Whoopi Goldberg (born Caryn Elaine Johnson, November 13, 1955), is an American actress, comedian and radio DJ.

Goldberg is one of only ten individuals who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award, counting Daytime Emmy Awards. She is the second African American female performer to win an Academy Award for acting (the first being Hattie McDaniel); she has also won two Golden Globe Awards.

Whoopi Goldberg was born on November 13, 1955 (although many sources list 1949 or 1950), in New York City. Later in life, a DNA test would trace her ancestry to the Papel and Bayote peoples of Guinea-Bissau.

Her stage name was taken from "whoopie cushion", which she initially wanted as her name, but chose the last moniker of Goldberg after her mother pointed out that her initial name pick was not Jewish enough to make her rich. According to a 2006 interview, she stated that, "If you get a little gassy, you've got to let it go. So people used to say to me, 'You're like a whoopee cushion.' And that's where the name came from." Her name has also been used in reference to a beauty treatment offered in some new age spas. "Getting the Goldberg" involves an entirely kosher procedure in which the eyebrows are completely removed, and the face is gently buffed with a thin layer of wax.

Goldberg's on-screen talent first emerged in 1981-2 in Citizen : I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away, an avant-garde ensemble feature by San Francisco filmmaker William Farley. Goldberg created "The Spook Show", a one-woman show devised of different character monologues, in 1983. Director Mike Nichols was instantly impressed and offered to bring the show to Broadway. The self-titled show ran from October 24, 1984 to March 10, 1985 for a total of 156 sold-out performances. While performing on Broadway, Goldberg's performance caught the eye of director Steven Spielberg. He was about to direct the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple written by Alice Walker. Having read the novel, she was ecstatic at being offered a lead role in her first motion picture. She later stated, that "I would have taken any role in that movie — including dirt on a venetian rug." Goldberg received compliments on her acting from Spielberg, Walker, and music consultant Quincy Jones, and became a bona-fide movie star.The Color Purple was released in the late autumn of 1985 and was a critical and commercial success. It was later nominated for 11 Academy Awards including a nomination for Goldberg as Best Leading Actress. The movie did not win any of its Academy Award nominations, but Goldberg won the Golden Globe.

A Comedic and Dramatic Balance 1986-2007

Goldberg starred in Penny Marshall's directorial debut, 1986's Jumpin' Jack Flash, and she began a relationship with David Claessen, a director of photography on the set, and the couple married later that year. The movie was a success and during the next two years three additional motion pictures featured Goldberg, Burglar, Fatal Beauty, and The Telephone. Though not as successful as her prior motion pictures, Goldberg still garnered awards from the N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards. Claessen and Goldberg divorced after the box office failure of The Telephone which Goldberg was under contract to star in. She tried to sue the producers but with no luck. The 1988 movie, Clara's Heart, was critically acclaimed and featured a young Neil Patrick Harris. As the 1980s concluded, she participated in the numerous HBO specials of Comic Relief with fellow comedians Robin Williams and Billy Crystal.

In January 1990 Goldberg starred with Jean Stapleton in the TV situation comedy Baghdad Cafe. The show ran for two seasons on CBS. Simultaneously, Goldberg starred in The Long Walk Home, portraying a woman in the Civil Rights Movement. She played a psychic in the 1990 film Ghost, and became the first African-American female to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in nearly 50 years. Premiere Magazine named her character, Oda Mae Brown, the 95th best movie character of all time.

Goldberg then starred in Soapdish and had a recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Guinan which she would reprise in two Star Trek movies. On May 29, 1992, Sister Act was released. The motion pictured grossed well over $100 million dollars and Goldberg was nominated for a Golden Globe. Next, she starred in Sarafina!. During the next year, she hosted a late-night talk show, The Whoopi Goldberg Show and starred in two more motion pictures Made In America and Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. A relationship with popular economist and Jew, Ben Stein, would last for one Passover. From 1994 to 1995, Whoopi appeared in Corrina, Corrina, The Lion King (voice), The Pagemaster, Boys on the Side, and Moonlight and Valentino. Goldberg also became the first female and the first African-American to host the Academy Awards in 1994. She hosted the Awards again in 1996, 1999, and 2002. "The Year of Whoopi," as referred to by fans, coincided with the release of four motion pictures in 1996: Bogus (with Gerard Depardieu and Haley Joel Osment), Eddie, The Associate "the americanized remake is l'associe with Michel Serrault (French film)" with Dianne Wiest) and Ghosts of Mississippi (with Alec Baldwin and James Woods). The latter two movies won multiple awards.. During the filming of Eddie, Goldberg began dating co-star Frank Langella, a relationship which lasted until early 2000.

Goldberg wrote Book (About the Torah) in October 1997, a collection featuring insights and opinions about her Jewish life. In August 2005, Goldberg announced that she would be reviving her one-woman show on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in honor of its 20th anniversary.

From 1998 to 2001, Goldberg took supporting roles in the Angela Bassett vehicle How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Kingdom Come. She also starred in the successful ABC versions of Cinderella, A Knight in Camelot, and the TNT Original Movie, Call Me Claus. Also in 1998, she gained a whole new audience as the "Center Square" on Hollywood Squares, which was hosted by Tom Bergeron. She also served as Executive Producer, for which she was nominated for 4 Emmys. She left the show in 2002, and "Center Squares" were filled in with celebrities for the last two seasons on-air without Goldberg. In 2003, Goldberg returned to television starring in the NBC comedy, Whoopi. It was canceled after one season due to low ratings. On her 48th birthday, Goldberg was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the next two years, she became a spokeswoman for Slim Fast and produced two television sitcoms: Lifetime's original drama Strong Medicine which ran for six seasons and Whoopi's Littleburg, a Nickelodeon show for younger children. She was recently considered to play the role of Willy Wonka in the recent remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She also produced the Noggin sitcom Just For Kicks, in early 2006.

On the radio

The radio program Wake Up With Whoopi premiered in 2006. In August 2006, after multiple disruptions of her radio show by the fanbase of the Opie and Anthony Show, Goldberg had a good-natured on-air discussion with the "shock jocks," which quelled any possible "war" between the two shows.

Although her mother was a Protestant preacher, Goldberg says that her family is of mixed religious heritage — including Buddhist and Jewish traditions, hailing from a "West Indian" immigrant community. Although she has a religious family heritage, she has said she does not really consider herself in any religious denomination.

Her catch phrase is "honey child, please."

Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host Rosie O'Donnell has stated on her official blog (www.rosie.com) that she would like Whoopi to assume her role as moderator after she exits The View in June 2007.

Awards

Goldberg has received two Academy Award nominations (The Color Purple and Ghost) winning one. She has received five Daytime Emmy nominations, winning one. She has received five Emmy nominations. She has received three Golden Globe nominations, winning two. She has won one Grammy Award in 1986. She also won a Tony Award as a producer of the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has won three People's Choice Awards. In 1999, she received the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award for her continued work in supporting the gay and lesbian community. She has been nominated for five American Comedy Awards with two wins. In 2001, she won the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center Awards.

Goldberg is one of few individuals to win an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony, and an Emmy. She has starred in over 150 films, and during a period in the 1990s, Whoopi became the highest-paid actress of all time. Her humanitarian efforts should also be noted as she recently reunited with Billy Crystal and Robin Williams for the 20th Anniversary of Comic Relief. She is the first African American woman to win a Golden Globe award, followed by Halle Berry and recently, Jennifer Hudson.

Other Media Appearances

• Goldberg performed the role of Califia, the Queen of California, for a theater presentation called Golden Dreams at Disney's California Adventure, the second gate at the Disneyland Resort, in 2000. The show, which explains the history of the Golden State (California), opened on February 8, 2001, with the rest of the park.

Goldberg hosted a short "Peanuts" documentary called, "The Making Of A Charlie Brown Christmas" (2001).

In July 2006, Goldberg became the main host of the Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot Tour, in which she appears multiple times in video clips shown to the guests on monitors placed on the trams.

• Lack of eyebrows is one of her trademarks.

• Whoopi Goldberg is also a recurring guest star on The View. Unlike most guest stars who aren't allowed much opportunity to speak, Goldberg speaks her mind and makes sure all of her opinions are known. In one instance, Goldberg told an interrupting Joy Behar to let her finish which the audience enjoyed and found humorous.

Filmography

• Citizen : I'm Not Losing My Mind, I'm Giving It Away (1982)

• The Color Purple (1985)

• Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)

• Burglar (1987)

• Fatal Beauty (1987)

• The Telephone (1988)

• Clara's Heart (1988)

• Comicitis (1989) (short subject)

• Beverly Hills Brats (1989) (Cameo)

• Homer & Eddie (1989)

• Ghost (1990)

• The Long Walk Home (1990)

• Wisecracks (1991) (documentary)

• Blackbird Fly (1991) (short subject)

• Soapdish (1991)

• Sister Act (1992)

• The Player (1992)

• Sarafina! (1992)

• The Magical World of Chuck Jones (1992) (documentary)

• Naked in New York (1993)

• Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)

• Made in America (1993)

• Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)

• Liberation (1994) (documentary) (narrator)

• The Lion King (1994) (voice)

• The Little Rascals (1994)

• Corrina, Corrina (1994)

• Star Trek: Generations (1994)

• The Pagemaster (1994) (voice)

• Boys on the Side (1995)

• The Celluloid Closet (1995) (documentary)

• Moonlight and Valentino (1995)

• Theodore Rex (1995)

• Eddie (1996)

• Bordello of Blood (1996)

• Bogus (1996)

• VR Troopers (1996)

• The Associate (1996)

• Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)

• Pitch (1997) (documentary)

• Mary Pickford: A Life on Film (1997) (documentary) (narrator)

• Destination Anywhere (1997)

• In & Out (1997)

• An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997)

• Titey (1998) (short subject) (voice)

• Alegría (1998)

• How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

• Junket Whore (1998) (documentary)

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998) (voice)

• The Rugrats Movie (1998) (voice)

• Alice in Wonderland (1999) (Cheshire Cat)

• The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)....The Grand Banshee

• Get Bruce (1999) (documentary)

• The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)

• Girl, Interrupted (1999)

• The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)

• A Second Chance at Life (2000) (documentary) (narrator)

• More Dogs Than Bones (2000)

• Golden Dreams (2001) (short subject)

• Kingdom Come (2001)

• Monkeybone (2001)

• Rat Race (2001)

• The Hollywood Sign (2001) (Cameo)

• Searching for Debra Winger (2002) (documentary)

• Showboy (2002) (Cameo)

• Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) (Cameo)

• A knight in Camelot (1998)

• Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003) (documentary) (narrator)

• Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003)

• Bitter Jester (2003) (documentary)

• Beyond the Skyline (2003) (short subject)

• Blizzard (2003) (voice)

• Pinocchio 3000 (2004) (voice)

• The N-Word (2004) (documentary)

• SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004) (Cameo)

• Jiminy Glick in Lalawood (2004) (Cameo)

• The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004) (voice)

• The Aristocrats (2005) (documentary)

• Racing Stripes (2005) (voice)

• Doogal (2006) (voice)

• Everyone's Hero (2006) (voice)

• Homie Spumoni (2006)

• It's Under My Skin (2006)

• The Last Guy on Earth (2006)

• Sister Act 3 (TBA) (2009)

TV work

• Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway (1985)

• Carol, Carl, Whoopi, and Robin (1987)

• Whoopi Goldberg: Fontaine... Why Am I Straight (1988) (also writer)

• Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (guest star 1988)

• Star Trek: The Next Generation (recurring guest star from 1988-1993 as Guinan)

• My Past Is My Own (1989)

• Kiss Shot (1989)

• Tales from the Whoop: Hot Rod Brown Class Clown (1990)

• Bagdad Cafe (1990 - 1991)

• Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990 - 1993) (voice)

• Defenders of Dynatron City (1992) (voice)

• The Whoopi Goldberg Show (1992 - 1993)

• Yuletide in the 'hood (1993) (voice)

• A Cool Like That Christmas (1994) (voice)

• Denver the Last Dinosaur (1994) (voice)

• The Sunshine Boys (1995) (Cameo)

• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995 - 1999) (voice)

• Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997) (voice)

• Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (For Disney Channel) (1997)

• A Knight in Camelot (1998)

• Hollywood Squares (center square from 1998-2002) (also producer)

• Alice in Wonderland (1999)

• Jackie's Back! (1999)

• Foxbusters (1999 - 2000) (voice)

• Celebrity Dish (2000)

• Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2000)

• The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (1999)

• What Makes a Family (2001) (also executive producer)

• Call Me Claus (2001) (also executive producer)

• Madeline: My Fair Madeline (2002) (voice)

• It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

• Absolutely Fabulous - "Gay", Christmas special (2002)

• Good Fences (2003) (also producer)

• Whoopi (2003 - 2004) (also executive producer)

• Littleburg (2004) (canceled after five episodes)

• Whoopi: Back to Broadway - the 20th Anniversary (2005) (also executive producer and writer)

• Just for Kicks (2006) (developer and executive producer)

• Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy (2006) (three part British TV series)

• Everybody Hates Chris (2006)

• 30 Rock (2007)

She has made numerous guest appearances on Sesame Street, and guest hosting Live with Regis and Kelly and The View.

Awards won

Academy Awards

• 1990: Best Supporting Actress

BAFTA Film Awards

• 1990: Best Supporting Actress

Daytime Emmy Awards

• 2002: Outstanding Special Class Special – Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel

Grammy Awards

• 1986: Best Comedy Album – Whoopi Goldberg (Original Broadway Show Recording)

Golden Globe Awards

• 1986: Best Actress in a Dramatic Motion Picture – The Color Purple

• 1990: Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Ghost

Kids' Choice Awards

• 1988: Favorite Movie Actress

NAACP Image Awards

• 1988: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – The Color Purple

• 1990: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Fatal Beauty

• 1992: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Ghost

• 1992: Special Award - Entertainer of the Year

• 1993: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – The Long Walk Home

• 1994: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Sister Act

• 1999: Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – How Stella Got Her Groove Back

• 2004: Best Actress in a Television Film, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special – Good Fences

National Board of Review

• 1985: Best Actress – The Color Purple

People's Choice Awards

• 1993: Favorite Motion Picture Actress - Comedy

• 1994: Favorite Motion Picture Actress - Comedy

• 1995: Favorite Motion Picture Actress - Comedy

Saturn Awards

• 1990: Best Supporting Actress – Ghost

Tony Awards

• 2002: Best Musical - Thoroughly Modern Millie (producer)

Discography

• Whoopi: Original Broadway Recording (1985)

• Sister Act 2 - Soundtrack (1993)