Eric Maurice is a businessman and the former husband of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. He helped start 1515 DESIGN, a company that sells large ovens and food display units. He and Ralph also have two children, Etienne Maurice and Ivy Coco Maurice.
Many people know his name because Ralph is a TV and Broadway star. But Eric has worked in business for years. His work is not part of Hollywood. It helps grocery stores, delis, and restaurants prepare and sell food.
In this article, you’ll learn about his early work, marriage, children, and company. You’ll also learn what 1515 DESIGN sells, what his son and daughter do, and the family event they shared in 2024.
Who Is Eric Maurice?
Eric is a business owner and one of the people behind 1515 DESIGN. He started the firm with Francis Delpech in 2010. They brought years of work with food ideas and goods from Europe to the company.
Eric was also married to Sheryl Lee Ralph from 1990 to 2001. Ralph later won new fans for playing Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary. She had worked on stage and TV for years before that role.
The two have a son and a daughter. Both children are now adults with their own careers. They have kept links to the arts, but they do not do the same work as their father.
That is why his life is about more than one famous marriage. His family is known in the arts, while his own business serves people who cook and sell meals.
Eric Maurice Quick Facts
| Known for | Business work and marriage to Sheryl Lee Ralph |
|---|---|
| Former wife | Sheryl Lee Ralph |
| Marriage | 1990 to 2001 |
| Children | Etienne Maurice and Ivy Coco Maurice |
| Early work | African art and textiles trade |
| Business | 1515 DESIGN |
| Business partner | Francis Delpech |
| Company founded | 2010 |
| Industry | Commercial cooking equipment |
| Current company role | Co-founder and owner |
His Work Before 1515 DESIGN
Before he became known for food gear, Eric worked with art and textiles. An older profile of Ralph described him as a dealer in African art and fabrics.
That kind of work involves finding items, building ties with sellers, and helping buyers get the goods they want. It is different from making movies or working on TV.
He and Ralph met during a period when her acting career was already growing. The same profile places their meeting on the French Riviera, in the south of France.
These early work details help show his place outside show business. He had business interests of his own while Ralph made a name on stage and screen.
His Marriage to Sheryl Lee Ralph
Eric married Ralph in 1990. She had already become known on Broadway after Dreamgirls. She later played Dee Mitchell in the TV series Moesha.
The couple had two children and shared years of family life. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2001.
Ralph has spoken about how much she loved being a mother. In later interviews, she praised her son and daughter for finding their own way in life.
After the divorce, Ralph married Pennsylvania state senator Vincent Hughes in 2005. Eric and Ralph still share a family link through their children.
The exact private reasons for their split have not been set out in a full joint account. Their marriage dates and their children’s names are the main facts readers need.
How Eric Maurice Started 1515 DESIGN
In 2010, Eric teamed up with Francis Delpech to start 1515 DESIGN. The firm imports and sells machines used by stores and food businesses.
The company’s history says its founders already had many years of work with food ideas and goods from Europe. They wanted to bring useful cooking gear to buyers in North America.
The official 1515 DESIGN website names both men as founders and owners. The site also shows the main kinds of machines the firm sells.
Its clients include grocery stores, delis, and restaurants. Some are small local shops. Others need gear that can handle a high number of meals each day.
The firm is based in Inglewood, California. From there, it works with food businesses across North America.
What Does 1515 DESIGN Sell?
Rotisserie Ovens for Busy Kitchens
A rotisserie cooks food as it turns in front of a heat source. Many people have seen one cooking roast chicken at a market or grocery store.
A small home oven is not always enough for a food shop. The shop may need to roast many birds at the same time and keep the process going for hours.
That is where large rotisserie ovens come in. They help food teams cook in batches and serve more customers.
Warm Food Displays and Other Gear
1515 DESIGN also sells heated cases. A shop can place cooked meals inside and show them to buyers while keeping them warm.
The company works with the French brand Doregrill. Its own history says it became an exclusive importer and seller of Doregrill products in 2011.
The firm also offers help with parts and upkeep. This matters in a busy kitchen. When an oven fails, staff can lose time and have trouble serving customers.
Eric’s job is tied to the supply of this gear. It does not mean he built each oven or made each part himself.
Their Son Etienne Maurice
Etienne Maurice has worked in acting and film. He is also the founder of WalkGood LA, a group that helps people take care of their health and well-being.
WalkGood LA offers events that bring people together through movement, yoga, and other ways to care for the mind and body. The work grew during the hard months of 2020.
Etienne has also appeared in film and TV projects. In 2024, he starred in the OWN holiday movie Mistletoe & Matrimony.
He has said he wants to build his own path. His mother is well known, but he has spoken about the work he put into his career.
Etienne’s job is very different from the business his father runs. It is one more example of how the family works in several fields.
Their Daughter Ivy Coco Maurice
Ivy-Victoria Maurice is often called Ivy Coco. She works with clothes, fashion, and styling. Many fans have seen her work on her mother’s red-carpet looks.
Ralph has praised her daughter’s eye for fashion. Coco helps choose the clothes and overall style that Ralph wears to major events.
The interest also runs in the family. Coco’s grandmother, Ivy Ralph, was a fashion designer in Jamaica. That family link helped shape Coco’s love for clothes and design.
She has also worked with WalkGood LA and other creative projects. Her work shows that the two children chose different ways to use their skills.
A Family Moment at Etienne’s 2024 Wedding
In July 2024, Etienne married ABC News journalist Stephanie Wash in Jamaica. The wedding took place at Good Hope Estate on July 6.
Eric attended with Sheryl Lee Ralph and her husband, Vincent Hughes. Etienne walked toward the altar with all three of them by his side.
The wedding came just after Hurricane Beryl had brought bad weather to the island. The couple and their guests still gathered to mark the day.
The event brought the family together for a happy reason. It was also a rare public look at Eric with his son, former wife, and her current husband.
It was a day when the whole family came together to support Etienne and Stephanie.
Eric Maurice’s Work and Life Today
The 1515 DESIGN website still names Eric as an owner and co-founder. The firm shows ovens, food display units, and services for shops that cook and sell meals.
He has not built a public image through acting or TV interviews. Most of his work has taken place behind the scenes in business.
The company does not publish his personal pay or wealth. He also keeps his home life out of the press.
What is clear is that Eric has a business of his own and is part of a family with strong ties to TV, film, fashion, and community work.
Final Thoughts
Eric Maurice is known to some people as Sheryl Lee Ralph’s first husband. That is part of his past, but it is not his only story. He has also helped build a firm that serves stores and restaurants.
His children now have careers of their own. Their 2024 family wedding gave fans a rare look at them together. Those facts make his life easier to understand without turning private details into gossip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eric Maurice?
He is a businessman, a co-founder of 1515 DESIGN, and the former husband of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.
When were Eric Maurice and Sheryl Lee Ralph married?
They married in 1990 and divorced in 2001.
How many children do they have?
They have two children: Etienne Maurice and Ivy Coco Maurice.
What does Eric Maurice’s company do?
1515 DESIGN sells large cooking ovens, warm food displays, and related gear for grocery stores and restaurants.
Was Eric at Etienne Maurice’s wedding?
Yes. He joined Sheryl Lee Ralph and Vincent Hughes at Etienne’s July 2024 wedding in Jamaica.
You may also read: Cynthia Blaise: Acting, Dialect Coaching and Life Beyond the Spotlight.
