Sad news to report…..

Kiki Shepard, the longtime host of Showtime at the Apollo, suffered a massive heart attack and died today, according to TMZ, which cited her representative. She was 74.

Born Chiquita Renee Shepard, Kiki Shepard breathed her last on Monday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest at the age of 74. Popular for her work as co-host on Showtime at the Apollo, Kiki wore many hats and started off as a dancer, voice and television actor, model, and even acted on Broadway in the 1970s and 80s.

The television personality’s Broadway credits include Bubbling Brown Sugar, Comin’ Uptown, Reggae, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God and Porgy and Bess.

Shepard was best known as the co-host of Showtime at the Apollo from 1987-2002. Her partners on the syndicated variety show based at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem included Sinbad and, for seven years, Steve Harvey. The television personality’s Broadway credits include Bubbling Brown Sugar, Comin’ Uptown, Reggae, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God and Porgy and Bess.

She also worked as an actress, appearing on A Different World, Baywatch and NYPD Blue at the same time she held hosting duties on Showtime.

More recently, Shepard worked on Everybody Hates Chris, where she played herself, and Grey’s Anatomy.

In 1978, she had a small, uncredited part in The Wiz as one of the citizens of the Emerald City.

KiKi Shepard leaves behind a legacy of grace, glamour and Black cultural impact. She represented a generation of Howard University alumni and Delta women who moved with confidence in every room they entered. Her voice, style and presence will not soon be forgotten.