Whoopi Goldberg

Name: Whoopi Goldberg
Birth Name: Caryn Elaine Johnson
Height: 5' 5"
Sex: F
Nationality: American
Birth Date: November 13, 1955
Birth Place: New York, New York, USA
Profession: actress, comedian, producer
Education: St. Columba Church Parish School, New York, New York
  Washington Irving High School, New York, New York; left two weeks into freshman year
Husband/Wife: Lyle Trachtenberg (union organizer; married on October 1, 1994; divorced in October 1995), David Claessen (director of photography; married on September 1, 1986; divorced in October 1988), Alvin Martin (drug counselor; married in 1973; divorced late 1979)
Relationship: Frank Langella (actor; October 1995-early 2000), Ted Danson (actor; 1992-1994), Timothy Dalton (actor; 1990-1991), Eddie Gold (director of photography; 1987-1990), David Schein (playwright, actor; 1980-1985)
Father: Robert James Johnson (preacher; separated; died May 25, 1993, of stomach cancer and complications from HIV)
Mother: Emma Johnson
Brother: Clyde K. Johnson (Goldberg's personal driver on film sets)
Daughter: Alexandra Martin (born in 1973; father: Alvin Martin)
Grand son: Jerzey Martin (born in 1995)
Grand daughter: Amarah Skye (born on November 13, 1989)
Claim to fame: as Celie in The Color Purple (1985)
   
FAN MAIL:
C/O Creative Artist Agency
9830 Wilshere Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
USA

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WHOOPI GOLDBERG NEWS AND TRIVIA
  • Has been dropped as a spokesperson for diet aid company Slim-fast after remarks she made about President Bush at a John Kerry fundraiser, which was widely reported as a stream of vulgar sexual wordplays on Bush's name. (July 16, 2004)
  • Will tackle the issue of same-sex marriage in an upcoming episode of her NBC sitcom Whoopi, which is set to air this spring. (March 11, 2004)
  • Has agreed to a multibook deal with Hyperion's Jump at the Sun imprint, which specializes in releases by African-American writers. (February 24, 2004)
  • NBC gave the seal of approval on Wednesday to two new comedies with well-known stars, ordering a full season of both Whoopi and Happy Family. (October 30, 2003)
  • A cameo visit from the commander-in-chief gave a ratings boost to NBC television's new comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg -- Tuesday's WHOOPI telecast, featuring a face-to-face encounter between Goldberg's character and President Bush (played by impersonator Steve Bridges), was up 36 percent from last week's ratings for NBC's target audience of adults under 50, and it drew 2.5 million more viewers overall. (October 16, 2003)
  • Debuting two weeks before the official start of the fall TV season, Goldberg's new WHOOPI premiered to strong ratings, averaging more than 14.7 million viewers on Tuesday, the biggest audience of the night. (September 11, 2003)
  • Whoopi's sitcom WHOOPI will be filmed at the 14-acre Kaufman Astoria Studios in Long Island City -- Goldberg said the decision to film the show in New York was a real stipulation for her. (August 7, 2003)
  • Goldberg has offended yet another section of society, anti- smoking lobbyists -- The actress' new TV comedy show WHOOPI will see her play a chain-smoking innkeeper who puffs away in three of the pilot episode's 22 scenes -- The Reverend Jesse Brown, executive director of African Americans For Positive Imagery, fumes, We don't need to see the tobacco companies' messages reinforced by Whoopi or anyone else on television. (August 6, 2003)
  • Goldberg is poised to stir controversy on her upcoming sitcom by tackling issues concerning Middle Eastern people in America -- Goldberg's self-titled comedy will for the first time since the atrocities of September 11 shine a spotlight on the particular problems facing people of Middle Eastern descent visiting or living in America. (July 29, 2003)
  • Goldberg was honored a lifetime achievement award Wednesday in Comedy Festival for her entertainment-industry and philanthropic accomplishments (September 26, 2002)
  • Gave cameramen a headache when she appeared on a pal's TV show recently - by ordering them to avoid shots of her bum.
  • RAT RACE is the first feature film ever to co-star African-American Academy Award winners (Whoopie Goldberg, and Cuba Gooding Jr.).
  • She wanted to leave THEODORE REX (1995) during the production.
  • Whoopi's daughter, Alex Martin (I), appears in SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT (1993) as one of the classroom children. She says the Yo Mama line about Skittles.
  • A horticulturist named a rose the Whoopi in Goldberg's honor
  • Well-known for her tireless humanitarian efforts on behalf of children, the homeless, human rights, substance abuse and the battle against AIDS.
  • Was the first woman to ever host the Academy Awards.
  • Always travels by bus, she does not like airplanes.
  • One of her first jobs was in a morturary where she was a make-up artist for corpses.
  • Was nicknamed Whoopi from the whoopi cushion due to being over flatulent. She added Goldberg for the Jewish side of her heritage.
  • Nickname: Da Whoop
  • Trade mark: Dreadlocks
  • Discovered by director Mike Nichols.
  • Appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song Voices That Care.
  • Listed as one of twelve Promising New Actors of 1985 in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 37.
  • 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.
  • Was inspired to become an actress by watching 'Uhura' on STAR TREK (the original series).
  • Is dyslexic.
  • 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.
  • Was paid $7,000,000 for SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT (1993)
  • Performing the lead role in August Wilson's play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at the Royal Theater in New York City. (January 2003)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show at Daytime Emmy Awards for Hollywood Squares (2001)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show at Daytime Emmy Awards for Hollywood Squares (2000)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show at Daytime Emmy Awards for Hollywood Squares (1999)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show at Daytime Emmy Awards for Hollywood Squares (1998)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program at Emmy Awards for Comic Relief VII (1996)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program at Emmy Awards for The 68th Annual Academy Awards (1996)
  • Nominated for Best Comedic Performance at MTV Movie Awards for SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT (1994)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program at Emmy Awards for The 66th Annual Academy Awards (1994)
  • Nominated for Best Comedic Performance at MTV Movie Awards for SISTER ACT (1993)
  • Nominated for Best Female Performance at MTV Movie Awards for SISTER ACT (1993)
  • Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical at Golden Globe Awards for SISTER ACT (1993)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at Emmy Awards for A Different World (1991)
  • Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at Academy Awards for THE COLOR PURPLE (1986)
  • Nominated for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series at Emmy Awards for Moonlighting (1986)

Quotes
  • "I just thought it was time to start talking about stuff. The last time I felt like this I wrote a book, but it feels like a good time to go and do what I used to do in the very beginning."
  • "Nobody wants to see that view, so you can shoot me in any direction - as long as my butt isn't in it!"
  • 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."
  • While she was hosting the 1999 Academy Awards: "BABE: PIG IN THE CITY. Wasn't that the Linda Tripp Story?"
  • "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."
  • About Alice Walker, author of THE COLOR PURPLE, in which Goldberg eventually played a leading role: "I told her her I would play a Venetian blind, dirt on the floor, anything."
  • "I believe that racism is something that we're always going to live with. What we in America have to decide is whether we're going to be covert racists or overt racists. The O.J. trial and the church burnings in the South have uncovered a festering problem that no one wants to talk about."

Awards
  • NAACP's Image award: best actress in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special, Good Fences (2004)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special, GOOD FENCES (2004)
  • Gracie Allen Awards: Gracie - Producer for Strong Medicine (2003)
  • Daytime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Special Class Special, Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel (2002)
  • Tony Award as a producer for Best Musical, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (2002)
  • U.S. Comedy Arts Festival: AFI Star Award (2002)
  • Women in Film Crystal Awards: Crystal Award (2001)
  • GLAAD Media Awards: Vanguard Award (1999)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK (1999)
  • Fantafestival: Best Actress, THEODORE REX (1996)
  • People's Choice Awards: Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actress (1995)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for Sister Act (1994)
  • People's Choice Awards: Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actress (1994)
  • American Comedy Award: Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role), SISTER ACT (1993)
  • Hasty Pudding Theatricals: Woman of the Year (1993)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, THE LONG WALK HOME (1993)
  • People's Choice Awards: Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actress (1993)
  • People's Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actress (1993)
  • ShoWest Award: Female Star of the Year (1993)
  • Aftonbladet TV Prize (Sweden): Best Foreign TV Personality - Female (1992)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, GHOST (1992)
  • Image Awards: Special Award - Entertainer of the Year (1992)
  • Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress, GHOST (1991)
  • American Comedy Award: Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for Ghost (1991)
  • BAFTA Film Award: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, GHOST (1991)
  • Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, GHOST (1991)
  • Saturn Award: Best Supporting Actress, GHOST (1991)
  • Women in Film Crystal Awards: Humanitarian Award (1991)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, FATAL BEAUTY (1990)
  • Image Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture, THE COLOR PURPLE (1988)
  • Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role-Drama, THE COOR PURPLE (1986)
  • Grammy Awards: Best Comedy Album, Whoopi Goldberg (1985)
  • National Board of Review: Best Actress, THE COLOR PURPLE (1985)
  • Drama Desk Award: Best Solo Performance, Whoopi Goldberg (1984)
  • Theater World Award, Whoopi Goldberg (1984)
  • Grammy Award for Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway.
FAN SITES  
  • Whoopi Goldberg at Biggeststars.com
    http://www.biggeststars.com/DisplayStar.do?id=828
    Tons of Celeb Pics, Recent News, Biography, Lyrics, Filmography Astrology Profile, Posters, DVD/CD, and much more.
  • ACME Whoopi!
    http://www.acmewebpages.com/whoopi/
    Get the latest news, info galore and the coolest sfuff at this fansite
  • The Whoopi Goldberg Page
    http://www.angelfire.com/biz/WhoopiGoldberg/index.html
    Sections included are autograph photos, 71th Academy Awards, sound bytes, videos, pictures, and a fun club information.
  • Stacey's Whoopi Page
    http://www.vaxxine.com/stacey/whoopi/
    Includes biography, news, fan mail, filmography, interviews, FAQs, and more. Read about author's encounter with Whoopi.
  • The Whoopi Goldberg Page
    http://www.tu-berlin.de/~gruhlke/forum/whoopi/
    Includes biography, filmography, news, misc page, and a guestbook. Also a bogus photo section.