About

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Whoopi Goldberg was born in New York City in 1955, as Caryn Elaine Johnson. She was born in Chelsea, in New York City. She worked in a funeral parlor, and as a bricklayer, while taking small parts on Broadway. She moved to California and worked with improv groups, including Spontaneous Combustion, and developed her skills as a stand up comedienne. She came to prominence doing an HBO special, and a one woman show as Moms Mabley. She has been known in her prosperous career as a unique and socially conscious talent with articulately liberal views. Among her boyfriends were Ted Danson and Frank Langella. She was married three times, and was once addicted to drugs.

Whoopi Goldberg first came to prominence with her supporting role in Color Purple, The (1985). She received much critical acclaim for her role, and became a major star as a result. Subsequent efforts in the late eighties were at best marginal hits. These movies mostly were off-beat to formulaic comedies like Burglar (1987), Telephone, The (1988), and Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986). Goldberg made her mark as a household name and a mainstay in Hollywood for her Oscar winning role in the box office smash Ghost (1990). Whoopi Goldberg was at her most famous in the early 1990s, as she made regular appearances on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987). She admitted to being a huge fan of the show and jumped at the opportunity to star in the Next Generation.

Goldberg received another smash hit role in Sister Act (1992). Her fish out of water with some flash seemed to resonate with audiences, and was a box office smash. Whoopi starred in some highly publicized and moderately successful comedies of this time, including Made in America (1993), and Soapdish (1991). Goldberg followed up to her success with Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), which was well received, but didn't seem to match up to the first.

As the late 1990s approached Goldberg seemed to alternate between lead roles in straight comedies such as Eddie (1996), and Associate, The (1996), and took supporting parts in more independent minded movies such as Deep End of the Ocean, The (1999), and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998). Goldberg never forgot where she came from, as she hosted many tributes to other legendary entertainment figures. Her most recent movies include Rat Race (2001), and the quietly received Kingdom Come (2001/I). Goldberg contributes her voice to many cartoons, including The Page Master, and Captain Planet, as Gaia, the voice of the earth. Alternating between big budget movies, independent movies, tributes, documentaries, and even TV movies (including Theodore Rex (1995), a really bad movie).

Whoopi Goldberg is accredited as a truly unique and visible talent in Hollywood. She also is an author, with the book, 'Book'.

Broke up with boyfriend of five years Frank Langella. [2000]

Discovered by director Mike Nichols.

Became the very first woman to host the Academy Awards when she did so in 1994.

Dated Ted Danson.

Born at 12:48pm-EST

Daughter: Alex Martin; Granddaughters: Amarah and Jerzey.

Travels to locations by bus, as she hates to fly.

She appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care". She won a Grammy for "Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway".

Once worked in a mortuary where her job was applying makeup to corpses.

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1985" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 37.

Was nicknamed Whoopi (as in "whoopi-cushion") because of being overly flatulent. She added the name Goldberg, taken from the Jewish side of her family.

Holds an honorary degree from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa.

Dropped out of high school and became addicted to heroin. She ended up marrying her drug counselor. She cleaned up and later divorced him. In 1974 she moved to California and helped found the San Diego Repertory Company, where she used the name, Whoopi Cushion. Before making it as an actress, she worked as a bank teller, a bricklayer and in a mortuary.

She was inspired to become an actress by watching 'Uhura' on "Star Trek" (the original series).

Is dyslexic.

She hosted the 2002 Oscars.

Asked Gene Roddenberry for role in Star Trek due to being a big fan. She was given role of Guinen the Barkeep of Ten-Forward.

Spokesmodel of the "got milk?" campaign.

Is an avid Fiesta Ware (china) collector.

Won a Tony in 2002 as a producer for Best Musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"

Won a Grammy in 1985 for Best Comedy Performance Single or Album, Spoken or Musical for "Whoopi Goldberg (Original Broadway Show Recording)"

Was the second female African-American to win an Oscar.

Has over 4 different action figures modeled after her character, Guinan, from the Star Trek series and the films.

Is part owner of Mary's Kitchen, a country store/kitchen in Malibu California. It is staffed by "New Yorkers" and certain furnishings were imported from New York because Whoopi wanted a touch of home in Malibu.

When talking about critics while on the Queen Latifah show - "You can say whatever you want about me but talk about my daughter and I'll beat your ass up."

"Babe: Pig in the City. Wasn't that the Linda Tripp Story?" -said while she was hosting the 1999 Academy Awards.

"My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions."

"I'm a big old egoistical baby and that's okay. I can accept it."

"I told her her I would play a Venetian blind, dirt on the floor, anything." [about Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple", in which Goldberg eventually played a leading role]

"Actors have no color. That's the art form."