Sharon Leal | |
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Leal in 2011.
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Born |
Sharon Ann Leal October 17, 1972 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress, singer |
Years active | 1996–present |
Spouse(s) | Bev Land (m. 2001) |
Sharon Ann Leal (born October 17, 1972) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles in movies such as Dreamgirls, This Christmas, Why Did I Get Married?, Why Did I Get Married Too? and her roles on the television shows Legacy, Guiding Light, and Boston Public.
Leal was born in Tucson, Arizona. Her mother, Angelita, is Filipino. Her father was an African-American military policeman who broke up with her mother before Sharon was born. Shortly after, her mother married Jesse Leal, a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force and a police officer at Clark Air Base, Philippines; he legally adopted Sharon.
Former Guiding Light co-star Yvonna Wright has said that she and Leal are close friends; the two starred together in a community production of Dreamgirls in their hometown.
In October 2001, she married Bev Land. Their son Kai Miles Land was born in September 2001.
Leal's career began with the role of Dahlia Crede in the CBS daytime serial Guiding Light. Later, she joined the Broadway company of Rent. Soon after, she was cast as Mimi for the San Francisco leg of the first national tour of Rent. Leal also appeared on the 1999 original cast recording of the Off-Broadway musical Bright Lights, Big City alongside Patrick Wilson and Jesse L. Martin. She also appeared on the 2001 cast recording of Making Tracks.