Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg
Name	Whoopi Goldberg
Caption	Goldberg in 1997
Birth name	Caryn Elaine Johnson
Birth date	13 November 1955
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, comedian, author, television personality
Years active	1981–present
Spouse	Alvin Martin (1973–1979), David Claessen (1986–1988), Lyle Trachtenberg (1994–1995)
Awards	Full list

Whoopi Goldberg is an acclaimed American actress, comedian, author, and television personality. She is one of the few entertainers to have achieved the prestigious EGOT—winning an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. Her career spans groundbreaking roles in film and theater, alongside her long tenure as a moderator on the daytime talk show The View. Goldberg is also known for her distinctive dreadlocks and outspoken advocacy on various social and political issues.

Early life and education

Caryn Elaine Johnson was born in Manhattan and raised in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. Her mother, Emma Johnson, was a nurse and teacher, and raised Goldberg and her brother Clyde as a single mother. She attended St. Columba's School and later Washington Irving High School, but did not graduate. As a youth, she struggled with dyslexia, which impacted her formal education. She began performing with the Helena Rubinstein Children's Theater at the age of eight and later took acting classes through the Children's Program at the Hudson Guild.

Career

Goldberg's early career involved performing with the San Diego Repertory Theatre and the Blake Street Hawkeyes theater troupe in Berkeley, California. She created The Spook Show, a one-woman stage performance that brought her to the attention of director Mike Nichols, who helped bring it to Broadway as Whoopi Goldberg in 1984. Her film breakthrough came with her dramatic performance in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple (1985), earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination. She achieved massive commercial success with comedies like Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Ghost (1990), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the Sister Act film series. On television, she starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation and hosted her own syndicated talk show, The Whoopi Goldberg Show. Since 2007, she has been a co-host and moderator on ABC's The View.

Personal life

Goldberg has been married three times: to her childhood sweetheart and drug counselor Alvin Martin, with whom she has a daughter, actor Alex Martin; to cinematographer David Claessen; and to union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg. She has been open about her past struggles with drug addiction, having used heroin and cocaine in her younger years. A longtime resident of New York City, she has also owned property in Los Angeles and New Jersey. She is a practicing Buddhist and has described her spiritual beliefs as eclectic.

Filmography and discography

Goldberg's extensive filmography includes notable roles in Clara's Heart (1988), The Long Walk Home (1990), Soapdish (1991), The Player (1992), Made in America (1993), Boys on the Side (1995), The Associate (1996), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), Girl, Interrupted (1999), and voice work in The Lion King and the Toy Story franchise. Her television work includes hosting the Academy Awards ceremony four times and appearing on series like 30 Rock and The Nanny. She released a comedy album, Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway, in 1985.

Awards and honors

Goldberg is a member of the exclusive EGOT club. Her competitive wins include a Daytime Emmy Award for Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel, a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, an Academy Award for Ghost, and a Tony Award as a producer of Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has also received a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a People's Choice Award, and several NAACP Image Awards. In 2001, she received a Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Public image and activism

Known for her sharp wit and candid commentary, Goldberg is a prominent figure in American popular culture. She has been a vocal advocate for LGBT rights, homelessness awareness, and human rights, working with organizations like Comic Relief USA and UNICEF. Her political activism includes support for Democratic candidates and outspoken criticism of Donald Trump. She has occasionally faced controversy for her remarks on The View, including a 2022 suspension for comments about the Holocaust. Despite this, she remains a respected and influential voice on social issues.

Category:Whoopi Goldberg Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:EGOT winners