Sheryl Underwood Husband: Who Was Michael? Story & Bio
Sheryl Underwood's husband was Michael, a chef she dated for seven years and married in 1987 — a marriage that ended in tragedy three years later when he died by suicide in 1990. The 62-year-old comedian and former The Talk co-host has spoken about the loss only rarely, but it shaped her life profoundly: she never remarried, never had children, and has become one of Hollywood's most candid voices on grief and mental health.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael (surname not publicly confirmed) |
| Born/Age | Deceased (August 1990) |
| Birthplace | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Chef |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Spouse | Sheryl Underwood (m. 1987–1990) |
| Children | None |
| Education | Not publicly confirmed |
| Known For | Sheryl Underwood's late husband |
The Marriage: 1987–1990
Sheryl Underwood — born October 28, 1963, in Little Rock, Arkansas — met Michael as a young woman and dated him for seven years before they married in 1987, when she was 24. Michael worked as a chef. He battled severe clinical depression, and in August 1990, just three years into their marriage, he died by suicide.
Underwood has kept his full identity out of the public eye — most outlets, citing PEOPLE, refer to him simply as Michael. Some secondary sources have published a surname, but it is not confirmed by Underwood herself, and beingrecord.com will not repeat it.
The Morning She Never Forgot
In a 2016 PEOPLE interview — her first extended public discussion of the loss — Underwood recalled the morning of his death in devastating detail: "I made him a German chocolate cake that morning, and I said, 'Drop the bills in the mailbox, and I'll see you when you get home.' It's the most painful thing in the world because he is not coming back."
She stayed silent about the marriage for decades. It was only while discussing Kate Spade's death on The Talk that she first spoke about it publicly, sympathizing with people battling depression and with families left behind. "Everything I went through made me stronger," she told PEOPLE. "You may never forget it, but in remembering it you should make it better for the next person."
Why She Never Remarried
Underwood has said she never remarried and never had children — a decision she has discussed with characteristic frankness. She has described carrying the experience with her and has spoken openly about grief as a long-term companion rather than something one "gets over." In 2026 she told The View she was still open to love — with conditions, like maintaining her own separate house — but as of 2026 she remains a widow, focused on her career, her philanthropy, and caring for her sister Frankie, who has developmental delays and requires around-the-clock care that Underwood funds.
Her Career: From Stand-Up to The Talk
Sheryl Underwood began in stand-up comedy in the 1980s, breaking barriers for Black women in comedy. She hosted BET's Comic View, appeared on The Steve Harvey Show and The Parkers, won the Miss Black America crown in 1992, and became a fan favorite as a co-host of CBS's The Talk from 2011 to 2021, where her humor and emotional candor made her a standout. She served in the Air Force Reserves, holds a bachelor's in liberal arts and a master's in media management, and founded the Sheryl Underwood Foundation supporting HIV/AIDS awareness.
Her estimated net worth of $4–6 million, per entertainment-finance outlets, comes from television hosting, stand-up, acting, and speaking — a self-made fortune comparable to fellow comedy fortunes like Shane Gillis and Tyrus on beingrecord.com, though hers was built over four decades, and to daytime-television veterans like Kelly Ripa.
The 2026 Roast Controversy
In 2026, the tragedy resurfaced publicly when comedians at Netflix's The Roast of Kevin Hart joked about Michael's death — including remarks from Tony Hinchcliffe and host Shane Gillis that drew widespread criticism as being in poor taste. Underwood appeared to take the jokes in stride publicly, and Gillis later said he called her the next day feeling "terrible." The episode underscored how raw the loss remains more than 35 years later — and how Underwood's grace under fire has become part of her legacy.
Advocacy: Grief, Mental Health, and Family
Underwood has turned her private pain into public advocacy. She has spoken about depression and suicide prevention on The Talk and in interviews, urging families to take mental health seriously and to support loved ones who are struggling. Her Sheryl Underwood Foundation, focused on HIV/AIDS awareness, reflects a broader commitment to causes that carry stigma — the same instinct that led her to finally speak about Michael's death after decades of silence.
She is also a devoted caregiver to her older sister Frankie, who has developmental delays and needs around-the-clock care — a responsibility Underwood funds herself, and one she has described as a defining part of her life alongside her career.
Education and Service
Underwood's credentials run deeper than comedy. She holds an associate of arts degree from Fresno City College, a BA in liberal arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a master's in media management and mass communication from Governors State University, and an attorney assistant certificate from UCLA. She also served in the United States Air Force Reserves. That combination — military discipline, academic training, and stand-up timing — made her a natural for daytime television, where she thrived for a decade on The Talk.
Legacy
Sheryl Underwood's story is one of extraordinary resilience: a traumatic childhood in Little Rock, the loss of her twin sister at birth, a husband lost to suicide, and a career built joke by joke into a daytime-TV institution. Fellow comedians cite her as a trailblazer; audiences know her as the warm, sharp presence who could pivot from a punchline to a moment of genuine emotional honesty. Her late husband Michael remains, by her choice, a private memory — a name, a German chocolate cake, and a love she has carried for more than three decades.
What Friends Say About Her
Those who know Underwood describe a woman whose warmth is inseparable from her wit. Co-hosts from The Talk have praised her loyalty and her willingness to have hard conversations on air — about race, grief, politics, and family — without losing her humor. She is famously generous with younger comedians, particularly Black women entering stand-up, and her mentorship is cited by a generation of performers. The throughline of her life, friends say, is showing up: for her sister, for her causes, for her audience, and for the memory of a young chef she married in 1987.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sheryl Underwood's husband?
Sheryl Underwood's husband was Michael, a chef. They dated for seven years and married in 1987. He died by suicide in August 1990, three years into their marriage.
Why did Sheryl Underwood's husband die?
Michael suffered from severe clinical depression and died by suicide in August 1990. Underwood has spoken about the loss to raise awareness of mental health.
Did Sheryl Underwood remarry?
No. She has never remarried since Michael's death in 1990 and has no children.
How old is Sheryl Underwood?
Sheryl Underwood was born October 28, 1963, making her 62 years old as of 2026.
What is Sheryl Underwood's net worth?
Entertainment-finance outlets estimate her net worth between $4 million and $6 million from her television, comedy, and acting career.
