Kiki Shepard, born Chiquita Renee Shepard in Tyler Texas, the longtime co-host of “Showtime at the Apollo,” died March 16, 2026, at the age of 74.
For fifteen years, Shepard was the constant presence that gave “Showtime at the Apollo” its heart. She became beloved for her glamorous gowns and warm spirit as she helped introduce generations of Black talent to a national audience. But her impact stretched beyond television: through decades of advocacy, she became one of the most visible champions for sickle cell disease patients in the country, proving that a performer’s platform could be as powerful off-stage as on it.
Born on July 15, 1951, she attended Emmett Scott High School in her hometown before graduating from Howard University, where she was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
Before she found nationwide fame on “Showtime at the Apollo,” Shepard got her start as an actress and a dancer. Her early breaks included a chance to dance at the 1977 Academy Awards broadcast and a small role in “The Wiz” as a citizen of the Emerald City. She also worked on Broadway in the 1970s and ’80s, in such productions as “Your Arms too Short to Box with God” and “Porgy and Bess.”
When “Showtime at the Apollo” began broadcasting from Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1987, Shepard became the show’s permanent co-host, sharing the stage over the years with a rotating lineup of lead hosts that included Sinbad and Steve Harvey. Even as the show’s hosts changed over the years, she remained a familiar face for a decade and a half.
As she gained fame on “Showtime at the Apollo,” Shepard began taking other acting roles. She made appearances on such TV shows as “A Different World,” “Baywatch Nights,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
In 2006, Shepard established the K.I.S. Foundation, dedicated to supporting those living with sickle cell disease. The foundation raises awareness and provides packages of supplies to patients facing hospital stays.
