lewis, and Leigh-Ann Rose in Blackjack Christmas (2022)

Blackjack Christmas

6.0

Yollette

2022

 

Obba Babatundé and Kenya Moore in Dolls of Voodoo (2013)

Dolls of Voodoo

3.3

2013

 

E-Day

Short

Doreen Quibbs

2011

 

Tichina Arnold, Terry Crews, Tequan Richmond, Vincent Martella, Tyler James Williams, and Imani Hakim in Everybody Hates Chris (2005)

Everybody Hates Chris

7.6

TV Series

Kiki Shepard

2009

1 episode

 

Kiki Shepard in Sunday Evening Haircut (2005)

Sunday Evening Haircut

9.9

Short

Althea

2005

 

Live in Hollywood

TV Series

Host

2003

 

Jamal the Funny Frog: Beach (2002)

Jamal the Funny Frog: Beach

TV Short

Polly, Oyster #1

2002

 

Jamal the Funny Frog: Dentist (2002)

Jamal the Funny Frog: Dentist

TV Short

Polly

2002

 

Showtime

TV Series

Co-Host

2002

 

Kathleen Quinlan, Julie Warner, Tony Danza, Christopher McDonald, and Dixie Carter in Family Law (1999)

Family Law

6.7

TV Series

Martha Morgan

2002

1 episode

 

NYPD Blue (1993)

NYPD Blue

7.8

TV Series

Marta

2001–2002

3 episodes

 

Mike O'Malley, Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, and Liza Snyder in Yes, Dear (2000)

Yes, Dear

6.9

TV Series

Ticket Agent

2001

1 episode

 

Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998)

Oh Yeah! Cartoons

7.3

TV Series

NaomiPollySun

1998

2 episodes

 

Conan the Adventurer (1997)

Conan the Adventurer

5.1

TV Series

Baru

1998

1 episode

 

Miss Evers' Boys (1997)

Miss Evers' Boys

7.1

TV Movie

Sadie

1997

 

David Hasselhoff in Baywatch Nights (1995)

Baywatch Nights

3.8

TV Series

Madame TrudorCharlene

1995–1996

2 episodes

 

Hulk Hogan, Felicity Waterman, and Robin Weisman in Thunder in Paradise (1994)

Thunder in Paradise

5.4

TV Series

Trelawny

1994

10 episodes

 

Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul, David Hasselhoff, David Chokachi, Gena Lee Nolin, and Jaason Simmons in Baywatch (1989)

Baywatch

5.5

TV Series

Sophie Jones

1993

2 episodes

 

Kim Delaney in Lady Boss (1992)

Lady Boss

5.2

TV Mini Series

Warner Franklin

1992

 

Jasmine Guy, Sinbad, Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Lou Myers, Cree Summer, and Glynn Turman in A Different World (1987)

A Different World

7.1

TV Series

Dr. SutherlandVanna Black

1991–1992

2 episodes

 

Danny Glover, Forest Whitaker, Robin Givens, and Gregory Hines in A Rage in Harlem (1991)

A Rage in Harlem

5.9

Chorus Dancer

1991

 

Richard Gere in The Cotton Club (1984)

The Cotton Club

6.6

Dancer

1984

 

Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell in The Wiz (1978)

The Wiz

5.7

Emerald City Citizen (uncredited)

1978

 

Choreography

Hairspray (1988)

Hairspray

7.0

assistant choreographer

1988

 

Showtime at the Apollo (1987)

Showtime at the Apollo

6.7

TV Series

choreographer

1987

1 episode

 

Producer

Highly Favored (2025)

Highly Favored

TV Series

producer

2025

 

Thanks

A Good Death (2025)

A Good Death

Short

Very Special Thanks

2025

 

Marcus B Caribbean Comedy Series

Video

special thanks

2012

 

COC Elite (2009)

COC Elite

TV Series

special thanks

2009

1 episode

 

Self

Golden Hearted

Self

Completed

 

Sherri Shepherd in Sherri (2022)

Sherri

5.7

TV Series

Self

2023–2024

2 episodes

 

The Big Scoop with Coop (2014)

The Big Scoop with Coop

7.8

TV Series

Self

2024

1 episode

 

Josh Gates in Josh Gates Tonight (2020)

Josh Gates Tonight

8.0

TV Series

Self

2020

1 episode

 

Bj Korros in The Hollywood Moment at Home Edition (2020)

The Hollywood Moment at Home Edition

1.5

TV Series

Self

2020

1 episode

 

Celebrity Poker Gala (2020)

Celebrity Poker Gala

TV Series

Self - Celebrity

2020

 

Music and Medicine (2020)

Music and Medicine

Podcast Series

Self

2020

 

To Her Own Rhythm (2015)

To Her Own Rhythm

Self

2015

 

David L. Roberts in Who Makes Movies? (2005)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House

6.2

Self

2013

 

Straight from the Horses Mouth (2009)

Straight from the Horses Mouth

6.5

Video

Self

2009

 

Celebrities in the Basement (2008)

Celebrities in the Basement

TV Series

Self - interviewee

2008

2 episodes

 

In the Cutz (2005)

In the Cutz

5.0

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Bid Whist Party Throwdown

8.7

TV Series

Self - Host

2005–2006

4 episodes

 

Showtime

TV Series

Self

2002–2003

19 episodes

 

Showtime in Harlem II

TV Series

Self

2003

 

Showtime at the Apollo (1987)

Showtime at the Apollo

6.7

TV Series

Self - Co-Host

1987–2002

97 episodes

 

Archive Footage

Carol Alt, Hulk Hogan, and Chris Lemmon in Thunder in Paradise II (1994)

Thunder in Paradise II

4.4

Video

Trelawny (archive footage)

1994