A PIECE OF THE ACTION (1977) Clip - Sheryl Lee Ralph film debut

Before she won an Emmy for portraying school teacher Barbara Howard in TV's "Abbott Elementary " Tony Award-nominated actress ("Dreamgirls") Sheryl Lee Ralph made her screen debut (at age 19) as high school student Barbara Howard in the SIdney Poitier/Bill Cosby comedy "A Piece of the Action" which Mr. Poitier also directed. Recognizable in this scene are co-stars James Earl Jones and Denise Nicholas (Room 222). Mss Thomas is played by Hope Clark (for you youngsters, the homemade necklace she's gifted with is made of tabs from flip-top aluminum soft drink cans). Some might also recognize Tamu Blackwell (who appeared with James Earl Jones in "Claudine"), Ernest Lee Thomas' who starred as Raj in the '70s sitcom "What's Happening!", and Edward Love, the Alvin Ailey dancer who choreographed the John Waters film "Hairspray" (1988). The music in "A Piece of the Action" was composed by Curtis Mayfield. No Copyright Ownership Is Implied.