Whoopi Goldberg
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Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Elaine Johnson on November 13, 1955 in New York City, Goldberg began her long career when she was eight years old, performing with New York's Helena Rubenstein Children's Theater.
Whoopi Goldberg is known for her dramatic performances in the films The Color Purple (1985) and Ghost (1990). Goldberg made a name for herself in the early 1980s with a one-woman stage production, The Spook Show. After touring the United States, she took her hit show to Broadway, which led to Steven Spielberg choosing her to appear in his film adaptation of the Alice Walker novel, The Color Purple. Goldberg earned an Oscar nomination and an opening to a movie career that has included an Oscar award for Ghost, the hit films Sister Act (1992) and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) and voice work for the animated features The Lion King (1994) and The Pagemaster (1994). Active in TV as well, she's had a talk show, a comedy series, specials on HBO, a recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988-93) and a regular gig on the game show The Hollywood Squares (1998-2004). Goldberg is also known as an activist who helped start Comic Relief (1986) to raise funds for the homeless. In addition to her Oscar for Ghost, Goldberg has a Grammy for Whoopi Goldberg (1985), an Emmy for hosting Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel (2002) and a Tony for producing Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002). In 2006 Goldberg announced her move into syndicated radio.
In the early 1970s, Goldberg was briefly married to the man who had been her drug counselor. The couple had one child, Alexandra, and divorced in 1974. She was married to cameraman David Claessen from 1986 to 1988. Goldberg then had a high-profile romance with actor Ted Danson in the early 1990s. She has a daughter, Alexandrea Martin, and three grandchildren.
Goldberg holds a Ph.D. in literature from New York University, and an honorary degree from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Filmography
- Homie Spumoni (2007)
- If I Had Known I Was a Genius (2007)
- Farce of the Penguins (2007)
- "Everybody Hates Chris" (2 episodes, 2006)
- Everyone's Hero (2006)
- "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (1 episode, 2006)
- Doogal (2006)
- "Bear in the Big Blue House" (1 episode, 2005)
- Whoopi: Back to Broadway - The 20th Anniversary (2005) (TV)
- The Magic Roundabout (2005)
- Racing Stripes (2005)
- Pinocchio 3000 (2004)
- "Whoopi" (15 episodes, 2003-2004)
- The Lion King 1½ (2004)
- "Littleburg" (2004) TV Series
- Blizzard (2003)
- Daytona 500: The Great American Race Pre-Race Show (2003) (TV)
- Good Fences (2003) (TV)
- "Absolutely Fabulous" (1 episode, 2002)
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
- It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV)
- Madeline: My Fair Madeline (2002) (TV)
- "Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776" (2002) TV Series
- Call Me Claus (2001) (TV)
- The Mark Twain Prize: Whoopi Goldberg (2001) (TV)
- The Hollywood Sign (2001)
- Rat Race (2001)
- Monkeybone (2001)
- Kingdom Come (2001)
- What Makes a Family (2001) (TV)
- Golden Dreams (2001)
- "Strong Medicine" (4 episodes, 2000)
- More Dogs Than Bones (2000)
- A Second Chance at Life (2000)
- The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)
- Girl, Interrupted (1999)
- The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999) (TV)
- "Foxbusters" (1999) TV Series
- Jackie's Back! (1999) (TV)
- The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
- Alice in Wonderland (1999) (TV)
- Our Friend, Martin (1999)
- The Rugrats Movie (1998)
- A Knight in Camelot (1998) (TV)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998)
- "Sin City Spectacular" (1 episode)
- How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
- "The Nanny" (1 episode, 1998)
- "Smap x Smap" (1 episode, 1998)
- An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998)
- Alegría (1998)
- Titey (1998)
- Cinderella (1997) (TV)
- Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997) (TV)
- Destination Anywhere (1997)
- In the Gloaming (1997) (TV)
- "Tracey Takes On..." (1 episode, 1997)
- A Christmas Carol (1997)
- Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
- The Associate (1996)
- Bogus (1996)
- Bordello of Blood (1996)
- Eddie (1996)
- Theodore Rex (1995)
- Moonlight and Valentino (1995) (TV)
- Boys on the Side (1995)
- The Sunshine Boys (1995) (TV)
- "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" (1995) TV Series
- The Pagemaster (1994)
- Star Trek: Generations (1994)
- Corrina, Corrina (1994)
- The Little Rascals (1994)
- The Lion King (1994)
- A Cool Like That Christmas (1994) (TV)
- Yuletide in the 'hood (1993) (TV)
- Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
- Made in America (1993)
- "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (28 episodes, 1988-1993)
- Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)
- Naked in New York (1993)
- Sarafina! (1992)
- Sister Act (1992)
- The Player (1992)
- Defenders of Dynatron City (1992) (TV)
- "Tales from the Crypt" (1 episode, 1991)
- Soapdish (1991)
- "A Different World" (1 episode, 1991)
- "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" (1 episode, 1991)
- Blackbird Fly (1991)
- The Long Walk Home (1990)
- Ghost (1990)
- "Bagdad Cafe" (1990) TV Series
- Tales from the Whoop: Hot Rod Brown Class Clown (1990) (TV)
- Homer and Eddie (1989)
- Kiss Shot (1989) (TV)
- "CBS Schoolbreak Special" (1 episode, 1989)
- Comicitis (1989)
- Clara's Heart (1988)
- The Telephone (1988)
- Whoopi Goldberg: Fontaine... Why Am I Straight (1988) (TV)
- Fatal Beauty (1987)
- Burglar (1987)
- Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
- "Moonlighting" (1 episode, 1986)
- The Color Purple (1985)
- Citizen (1982)
Awards
- Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor 2001
- Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor 2001
- Women in Film Crystal Award 2001
- NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" 1998
- People's Choice Special Tribute Award 1998
- People's Choice Award Favorite Actress in a Comedy Motion Picture 1996
- People's Choice Award Favorite Actress in a Comedy Motion Picture 1995
- People's Choice Award Favorite Actress in a Comedy Motion Picture 1994
- People's Choice Award Favorite Motion Picture Actress 1993
- People's Choice Award Favorite Actress in a Comedy Motion Picture 1993
- CableACE Award Best Entertainment Host "Comic Relief V" 1992
- NAACP Image Award Best Motion Picture Actress "Sister Act" 1992
- NAACP Image Award Entertainer of the Year 1991
- NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress "The Long Walk Home" 1991
- BAFTA Award Best Supporting Actress "Ghost" 1990
- Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress "Ghost" 1990
- Oscar Best Supporting Actress "Ghost" 1990
- NAACP Image Award Outstanding Motion Picture Actress "Clara's Heart" 1988
- Golden Globe Award Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) "The Color Purple" 1985
- Grammy Best Comedy Album "Whoopi Goldberg" 1985
- NAACP Image Award Outstanding Motion Picture Actress "The Color Purple" 1985
- National Board of Review Award Best Actress "The Color Purple" 1985
- Theatre World Award "Whoopi Goldberg" 1985
- Drama Desk Award Outstanding One-Person Show "Whoopi Goldberg" 1984
