Shepard started as a professional dancer before she became a fixture in households across America during her 15-year run on the Fox variety show.

Her partners on the syndicated variety show based at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem included Sinbad and, for seven years, Steve Harvey.

Kiki Shepard, who became a household name during her 15-year tenure as co-host of “Showtime at the Apollo,” died on Monday at age 74. Shepard’s representative, LaShirl Smith, told TMZ that she suffered a massive heart attack in Los Angeles.

Born Chiquita Renee Shepard in northeast Texas, Shepard became a cornerstone of Black entertainment and a guiding light for generations of performers.  She was best known for her 15-year run on "Showtime at the Apollo" from 1987 to 2002,

Shepard, also known as the “Queen of Apollo Fashion,” starred on the show from 1987 to 2002, working with several